AGRITECH FOUNDERS DIARY

Agritech Founders Diary
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Documenting the agritech startup scene; the actors, their journey and obstacles faced.

  1. Sep 4

    Market First: Building Agritech Around Demand, Not Just Production

    What if the biggest problem in agriculture isn't production — but knowing what the market actually needs before you produce? In this episode of Agritech Founders Diary, Kenneth Obayuwana sits down with Desmond, founder of Complete Farmer, to explore what it takes to build an agritech business around demand, not just production. From his journey in engineering and manufacturing to returning to agriculture through his father’s pineapple farm, Desmond shares lessons on building systems that connect farmers, buyers, technology, data, logistics and financing. In this episode, we discuss: Why market demand should come before production Building around buyer specifications, farmer networks and traceability The role of technology, infrastructure and data in scaling agriculture Creating sustainable agritech models without increasing farmers’ production costs If you're building, investing in, or working in African agriculture, this conversation is for you. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community Listen to the full episode and tell us: What would change if African agriculture truly started with the market first? Explore ⁠CF Grower⁠ to connect your farm with expert support and verified buyers. Explore ⁠CF Buyer ⁠to source quality African produce with visibility and traceability.

    Market First: Building Agritech Around Demand, Not Just Production

  2. Aug 12

    The Infrastructure Challenge: What Founders Need to Know About Scaling Impact

    Building a startup is difficult. Building infrastructure is even harder. In this episode of Agritech Founder's Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana sits down with Daniel Komolafe, Founder and CEO of FIRST Electric, to explore what it really takes to build infrastructure businesses that attract long-term investment and create lasting impact. Drawing from his journey of building FIRST Electric—from solving energy access challenges in rural communities to securing institutional investment after years of persistence—Daniel shares practical lessons every agritech founder should understand about fundraising, governance, execution, and scaling. Together, they unpack why investors look beyond innovative ideas, how governance builds confidence, why unit economics matter more than hype, and what founders should do today if they hope to raise institutional capital tomorrow. Whether you're building in agriculture, climate, logistics, energy, or any infrastructure-driven sector, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for creating businesses that investors trust and customers value. Why infrastructure is the foundation of thriving economies.What institutional investors actually look for before writing a cheque.How governance and credibility influence fundraising success.The importance of product-market fit and strong unit economics.The difference between debt and equity financing.Why funding amplifies your business—it doesn't fix it.How founders can prepare today for future investment opportunities.Why solving real problems creates more value than chasing hype."Capital flows where there's credibility." — Daniel Komolafe If you're building solutions for Africa's agricultural ecosystem, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, investment, and long-term impact. In this episode, you'll learn: Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community

    The Infrastructure Challenge: What Founders Need to Know About Scaling Impact

  3. Aug 8

    The Infrastructure Challenge: What Founders Need to Know About Scaling Impact

    Every founder wants to scale. But what happens when the biggest obstacle isn't your product—it's the system around it? In this episode of Agritech Founder's Diary, Kenneth Obayuwana sits down with Tolu-Femi Oyewole to unpack one of the most overlooked realities in African entrepreneurship: infrastructure. From fragmented value chains and weak market systems to financing, partnerships, and ecosystem development, the conversation explores why sustainable impact requires more than innovation. It requires building businesses that can thrive despite systemic constraints. Together, they discuss: Why infrastructure goes beyond roads and electricity. The difference between building a startup and building an ecosystem. How founders can identify the right problems worth solving. Why partnerships often create more value than competition. Practical lessons on scaling solutions that create lasting impact. If you're building in agriculture, climate, fintech, or any emerging sector, this episode offers valuable insights into the realities of creating impact where systems are still evolving. Listen now and join the conversation on what it really takes to build solutions that last. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community

    The Infrastructure Challenge: What Founders Need to Know About Scaling Impact

  4. Jul 25

    From Pilot to Platform: Scaling Agritech Beyond Proof of Concept.

    A successful pilot is only the beginning. The real challenge is turning early success into a platform that can scale across markets and create lasting impact. In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana speaks with Olugbenga Aladejebi , CEO of AfriRice Nigeria and founder of the Nigeria Rice Revolution, about what it takes to move agri-tech innovations beyond proof of concept. Drawing from decades of experience in agriculture and value chain development, he shares why many promising pilots fail to scale and what founders must do differently. You'll learn: Why successful pilots often fail to scaleHow to build for mass adoption instead of controlled environmentsCommon mistakes founders make after pilot successWhy local realities should shape Agri-tech innovationWhat it will take to strengthen Nigeria's agricultural value chains If you're building an Agri-tech startup or preparing to scale beyond your first pilot, this episode offers practical insights on creating solutions that are built for long-term impact, not just early validation. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community

    From Pilot to Platform: Scaling Agritech Beyond Proof of Concept.

