uMunthu II Fund – Tech | Business | Economy https://techeconomy.ng Tech | Business | Economy Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:16:41 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://techeconomy.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/cropped-256Px-32x32.png uMunthu II Fund – Tech | Business | Economy https://techeconomy.ng 32 32 B2B eCommerce Platform OmniRetail Secures Funding from Goodwell https://techeconomy.ng/b2b-ecommerce-platform-omniretail-secures-funding-from-goodwell/ https://techeconomy.ng/b2b-ecommerce-platform-omniretail-secures-funding-from-goodwell/#respond Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:16:41 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=129934 Goodwell Investments, an impact investor focused on innovative businesses in emerging markets, said it recently invested in OmniRetail – a B2B ecommerce platform digitising sub-Saharan Africa’s informal supply chain.

The amount was undisclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Working in collaboration with long-term partner Alitheia Capital, Goodwell invested via its uMunthu II fund, effectively kickstarting OmniRetail’s Series A fundraising round.

The firm is proud to be the first to commit, underscoring its desire to support the growth of companies driving financial inclusion in underserved communities.

Founded in 2019, OmniRetail provides the necessary digital infrastructure to tackle some of the most pressing challenges within Africa’s commerce value chain, particularly by addressing the needs of informal retailers.

This often-overlooked group constitutes the backbone of commerce across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing significantly to the region’s GDP and providing livelihoods to millions of individuals.

Despite their economic importance, these small businesses grapple with uncoordinated supply chains and fragmented distribution networks, hindering their growth and economic stability.

Archit Bagaria, head of Investments at OmniRetail, encapsulated the company’s mission, saying,

“Africa deserves a robust digital infrastructure layered on top of the existing informal retail – the impact of which cannot be overstated. As the largest employer and the only ecosystem that can truly ensure efficient distribution of essential goods, healthcare, and financial inclusion – informal retail plays a very important role in the economies we want to transform. With support from Goodwell, one of the top impact funds focused on the continent, we are just getting started on our journey of a true digital infrastructure play that will impact and transform retail in Africa!”

Through its flagship platform, Omnibiz, and innovative tools like OmniPay and Mplify, OmniRetail equips retailers with essential resources and tools to procure products, build and access credit, and optimize their business for higher profitability and scale.

With over 140,000 small retailers and 90 brands onboarded, the company is well-positioned to redefine the retail industry in the region.

With social impact at the core of its business model, OmniRetail is an ideal addition to Goodwell and Altitheia’s uMunthu II investment portfolio, which is dedicated to supporting local businesses providing essential goods and services to underserved populations.

Reflecting on the company’s potential for delivering positive impact, Oti Ilentamhen, Investment Principal at Alitheia commented,

“With a strong focus on empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly women who make up 78% of its customer base, OmniRetail exemplifies the potential for technology-driven solutions to drive positive change in underserved communities. As the company continues to expand its reach and impact, encompassing distribution, logistics and financial services, it sets a compelling example for the broader investment community, showcasing the immense value of supporting businesses that prioritise both financial success and social responsibility.”

As OmniRetail continues its journey to modernise informal retail across West Africa, this investment will fuel the company’s expansion plans.

In addition to strengthening its presence in Nigeria, OmniRetail has extended and is scaling its digital offerings to Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, with the aim of doubling in size by the end of 2024.

Goodwell looks forward to partnering with OmniRetail throughout this exciting growth phase, supporting its vision to enable retailers and communities to thrive in the digital age.

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Complete Farmer Secures $10.4 Million Funding to Enhance Ghana’s Agric Efficiency https://techeconomy.ng/complete-farmer-secures-10-4-million-funding-to-enhance-ghanas-agric-efficiency/ https://techeconomy.ng/complete-farmer-secures-10-4-million-funding-to-enhance-ghanas-agric-efficiency/#respond Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:06:58 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=113635 Focused on boosting Ghana’s agritech sector, Complete Farmer has closed a pre-Series A funding round, raising $10.4 million, comprising $7 million in equity and $3.4 million in debt. 

Complete Farmer will leverage the funding in catalyzing the transformation of farming practices in the region and enhance efficiency across the agricultural value chain.

The equity portion of this funding round was co-led by the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) and Alitheia Capital, in partnership with Goodwell Investments through its uMunthu II Fund. Joining the initiative were Proparco, Newton Partners, and VestedWorld Rising Star Fund. On the debt financing side, Sahel Capital’s SEFAA Fund, Alpha Mundi Group’s Alpha Jiri Investment Fund, and Global Social Impact Investments have provided crucial support.

Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director of ARAF, highlighted the progress made by Complete Farmer in facilitating global trade for Ghanaian farmers. He noted that the platform’s technology and farming protocols have enabled farmers to access quality inputs, agronomical support, and premium markets, ultimately resulting in improved yields and income for farmers.

Complete Farmer, founded in 2017 by CEO Desmond Koney, operates as an end-to-end agricultural marketplace connecting African producers with global industries. The platform’s proprietary cultivation protocols enable both smallholder and commercial farmers to cultivate commodities that meet global market specifications, ensuring post-harvest offtake.

The company offers two primary solutions: CF Grower, which assists African farmers in optimizing productivity and gaining access to global markets through precision farming instruments and data-driven cultivation protocols, and CF Buyer, which provides global purchasers with access to commodities grown to their specifications, streamlining the procurement process.

Since a strategic pivot two years ago, Complete Farmer has experienced rapid growth, bringing together over 12,000 farmers across five key regions in Ghana. The platform has overseen the cultivation of over 30,000 acres of land and has successfully delivered commodities to Asia, Europe, and other global destinations while reducing post-harvest losses.

Complete Farmer’s revenue has skyrocketed, reaching $5.3 million by the end of 2022, with projections to reach $7.5 million in 2023. The company, which takes a 30% commission of profits made per trade between farmers and buyers, has ambitious plans to generate additional revenue streams.

Among these initiatives, Complete Farmer is developing an embedded finance product to facilitate direct remittance from buyers to farmers. Additionally, they are working on a vendor platform where farmers can purchase fertilizers and commodities to enhance farm efficiency.

The investment secured in this funding round will be instrumental in scaling these new products, establishing strategic partnerships, expanding domestic operations, and financing CAPEX and working capital investments, including the expansion of fulfillment centers in Ghana and the launch of new ones in markets such as Togo.

Complete Farmer’s commitment to transforming agriculture in Ghana is set to make a significant impact, benefiting both farmers and global industries while contributing to the growth of the nation’s agritech sector.

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