logo
Egypt's DisrupTech backs Nigerian agri-fintech Winich Farms

Egypt's DisrupTech backs Nigerian agri-fintech Winich Farms

Wamda20 hours ago

DisrupTech Ventures, an Egypt-based early-stage fintech fund, has made its first Sub-Saharan Africa investment by backing Winich Farms, a Nigerian agri-fintech startup, as part of its pre-Series A round.
Winich Farms, active in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, is bridging key gaps in the country's agriculture sector by improving market access and financial inclusion for over 180,000 smallholder farmers.
The company plans to expand beyond Nigeria and explore export opportunities to MENA markets, positioning itself as a continental leader in post-harvest agri-fintech.
Press release:
DisrupTech Ventures Backs Nigerian Agri-FinTech Startup Winich Farms, Marking Its First Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa
DisrupTech Ventures, one of Egypt's leading early-stage fintech funds, has announced its first pan-African investment in Nigerian startup Winich Farms, a fast-growing Agri-Tech that is transforming access to markets and credit for smallholder farmers across Nigeria. The investment forms part of Winich's Pre-Series A round.
Lagos-based Winich is addressing the most pressing challenges facing Nigeria's agriculture sector, market fragmentation and lack of financial inclusion. Despite agriculture contributing 21% of Nigeria's GDP and employing millions, smallholder farmers—who make up 80% of the farming population and produce 90% of output—remain largely excluded from modern supply chains and financial systems.
Commenting on their debut international investment, Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures, stated: 'Our investment in Winich reflects our conviction in the potential of Nigeria's agri-fintech sector and the scalability of its model. Winich is not only solving real problems for smallholder farmers but doing so with a scalable model. Agriculture is also core to Egypt's economy, and we look forward to sharing insights and best practices between both markets as Winich grows across the continent.'
From his side, Attai Riches, CEO and Co-founder of Winich Farms, added: 'We are excited to welcome DisrupTech Ventures on board as we enter our next phase of growth. Their experience in scaling early-stage fintechs will be invaluable as we strengthen our operations, empower more farmers, and explore expansion opportunities across Africa and beyond. This partnership reinforces our vision to build a more inclusive and efficient agricultural value chain, starting from Nigeria and reaching out to global markets.'
Against the macro backdrop which saw the surge of agri-related input costs and interest rates due to the Naira's devaluation, Winich poses as a timely and impactful solution that addresses both access to market and access to finance—two of the biggest hurdles for Nigeria's agricultural sector.
Currently active in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, Winich is fast becoming a vital link between smallholder farmers and the broader agri value chain. Winich's digital platform connects over 180,000 smallholder farmers directly with off-takers such as processors and small retailers, eliminating layers of intermediaries that often erode farmers' profits. Through a countrywide network of agent collection points, the platform facilitates efficient produce aggregation and logistics without owning physical infrastructure.
Their state-of-the-art Winich Cards are helping shift farmers away from cash transactions by enabling digital payments that build financial records—key to qualifying for credit in the future. In addition, Winich provides direct credit and agronomic advisory services, in partnership with Kebbi Agricultural Research Development Agency (KARDA), to help farmers scale operations and improve productivity.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AI-powered proptech Prop-AI secures $1.5 million pre-seed
AI-powered proptech Prop-AI secures $1.5 million pre-seed

