Tanzania’s MazaoHub raises US$2M to expand climate-smart agronomy

TANZANIA – MazaoHub, a Tanzanian agritech startup, has raised US$2 million in seed funding to grow its climate-smart, data-driven services for smallholder farmers.

The company said the oversubscribed round will strengthen its technology, expand service centres, improve soil testing, and offer stronger support to farmers facing climate pressures.

Of the US$2 million raised, US$1.5 million came in equity led by Catalyst Fund, joined by Nordic Impact Fund, Mercy Corps Ventures, elea Foundation, Impacc, and DOB Equity. The remaining $500,000 came as non-dilutive capital from the Livelihood Impact Fund.

MazaoHub runs a “Tech & Touch” model that blends digital tools with in-person agronomy support. Its Farmer Excellence Centres, also known as Kliniki za Kilimo, provide advice and training while feeding data into its offline-capable farm management software.

Farmers also use low-cost soil sensors and test kits that connect to MazaoHub’s CropSupply.com platform, which links soil data with buyers.

“We believe local expertise combined with data can create lasting impact in agriculture,” said Catalyst Fund in a statement. Nordic Impact Fund also highlighted the alignment with its climate goals, saying, “MazaoHub represents practical solutions for emissions reduction and resilience.”

The startup claims its recommendations can help farmers cut fertilizer use by up to 30 percent, while promoting organic manure. These practices can improve soil health, reduce costs, and raise yields.

Expanding farmer support

MazaoHub’s expansion goes beyond technology. The company has partnered with the CRDB Bank Foundation to open access to credit for smallholder farmers.

Instead of providing traditional collateral, farmers can now rely on real-time data from MazaoHub’s centres to demonstrate productivity and creditworthiness.

“Through this partnership, we are making finance more accessible to farmers who previously had limited options,” said a CRDB Bank Foundation official.

The partnership covers 15 regions and is supported by the FUNGUO Innovation Programme, which is led by UNDP Tanzania with funding from the European Union, Finland, and the British High Commission.

The agreement is expected to benefit more than 500,000 farmers. Alongside loans, farmers will gain access to inputs, precision farming tools, training in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, and post-harvest market linkages.

With fresh capital and a major banking partner, MazaoHub is preparing to widen its reach across Tanzania. The combined approach of data, advisory services, finance, and market connections could help solve long-standing challenges for smallholder farmers.

Industry observers say MazaoHub’s ability to scale while keeping service quality high will be closely watched. If it succeeds, its model could serve as an example for agriculture-focused innovations across Africa.

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