  5. Jul 25

    From Skepticism to Trust: Driving Farmer Adoption of New Technologies.

    Technology alone does not guarantee adoption in agriculture — trust does. In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana sits down with Azeez, popularly known as “The Lasgidi Farmer,” to explore why many Agri-tech solutions fail to gain traction with farmers despite promising innovation. From sack farming experiments in Lagos to helping farmers understand production-enhancing technologies, Azeez shares practical insights on what truly drives adoption in rural farming communities. The conversation breaks down the importance of building with farmers in mind, involving them in the innovation process, and simplifying technology through local language, demonstrations, and trusted farmer networks. Azeez also shares why trust, research, and real problem-solving matter more than flashy features when building sustainable Agri-tech solutions across Africa. You’ll learn: • Why farmers are often skeptical about new technologies • How trust and demonstration drive adoption • Common mistakes Agri-tech startups make when building for farmers • Why co-creation with farmers leads to better solutions • The role of policy, education, and cooperatives in scaling agri-tech adoption If you’re building in agriculture, working with farmers, or exploring how technology can create real impact in food systems, this episode offers practical lessons on bridging the gap between innovation and adoption.  Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community

    From Skepticism to Trust: Driving Farmer Adoption of New Technologies.

  6. Jul 25

    Episode 50: 50 Conversations Later – Lessons from Building Agritech in Africa

    Fifty episodes. Countless founder stories. One shared mission: building the future of agriculture in Africa. To mark this milestone episode of Agritech Founders Diary, Kenneth Obayuwana sits down with two founders who are solving real problems across the agricultural value chain: Eloho Ritai Biaroma, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of CubeSeed Africa, and IfeanyiChukwu Chukwu, Founder of FarmEazi and Consultant at Iphex Global Agri Solutions. Together, they unpack what it really takes to build products farmers will actually usefrom validating ideas in the field and narrowing your customer focus to navigating adoption challenges, funding decisions, hiring, partnerships, and sustainable growth. In this episode, you'll learn: Why execution always beats great ideasThe importance of deeply understanding your customerLessons from building products for African farmersWhy funding amplifies problems instead of solving themHow to think about bootstrapping, equity, and scaling your teamWhy collaboration is often a founder's greatest advantage If you're building an agritech startup, investing in innovation, or simply passionate about Africa's agricultural future, this episode is packed with practical lessons from founders who are doing the work every day. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest: Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.com Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter Join Agritech Investors and Founders’ Community Here's to 50 conversations and many more to come.

    Episode 50: 50 Conversations Later – Lessons from Building Agritech in Africa

  7. Mar 24

    From Vision to Execution: Leadership, Strategy, and Systems Behind Agritech Growth

    Ideas are easy. Execution is what separates successful agri-tech ventures from the rest. ‎ ‎In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana speaks with Clarence Jacob, product designer turned agri-tech founder of Fern a farm management platform that simplifies record-keeping and operations for farmers. ‎ ‎Clarence shares how identifying gaps between technology and farmers' needs inspired Fern, and what he's learning about building the right team, securing adoption, and scaling across markets like Ghana and South Africa. ‎ ‎You'll learn; ‎• Why strong ideas alone aren't enough in agri-tech ‎• How reaching out directly to farmers accelerates growth ‎ ‎• The value of balancing tech expertise with on-field experience ‎ ‎If you're building in agri-tech, this episode offers real-world strategies to move from vision to execution. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest, Visit: Our Website Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form Subscribe to our Newsletter

  8. Mar 10

    The Smart Farm Revolution: Turning Insights into Impact Across Africa's Food ‎Systems.

    ‎Access to farm machinery can determine how much food gets produced. But for many farmers, that access is still a challenge. ‎In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana speaks with Adebisi, founder of Farmerch Global Limited, about building mechanization systems that connect farmers with tractor owners. ‎Farmerch is creating tools that help service providers track operations, manage finances, and deliver reliable mechanization services to farmers. ‎Adebisi shares lessons from building the company, the trust challenges between farmers and tractor owners, and how better access to machinery is helping farmers increase production across Nigeria. ‎You'll learn • Why mechanization is critical for scaling farm production ‎• The trust and logistics gaps in tractor services ‎• How simple tech tools help track farm operations ‎• What it takes to build an agri-tech startup solving real farm problems ‎If you're interested in practical innovations shaping African agriculture, this episode is for you. ‎Follow the podcast for more founder stories ‎Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode ‎Stay informed with AgriTech Digest, Visit: ‎Our Website ‎Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram ‎Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form ‎Subscribe to our Newsletter ‎

See All (46)

About

Documenting the agritech startup scene; the actors, their journey and obstacles faced.

Information

  • Creator
    Agritech Founders Diary
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Agritech Founders Diary
  • Show Website
    AGRITECH FOUNDERS DIARY