Wamda

timean hour ago

  • Wamda

AI-powered proptech Prop-AI secures $1.5 million pre-seed

UAE-based proptech Prop-AI has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by Plus VC, with participation from Joa Capital, Select Ventures, Oraseya Capital, Plug & Play, and angel investors from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Founded in 2023 by Ranime El Skaff and Christian Kunz, Prop-AI's platform uses AI and machine learning to automate property search, evaluation, and decision-making for buyers, investors, and professionals. Prop-AI will use the funds to deepen regional data integrations, enhance its AI infrastructure, launch new enterprise tools, and scale across the MENA region and Europe. Press release: Prop-AI, the AI-powered platform revolutionising how people discover, evaluate, and purchase real estate, has successfully closed its pre-seed funding round, securing $1.5 million from a distinguished group of regional and global investors. The funding round was led by Plus VC, the most active VC in the MENA region, with participation from leading venture capital firms Joa Capital, Select Ventures, Oraseya Capital, and Plug & Play, alongside strategic angel investors and family offices from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Dubai, Prop-AI is at the forefront of a new wave of PropTech innovation. Its platform automates and enhances property searches, evaluations, and presentations, harnessing advanced AI and machine learning to help everybody, from first-time buyers to institutional investors, make confident decisions in complex and fast-paced markets. 'Our mission is to build the 'Bloomberg of Real Estate',' said Ranime El-Skaff, CEO of Prop-AI. 'Real estate is the world's largest asset class yet remains one of the least digitised and data-driven. At Prop-AI, we are truly transforming how real estate investment decisions are made, not just for the region, but globally." 'We are grateful for the trust placed in us by an exceptional group of regional and international investors. Their belief in our vision and their strategic support are not only a validation of the work we have done so far but also a powerful motivation as we push the boundaries of what's possible in real estate through AI. This funding milestone enables us to accelerate our vision of empowering individuals, institutions, and even autonomous AI systems to invest in real estate with confidence, backed by the most comprehensive data and insights available.' Prop-AI has more than tripled its revenue in Q1 2025 and it was recently awarded the prestigious AI Seal of Excellence from the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the first PropTech to earn the distinction, recognising its contribution to the UAE's broader vision of becoming a global AI innovation hub. The new capital will enable Prop-AI to expand its regional data integration, continue developing its tech and AI capabilities and forge key partnerships with real estate developers, brokerages, and financial institutions across the MENA region and beyond. The funding announcement comes as Prop-AI rolls out a revamped UI/UX and powerful new features, including an interactive investor map pulling in all key data for investors and owners, making it easier to navigate the complex real estate landscape intuitively and backed with data. Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at +VC, said, "Prop-AI is at the forefront of PropTech, blending cutting-edge AI with strong market insight. The team's vision, product execution, and market timing are impressive. As real estate becomes increasingly digital and data-driven, Prop-AI is well-positioned to lead the next wave of intelligent PropTech solutions across the Middle East and beyond. We're proud to support Ranime, Christian and the team as they scale their platform and bring greater transparency to the real estate industry.' Julien Plouzeau, Senior Partner at Oraseya Capital, said, "We believe Prop-AI is solving a huge pain point in real estate by giving people the tools to understand the market as investors, not just buyers. We're excited to support their mission of bringing greater intelligence and accessibility to the sector. Their technology has the potential to reshape how decisions are made across the entire real estate value chain.' 'This funding marks a key milestone in our journey to build the most trusted AI infrastructure for real estate,' said Christian Kunz, Co-founder of Prop-AI. 'We're focused on the launch of our highly anticipated Prop-AI Business platform and APIs for real estate professionals and introducing the region's most advanced Agentic AI for Real Estate within the coming months. These innovations will make intelligent, data-driven decision-making accessible to investors, real estate professionals, and eventually autonomous AI systems, setting a new standard for real estate investing in the region and globally.'

Mashreq structures Debut Sustainability-Linked Financing for Galadari Brothers
Mashreq structures Debut Sustainability-Linked Financing for Galadari Brothers

Al Bawaba

time2 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Mashreq structures Debut Sustainability-Linked Financing for Galadari Brothers

Mashreq, a leading financial institution in the MENA region, has structured the first Sustainability-Linked Financing (SLF) for Galadari Brothers, a UAE-based leading conglomerate, marking a significant step in advancing their sustainability journey. As one of the UAE's most diversified and longstanding business groups – with operations spanning media, heavy equipment, food and beverage, motors, engineering, projects, facility management, sports, travel and hospitality, real estate, and other ventures – Galadari Brothers is accelerating its commitment to a robust sustainability strategy, further engaging stakeholders through clear KPIs and ambitious under Mashreq's bilateral lending relationship with the group, this transaction represents one of the largest bilateral SLF deals for a local UAE conglomerate till date. The SLF introduces performance-based pricing linked to three core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) centered around resource efficiency, circular economy and internal capacity building and institutional alignment with ESG principles. The financing builds on the group's inaugural green loan previously extended by Mashreq in 2023 to support energy-efficiency retrofits at Galadari's flagship hotel in Sri Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate & Investment Banking, at Mashreq said: 'This transaction with Galadari Brothers, a name synonymous with industrial and commercial growth in the UAE, demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded into core financing structures. As long-term partners, we are proud to support the group's Sustainability ambitions and to play a catalytic role in the region's transition toward more responsible capital markets. Sustainability-linked finance is the future of corporate lending, and we are committed to helping clients lead from the front.'Faisal AL Shimmari, Head of ESG and Corporate Strategy at Mashreq, commented: 'This deal is a clear example of how sustainability-linked finance can be applied across complex, multi-sector businesses—not just to drive environmental outcomes, but to empower people and communities. As one of Mashreq's largest bilateral transactions to date, it reflects a broader shift in the region, where more companies are aligning financing with their ESG ambitions in ways that directly impact lives. This SLF with Galadari Brothers builds on Mashreq's commitment to helping clients achieve measurable ESG outcomes that support both national priorities and global sustainability goals. By embedding human-centricity into our financial instruments—through inclusive KPIs, transparent governance, and stakeholder engagement—we ensure that sustainability is not just about metrics, but about meaningful progress for individuals, families, and society at large.'Mohammed Galadari, Co-Chairman and Group CEO of Galadari Brothers, said: 'This milestone Sustainability-Linked Financing deal marks an important step forward in our ongoing efforts to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles across all areas of our business. As we continue to grow and diversify, aligning our financial strategy with clear ESG goals is both a business priority and a reflection of the values we stand for. Our partnership with Mashreq reinforces our commitment to building a more sustainable future for our businesses, our people, and the communities we serve, while also supporting the UAE's broader vision for responsible and inclusive growth.'R V Ramanan, Group Chief Financial Officer of Galadari Brothers, said: 'This landmark transaction with Mashreq marks a significant step in aligning the Group's financing strategy with our ESG ambitions. It reflects our vision to progressively transition toward a fully green and sustainability-linked model. More than just a transaction, it reinforces our long-term commitment to responsible growth—integrating sustainability into the core of how we fund our expansion across sectors and regions.' This transaction supports Mashreq's broader sustainable finance strategy and contributes to its goal of facilitating USD 30 billion in sustainable finance by 2030. The bank has played a leading role in several notable ESG transactions in the region, including the largest sustainability-linked loan in the region to date. The facility is also part of Mashreq's Climb2Change initiative, a global platform that unifies the bank's efforts in sustainable finance, responsible banking, and social impact, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable banking across the MENA region.

