British International Investment is a development finance institution and impact investor based in London, United Kingdom. Established in 1948 and wholly owned by the UK Government's Department for International Development, BII aims to foster long-term economic growth and sustainability in emerging markets, particularly in Africa and South Asia. The institution invests across various sectors, including infrastructure, health, and agribusiness, with a focus on job creation and business development. BII provides financial support through debt, equity capital, and mezzanine financing, both directly and via intermediaries, catering to a wide range of industries such as distribution, education, consulting, logistics, and electronics.
Managing Director and Head of Direct Private Equity
Benson Adenuga
Head of Office and Coverage Director, Nigeria and Member of Investment teams
Andrew Brown
Managing Director and Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Leandro Cuccioli
Director and Head of Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry
Seema Dhanani
Head of Kenya and Coverage Director East Africa
Hayley Fenton
Investment Associate, Infrastructure - Energy Access and Efficiency
Jo Fry
Investment Director and Head of Intermediated Financial services
Murray Grant
Managing Director, Intermediated Equity
Diana Kolar
Investment Manager, Innovative Finance
Maria Largey
Managing Director, Chief Impact Officer and Member of the Investment and Executive Committee
Srinivasan Nagarajan
Managing Director, Head of Asia and Member of the Investment and Executive Committee
Stephen Priestley
Managing Director, Financial Services Group
Rehan Rashid
Country Director, Bangladesh
Sherine Shohdy
Head of Egypt Office and Coverage Director
Abhinav Sinha
Managing Director
Tenbite Ermias
Managing Director, Africa
Chirantan Patnaik
Director, Venture Capital
Kwabena Asante-Poku
Coverage Director for Ghana and Member of Investment teams
Roman Frenkel
Director and Head of Food, Agriculture and Natural Capital
Past deals in AgTech
AgDevCo
Venture Round in 2025
AgDevCo is a specialist investor that focuses on agribusinesses to support small and medium-sized enterprises. They invest in African agribusinesses with debt and equity to create jobs, improve food security, and boost prosperity. Their investments enable large amounts of private capital to be leveraged into socially responsible farming and agri-processing businesses in Africa, with significant benefits for smallholder farmers and local communities.
Fasal
Series A in 2023
Fasal is an agri-tech platform developed by Wolkus Technology Solutions that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance agricultural practices. The platform records various growing conditions on farms and utilizes data science to generate on-farm predictions. It delivers insights to users on any device, including iOS, Android, tablets, and web platforms. By providing real-time agronomic recommendations based on on-farm and micro-climate data collected through agnostic sensors, Fasal helps farmers optimize their resource usage, leading to cost savings in water, energy, fertilizers, and pesticides. Additionally, the platform offers detailed intelligence tailored to specific crops and growth stages, equipping farmers with vital information for predictive weather, pest management, and strategies to improve harvest yields.
AgroStar
Venture Round in 2023
AgroStar, founded in 2013, is a leading AgTech start-up in India focused on supporting farmers. The company operates an omnichannel platform that offers comprehensive solutions throughout the crop life-cycle, allowing farmers to enhance their yield and reduce cultivation costs. By leveraging extensive data and agronomy expertise, AgroStar provides a variety of services, including expert advice, personalized content, and access to agricultural inputs such as seeds, nutrients, and hardware products. Farmers can engage with AgroStar through multiple channels, including its Agri Advisory Center, the AgroStar Agri Doctor app, and retail stores. Operating primarily in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, AgroStar aims to empower millions of farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to improve productivity and income.
Jacoma Estates
Private Equity Round in 2022
Jacoma Estates is an agribusiness based in Northern Malawi, specializing in the production of high-quality macadamia nuts, bird's eye chilies, and paprika for export. The company operates three nucleus farms and a dedicated macadamia processing facility, enhancing its capacity to deliver premium products. Additionally, Jacoma Estates has implemented smallholder outgrower schemes to support local farmers in cultivating macadamia, chili, and paprika, thereby fostering community engagement and sustainable agriculture. The company is actively expanding its irrigation and processing capabilities to improve both the yield and quality of its crops, ensuring a reliable supply for international markets.
Apollo Agriculture
Series B in 2022
Apollo Agriculture Ltd. is an agtech company based in Nairobi, Kenya, that supports smallholder farmers by providing financial and technical assistance. Founded in 2015, the company offers loans to help farmers acquire essential inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, and crop insurance, along with access to expert advice. By utilizing agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology, Apollo customizes financing packages based on individual farmer needs, assessing credit risk through satellite and soil data. This tailored approach aims to enhance farming practices and significantly increase crop yields, thereby maximizing profits for farmers in emerging markets.
AgroStar
Series D in 2021
AgroStar, founded in 2013, is a leading AgTech start-up in India focused on supporting farmers. The company operates an omnichannel platform that offers comprehensive solutions throughout the crop life-cycle, allowing farmers to enhance their yield and reduce cultivation costs. By leveraging extensive data and agronomy expertise, AgroStar provides a variety of services, including expert advice, personalized content, and access to agricultural inputs such as seeds, nutrients, and hardware products. Farmers can engage with AgroStar through multiple channels, including its Agri Advisory Center, the AgroStar Agri Doctor app, and retail stores. Operating primarily in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, AgroStar aims to empower millions of farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to improve productivity and income.
CropIn
Series C in 2021
Cropin, established in 2010, is a leader in the Agtech sector, renowned for developing the first global Intelligent Agriculture Cloud. Its platform empowers stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem to utilize digitization and artificial intelligence, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Cropin has partnered with over 250 clients and has digitized 16 million acres of farmland, positively impacting the livelihoods of more than 7 million farmers. The company has amassed extensive farming data, covering 488 crops and 10,000 crop varieties across 56 countries, and has established a global 'Ag-intelligence' movement. Additionally, Cropin's farm management software integrates agriculture with information and communication technology, facilitating data-driven practices. This software supports various participants in the agricultural value chain, improving financial and operational outcomes while ensuring food quality and safety for consumers.
Jacoma Estates
Private Equity Round in 2019
Jacoma Estates is an agribusiness based in Northern Malawi, specializing in the production of high-quality macadamia nuts, bird's eye chilies, and paprika for export. The company operates three nucleus farms and a dedicated macadamia processing facility, enhancing its capacity to deliver premium products. Additionally, Jacoma Estates has implemented smallholder outgrower schemes to support local farmers in cultivating macadamia, chili, and paprika, thereby fostering community engagement and sustainable agriculture. The company is actively expanding its irrigation and processing capabilities to improve both the yield and quality of its crops, ensuring a reliable supply for international markets.
Jacoma Estates
Private Equity Round in 2016
Jacoma Estates is an agribusiness based in Northern Malawi, specializing in the production of high-quality macadamia nuts, bird's eye chilies, and paprika for export. The company operates three nucleus farms and a dedicated macadamia processing facility, enhancing its capacity to deliver premium products. Additionally, Jacoma Estates has implemented smallholder outgrower schemes to support local farmers in cultivating macadamia, chili, and paprika, thereby fostering community engagement and sustainable agriculture. The company is actively expanding its irrigation and processing capabilities to improve both the yield and quality of its crops, ensuring a reliable supply for international markets.
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