MazaoHub Secures $2 Million to Transform African Farming
Tanzanian agritech startup MazaoHub has closed a $2 million pre-seed funding round to scale its AI-powered, climate-smart farming platform across Africa. The round, led by Catalyst Fund, included Nordic Impact Fund, Mercy Corps Ventures, elea Foundation, Impacc, and DOB Equity, with an additional $500,000 in non-dilutive capital from the Livelihood Impact Fund.
Founded in 2021, MazaoHub has positioned itself at the intersection of technology and agriculture. Its "Tech and Touch" model combines artificial intelligence with hands-on agronomic support. Farmers receive low-cost soil sensors, portable testing kits, and access to an offline-first AI farm management platform. These tools provide real-time insights on soil health, crop nutrition, and irrigation needs, even in regions with limited connectivity.
MazaoHub also runs Farmer Excellence Centres, where trained agronomists offer personalized guidance to smallholder farmers. This hybrid approach bridges the gap between modern digital solutions and traditional farming practices, helping farmers increase yields while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
The startup’s CropSupply.com platform connects farmers directly to buyers, reducing post-harvest losses and creating a traceable, transparent supply chain. Early adoption has led to notable improvements: chemical fertilizer usage has dropped by up to 30%, organic manure adoption has quintupled, and irrigation systems have been optimized to conserve water and energy. These gains not only boost productivity but also align with sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices.
With this new funding, MazaoHub plans to expand its network of Farmer Excellence Centres across Tanzania, scale production of its soil kits and sensors, and advance the rollout of CropSupply.com. The company envisions farmers making data-driven decisions while offering buyers a reliable, sustainable supply chain, turning technology into a tangible driver of agricultural growth.
Investors see MazaoHub as a model for scalable agritech that blends commercial viability with measurable climate impact. By combining AI insights with local expertise, MazaoHub is demonstrating how tech can transform smallholder farming in Africa. Agriculture, which employs over two-thirds of Tanzania’s population, stands to gain significantly from such innovative solutions.
MazaoHub’s success signals a shift toward data-driven, sustainable farming across the continent, positioning it as a key player in Africa’s agritech ecosystem.
