Apollo Agriculture
Founded
2016 by Eli Pollak, Benjamin Njenga, and Earl St Sauver in Nairobi, Kenya.
Founder & CEO
Eli Pollak — Co‑Founder & CEO, leading strategy, product and scaling efforts.
Location
Nairobi, Kenya (with operations in Kenya and Zambia).
Industry
Agri‑FinTech / AgriTech / Digital Agriculture Platform — using technology and finance to increase smallholder agricultural productivity and incomes.
Overview
Apollo Agriculture is a technology‑enabled agricultural services platform that empowers small‑scale farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial farming by providing access to financing, high‑quality farm inputs, insurance, training, and data‑driven advisory services. Farmers can receive tailored farm packages on credit or cash and are supported through a network of agro‑dealers and agents who facilitate delivery near their villages.
Apollo uses machine learning, satellite imagery, and mobile technologies to assess credit risk, optimize input bundles, and automate delivery of services — thereby increasing productivity and profitability for smallholder farmers.
Core Features & Capabilities
Input Financing & Credit: Farmers can apply for and receive financing for seeds, fertilizer and other inputs, with credit decisions powered by data models.
Quality Farm Inputs: Direct access to vetted, high‑quality farm inputs sourced through Apollo’s platform.
Insurance: Protection against crop failure and other risks for farmers taking credit.
Digital Advisory & Training: Agronomic guidance via digital channels to improve farming practices.
Agent‑Based Distribution: Network of agrodealers and agents ensures inputs and services are delivered last‑mile to farmer locations.
Target Market
Smallholder and commercializing farmers in sub‑Saharan Africa — particularly in Kenya and Zambia.
Farmers seeking capital, technology, insurance and advisory support to improve yields and incomes.
Value Proposition
Improved productivity: Tailored financing and inputs help farmers produce more and better crops.
Affordable access: Credit and insurance lower the financial barriers to farm investment.
Tech‑driven decision support: Satellite data and machine learning improve credit decisions and farm recommendations.
End‑to‑end agricultural support: Combines financing, inputs, risk management, and training in one platform to move farmers from subsistence to commercial farming.
Funding & Funding Stage
Latest Major Funding
Series B: US$40 million raised in March 2022, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Yara Growth Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, CDC Group, Anthemis Exponential Ventures, Flourish Ventures, Leaps by Bayer, SBI, Breyer Capital and TO Ventures Food.
Other Funding
Series A (2020): ~US$6 million led by Anthemis Exponential Ventures and others.
Strategic Debt Funding (2024): ~US$10 million from Swedfund and ImpactConnect to support expansion and scaling in Kenya.
Funding Stage Classification
Current Status & Strategic Context
Apollo Agriculture has supported hundreds of thousands of farmers with data‑driven financing and services, and continues to expand its footprint and offerings to improve agricultural success and food security across Africa. The combination of equity and debt funding positions the company for continued growth in East and potentially West African markets.