MazaoHub Raises $2 Million to Transform Smallholder Farming in Tanzania

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MazaoHub, a startup on a mission to blend AI with hands-on agricultural support, has closed an oversubscribed $2 million pre-seed funding round. This is a strong vote of confidence in innovative models that combine digital tools with human expertise to help smallholder farmers thrive.

The Funding Round

MazaoHub’s raise includes $1.5 million in equity financing, led by Catalyst Fund, with support from Nordic Impact Fund, Mercy Corps Ventures, elea Foundation, Impacc, and DOB Equity. An additional $500,000 in non-dilutive capital came from the Livelihood Impact Fund. This mixed approach reflects growing enthusiasm for blended finance solutions in African agriculture—funding that supports both commercial returns and social impact.

The “Tech and Touch” Model

What makes MazaoHub stand out? Its hybrid “Tech and Touch” approach. The startup combines:

• Low-cost soil sensors and portable testing kits for precise, data-driven insights.

• An offline-first farm management platform, giving farmers actionable dashboards and cost-analysis tools—even in areas with poor connectivity.

• Farmer Excellence Centers, physical hubs staffed by agronomists translating data into tailored guidance.

This model ensures farmers don’t just get data—they get practical advice they can act on, creating a direct link between technology and real-world results.

Creating a Cycle of Value

MazaoHub’s ecosystem connects farmers, buyers, and the wider agricultural value chain. Data insights improve fertilizer efficiency (cutting use by 30%) and encourage organic alternatives, while its sourcing platform, CropSupply.com, links farmers to buyers with full traceability from soil to shipment. Corporates increasingly demand this level of transparency for climate-smart, responsible supply chains.

Investor Confidence

For investors, MazaoHub offers a way to modernize African farming while tackling climate challenges.

• Maelis Carraro, Catalyst Fund: Data insights plus local agronomists can scale sustainable farming.

• Lisbeth Stausholm Zacho, Nordic Impact Fund: MazaoHub reduces emissions, conserves water, and builds climate resilience.

Integrating Financial Services

MazaoHub is also partnering with CRDB Bank Foundation to embed loan products into the platform. Using soil intelligence and supply data, smallholders can access de-risked credit, ensuring productivity gains translate into real financial and market opportunities.

Where the Funds Will Go

The $2 million will focus on:

1. Scaling production of soil kits and sensors.

2. Expanding the Farmer Excellence Center network across Tanzania.

3. Rolling out the CropSupply.com platform to connect farmers with buyers more efficiently.

This end-to-end approach—hardware, advisory, and market access—reflects MazaoHub’s belief that sustainable transformation requires both innovation and human support at the community level.

Challenges Ahead

Scaling agronomist-led centers is resource-intensive, and sensors must withstand harsh farming conditions. Success will hinge on measurable improvements in yields and linking those results to better financial and market outcomes for farmers.

Why This Matters

MazaoHub’s $2 million raise is more than just another funding story, it signals a shift in African agriculture. Technology plus human expertise is the future. With AI-driven soil intelligence, localized advisory services, and integrated financial and market access, MazaoHub is proving that sustainable, profitable, and climate-smart farming in Africa is not just possible—it’s happening.

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