The funding round, which combined equity and non-dilutive capital, underscores the growing investor appetite for solutions that tackle both food security and climate change in Africa.

Founded in 2021, MazaoHub has been building a reputation for its hybrid “Tech and Touch” model, which fuses AI-driven soil intelligence with in-person support delivered by agronomists through its Farmer Excellence Centres.

The company develops affordable soil test kits and sensors that provide farmers with real-time insights into soil health and crop needs.

Its digital farm management tools and direct market access platform connect farmers to buyers, reducing inefficiencies across the value chain.

This approach, according to the company, not only increases yields but also enables farmers to cut costs and adopt more sustainable practices.

By adopting MazaoHub’s solutions, farmers have been able to reduce chemical fertilizer use by as much as 30 percent, embrace organic manure at five times the previous rate, and optimize irrigation systems to conserve water and energy.

Such changes boost productivity while lowering greenhouse gas emissions—an outcome that positions MazaoHub at the forefront of climate-smart agriculture in Africa.

The startup’s funding round included US$1.5 million in equity, led by Catalyst Fund, with participation from Nordic Impact Fund, Mercy Corps Ventures, elea Foundation, Impacc, and DOB Equity.

An additional US$500,000 in non-dilutive capital came from the Livelihood Impact Fund, reflecting the rise of blended finance models that combine traditional investment with impact-focused funding to accelerate innovation in climate adaptation.

MazaoHub intends to channel the new investment into scaling production of its soil kits and sensors, expanding the reach of its Farmer Excellence Centres across Tanzania, and advancing the rollout of its market platform, CropSupply.com.

The platform, which piloted earlier this year, connects farmers directly with buyers and offers traceability that ensures transparency for consumers and agribusinesses.

Chief executive and co-founder Geophrey Tenganamba highlighted the broader vision behind the company’s growth, noting that MazaoHub is enabling farmers to become data-driven decision-makers while giving buyers the assurance of trusted supply chains.

“This is where sustainability meets scale,” he said.

Investors also see MazaoHub as a model for how African agriculture can evolve.

Maelis Carraro, founder and managing partner at Catalyst Fund, observed that the company is demonstrating how data insights can be paired with local agronomic expertise to bring sustainable farming practices to scale across the continent.