Egypt's DisrupTech backs Nigerian agri-fintech Winich Farms
Egypt's DisrupTech backs Nigerian agri-fintech Winich Farms

Wamda

time20 hours ago

  • Wamda

Egypt's DisrupTech backs Nigerian agri-fintech Winich Farms

DisrupTech Ventures, an Egypt-based early-stage fintech fund, has made its first Sub-Saharan Africa investment by backing Winich Farms, a Nigerian agri-fintech startup, as part of its pre-Series A round. Winich Farms, active in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, is bridging key gaps in the country's agriculture sector by improving market access and financial inclusion for over 180,000 smallholder farmers. The company plans to expand beyond Nigeria and explore export opportunities to MENA markets, positioning itself as a continental leader in post-harvest agri-fintech. Press release: DisrupTech Ventures Backs Nigerian Agri-FinTech Startup Winich Farms, Marking Its First Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa DisrupTech Ventures, one of Egypt's leading early-stage fintech funds, has announced its first pan-African investment in Nigerian startup Winich Farms, a fast-growing Agri-Tech that is transforming access to markets and credit for smallholder farmers across Nigeria. The investment forms part of Winich's Pre-Series A round. Lagos-based Winich is addressing the most pressing challenges facing Nigeria's agriculture sector, market fragmentation and lack of financial inclusion. Despite agriculture contributing 21% of Nigeria's GDP and employing millions, smallholder farmers—who make up 80% of the farming population and produce 90% of output—remain largely excluded from modern supply chains and financial systems. Commenting on their debut international investment, Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures, stated: 'Our investment in Winich reflects our conviction in the potential of Nigeria's agri-fintech sector and the scalability of its model. Winich is not only solving real problems for smallholder farmers but doing so with a scalable model. Agriculture is also core to Egypt's economy, and we look forward to sharing insights and best practices between both markets as Winich grows across the continent.' From his side, Attai Riches, CEO and Co-founder of Winich Farms, added: 'We are excited to welcome DisrupTech Ventures on board as we enter our next phase of growth. Their experience in scaling early-stage fintechs will be invaluable as we strengthen our operations, empower more farmers, and explore expansion opportunities across Africa and beyond. This partnership reinforces our vision to build a more inclusive and efficient agricultural value chain, starting from Nigeria and reaching out to global markets.' Against the macro backdrop which saw the surge of agri-related input costs and interest rates due to the Naira's devaluation, Winich poses as a timely and impactful solution that addresses both access to market and access to finance—two of the biggest hurdles for Nigeria's agricultural sector. Currently active in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, Winich is fast becoming a vital link between smallholder farmers and the broader agri value chain. Winich's digital platform connects over 180,000 smallholder farmers directly with off-takers such as processors and small retailers, eliminating layers of intermediaries that often erode farmers' profits. Through a countrywide network of agent collection points, the platform facilitates efficient produce aggregation and logistics without owning physical infrastructure. Their state-of-the-art Winich Cards are helping shift farmers away from cash transactions by enabling digital payments that build financial records—key to qualifying for credit in the future. In addition, Winich provides direct credit and agronomic advisory services, in partnership with Kebbi Agricultural Research Development Agency (KARDA), to help farmers scale operations and improve productivity.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store