Description
Usomi is an agricultural technology company that seeks to address the poor adoption of agricultural technologies and farming best practices. The company achieves this by working with smallholder farmers in rainfed systems to increase access to the right inputs, markets, and knowledge and information.
Market Opportunity/ Problem
The main challenge facing smallholder farmers is the segmented nature of the value chains they operate in. Farmers cannot easily get inputs and services, are fleeced by well-connected middlemen who deny them direct access to high-value markets, and the unpredictable supply of produce, most of which doesn’t meet market requirements in terms of quality and volume. Usomi’s market interventions seek to build a structured trading platform that drives maximal productivity, guaranteed market access, and inclusive value chain participation for smallholder farmers in Kenya and Eastern Africa.
Company Information
Years of operation
4.5
Type of organization
Private company
Stage of the business
Early stage/ Startup
Agribusiness focus
Other
Agriculture value chain(s) focus?
Other
Primary country of operation
Kenya
Other country(ies) of operation
Tanzania, Nigeria
How many employees does your business have?
17
Does the business have more than 30% women ownership?
No
Does the business have more than 30% youth ownership (under 35 years)?
Yes
Financing and expansion overview
How much capital is the company currently fundraising (US$)?
>1m
What is the split between equity and debt?
60% Debt; 40% Equity