Kenyan agricultural technology company Pula has secured $20 million in a Series B funding round.
This new capital injection will allow Pula to expand its reach and provide climate-resilient insurance solutions to thousands of smallholder farmers across emerging markets.
Founded in 2015 by Rose Goslinga and Thomas Njeru, Pula offers innovative digital tools and insurance products specifically designed to help smallholder farmers manage climate risks like floods, droughts, and other weather-related events.
By bundling insurance with essential agricultural resources like seeds and credit, Pula makes these critical financial protections more accessible and affordable than ever before.
The Series B round was led by BlueOrchard, a global impact investment firm focused on emerging markets.
Participation also came from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Private Sector Window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
“Partnering with such a distinguished group of investors is a key milestone in achieving our ‘Triple 100 Vision,'” said Pula co-founder Thomas Njeru.
“This vision aims to reach 100 million smallholder farmers with insurance. What began as an unconventional idea just nine years ago is now a proven solution that has empowered millions of farmers across 22 countries.”
Since its inception, Pula has established partnerships with over 70 insurance companies, 20 reinsurance firms, and 100 distribution partners worldwide.
These collaborations have not only provided crucial insurance solutions to smallholders but have also fostered the development of local insurance and reinsurance expertise in agricultural risk management.
Pula currently operates in Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, with ongoing expansion plans in Asia and Latin America.
Their operations are managed from Switzerland and coordinated through a central service center in Kenya.
“Pula’s innovative business model sets them apart,” said Richard Hardy, BlueOrchard’s Africa private equity investment director.
This new funding will allow Pula to significantly scale its operations and empower a wider network of smallholder farmers to navigate the challenges of climate change and build long-term financial resilience.
“We are delighted to partner with ISA to support the development of solar energy in Africa,” said Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50. “This partnership will help to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in Africa and improve the lives of millions of Africans,” he added.
Egyptian fintech company MNT-Halan has successfully raised $157.5 million in new funding to accelerate its expansion beyond its home market.
Zeepay, a leading Ghanaian remittance and mobile money provider, announced today the closing of a $3 million equity investment from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund. This marks Verdant Capital’s fourth investment in just over two years.
Uganda Telecommunications Corporation Limited (UTel) is poised to receive a significant financial boost with a $225 million investment from Rowad Capital Commercial (RCC) LLC.
© 2021 Empower Africa. All rights reserved.