Egypt-based early-stage fintech investor, DisrupTech Ventures, has made a landmark entry into Sub-Saharan Africa with its investment in Winich Farms, a Nigerian agri-fintech startup revolutionizing market access and financial inclusion for smallholder farmers. Though the amount was not stated, this strategic move forms part of Winich’s pre-Series A round and marks DisrupTech’s first investment outside of Egypt. Winich Farms announced that it secured $3 million in October 2024.
Founded in Lagos, Winich Farms is confronting two major pain points in Nigeria’s agricultural sector—market fragmentation and the widespread exclusion of smallholder farmers from formal financial systems. Despite the sector contributing over 21% to Nigeria’s GDP and employing a large portion of the population, most farmers remain disconnected from structured markets and credit services.
Winich Farms is changing that. Its digital platform connects more than 180,000 smallholder farmers across 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states to a reliable network of off-takers, such as food processors and retailers. By eliminating costly intermediaries, Winich is improving farmer profitability and creating a more transparent agricultural value chain.
Speaking on the investment, Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures, said:
“Our investment in Winich reflects our conviction in the potential of Nigeria’s agri-fintech sector and the scalability of its model. Winich is not only solving real problems for smallholder farmers but doing so in a way that can be replicated across markets. With agriculture being central to both Egypt and Nigeria’s economies, we see an opportunity to exchange insights as Winich expands.”
In addition to streamlining market access, Winich is also driving financial inclusion. Through its innovative Winich Cards, farmers can transition from cash-based transactions to digital payments, establishing trackable financial records—a crucial step in qualifying for credit. The startup also offers direct credit facilities and agronomic support services in collaboration with the Kebbi Agricultural Research Development Agency (KARDA), empowering farmers to boost productivity and scale their operations.
Attai Riches, Co-founder and CEO of Winich Farms, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership:
“DisrupTech brings more than capital—they bring expertise in scaling fintech startups. This investment will help us deepen our impact in Nigeria, strengthen operations, and expand to new markets, including potential exports to the MENA region.”
Amid rising input costs, inflation, and currency devaluation, Winich’s model stands out as both timely and transformative. With plans to enter other African markets and tap into MENA export demand, the startup is positioning itself as a continental leader in post-harvest agri-fintech.
As agriculture and fintech converge to solve real-world problems, this partnership signals a promising future—not just for Winich and its farmers, but for the broader vision of inclusive, tech-driven agricultural growth in Africa.
