Agricultural technology is rapidly transforming Africa’s food systems, helping farmers improve productivity, access markets, reduce post-harvest losses, and adopt data-driven farming practices. Across the continent, a new generation of entrepreneurs is building innovative platforms that connect smallholder farmers to financing, machinery, logistics, and digital tools. These startup founders are leading some of the most influential AgTech ventures shaping the future of agriculture in Africa.
1. Jehiel Oliver — CEO, Hello Tractor
Jehiel Oliver is the founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, often described as the “Uber for tractors.” Founded in 2014, the platform connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers who need mechanized farming services, helping farmers increase productivity while generating income for equipment owners. The company operates across multiple African markets and has become one of the continent’s most recognised mechanisation platforms.
2. Peter Njonjo — Co-Founder and CEO, Twiga Foods
Peter Njonjo leads Twiga Foods, a Kenyan agricultural supply chain platform that connects farmers directly to retailers using technology and logistics infrastructure. Founded in 2014, the company works with thousands of farmers and vendors, improving efficiency in Africa’s food distribution system and reducing the role of informal middlemen.
3. Onyeka Akumah — Co-Founder, Farmcrowdy
Onyeka Akumah co-founded Farmcrowdy, Nigeria’s first digital agriculture platform designed to connect investors and farm sponsors with smallholder farmers. The platform has expanded into multiple services including agricultural finance, insurance, aggregation, and market access, helping thousands of farmers improve productivity and income.
4. Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu — CEO, ColdHubs
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu leads ColdHubs, a Nigerian startup providing solar-powered cold storage solutions for farmers and food vendors. Founded in 2015, the company helps reduce post-harvest losses by allowing farmers to store perishable produce in solar-powered refrigeration hubs, significantly extending the shelf life of crops and improving food security.
5. Jerry Oche — Founder and CEO, Zowasel
Jerry Oche founded Zowasel, an agritech and agricultural finance platform that connects farmers with buyers and financial services. The company provides digital tools for market access, climate-smart farming data, and agricultural financing, operating across Nigeria and parts of East Africa.
Methodology
This list highlights founders and chief executives of African AgTech startups that are deploying technology to transform agriculture through mechanisation, digital marketplaces, agricultural financing, logistics, and climate-smart farming solutions. Selection considered the scale of innovation, impact on smallholder farmers, operational reach, investment traction, and recognition within Africa’s startup and agricultural technology ecosystem, drawing from industry reports, startup profiles, and publicly available company information.
