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, Deputy Co-Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of the investment committee for Funds and Venture Capital and Financial Services equity transactions
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
Craig Gifford
Head of Private Equity Funds and Co-Investments
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 Agriculture
Grow Indigo
Venture Round in 2025
Grow Indigo operates a digital platform designed to enhance agricultural practices through innovative technologies. This application-based platform enables sellers to list their products while providing farmers with biological and digital services that support quality assurance, price discovery, logistics, tracking, storage, and coordination. By offering these comprehensive solutions, Grow Indigo aims to help farmers improve their yields, increase revenue, and adopt sustainable farming practices.
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.
Johnvents Industries
Debt Financing in 2025
Johnvents Industries is an agribusiness focused on long-term growth throughout the agricultural value chain, from production to distribution.
Valency International
Venture Round in 2025
Valency International is a global commodities trading company, specializing in the sale and purchase of a wide array of products, including agriculture, fertilizer, industrial, and other commodities. It serves diverse industrial sectors by facilitating the trade of steel, iron ore, fertilizers, raw nuts, timber chemicals, and agricultural products, aiming to provide clients with affordable and reasonable pricing.
Fasal
Venture Round in 2024
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.
Namdev Finvest
Series B in 2024
Namdev Finvest operates a non-banking finance platform that focuses on providing loans primarily to rural and semi-urban agriculture, as well as to the priority sector. The company offers a variety of financial products, including commercial vehicle loans, car loans, business loans, two-wheeler loans, and gold loans. By targeting unserved and unreached farmers and entrepreneurs, Namdev Finvest aims to enhance their financial access and improve their livelihoods.
Captain Fresh
Series C in 2024
Captain Fresh is a Bengaluru-based seafood supply chain platform that operates a B2B marketplace designed to improve the efficiency of the fish and seafood value chain. Founded in 2019, the company focuses on aggregating fragmented retail demand across India and connecting it with small fishermen and farmers along the coast. By leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, Captain Fresh enhances demand-supply matching and standardizes the quality of supplies. The platform also implements digital traceability systems, which assist farmers in negotiating better feed and seed deals while enabling local fishermen and fish retailers to optimize their material and order management processes.
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.
AFEX
Grant in 2023
AFEX is a company that specializes in developing infrastructure and platforms aimed at enhancing access to Africa's commodity markets. By connecting small farmers with the financial commodity market, AFEX provides a commodity exchange platform that leverages big data analytics. This approach focuses on attracting investors to agricultural commodities while offering structured programs designed to improve productivity and returns for farmers. Through its initiatives, AFEX enables producers and investors to unlock capital, manage risk, and discover value within the continent's commodities market, thereby contributing to the establishment of a trust economy.
AgroStar
Venture Round in 2023
AgroStar, founded in 2013, is a leading AgTech startup in India dedicated to supporting farmers in enhancing their agricultural practices. The company offers an omnichannel platform that provides comprehensive solutions for farmers throughout the crop life cycle, enabling them to increase yields and lower cultivation costs. AgroStar's services include expert advice, tailored content, and access to agricultural inputs such as seeds and nutrients, as well as hardware products. With a strong reliance on data and agronomy expertise, AgroStar effectively reaches millions of farmers across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers can access these solutions through various channels, including the Agri Advisory Center, the AgroStar Agri Doctor app, and AgroStar retail stores, ensuring convenient support for their agricultural needs.
Development Partners International
Venture Round in 2023
Development Partners International (DPI) is a prominent Pan-African private equity firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Established in 2007 by co-founders Miles Morland and Runa Alam, DPI focuses on leveraging strong local knowledge and expertise to invest in the African market. The firm has successfully built a diverse portfolio, managing over US$1.1 billion in assets across various sectors, including telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy. DPI's investment team, comprised entirely of African professionals, brings more than 100 years of collective experience in African investment, with a notable emphasis on gender diversity—over 40% of the team are women. This unique combination of local networks, language skills, and sector expertise enables DPI to effectively source and execute investment opportunities throughout the continent.
Jai Kisan
Venture Round in 2023
Jai Kisan is a fintech platform focused on providing sustainable financing solutions for rural emerging markets. The company enables farmers to gain insights into their financial status through an innovative, hyper-localized agriculture credit score, which digitizes their financial information and farming capabilities. By facilitating loans with low interest rates and minimal paperwork, Jai Kisan aims to mitigate the risks associated with capital flow to these markets. The platform operates through a network of physical access points, allowing clients to easily access affordable loans while generating risk-adjusted returns for lenders. This approach supports the financial empowerment of rural communities and enhances their access to necessary resources.
Zambia National Commercial Bank
Debt Financing in 2022
Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Lusaka, provides a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services across Zambia. The bank operates through three primary segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Treasury Management. It offers various account types, including savings, current, and fixed deposit accounts, alongside personal and term loans, trade financing, and mortgages. Additionally, Zambia National Commercial Bank provides debit and credit cards, digital banking solutions, and cash management services. Its clientele includes individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, government entities, and the agricultural sector. With a network of 69 branches, around 200 automated teller machines, and 2,000 point-of-sale terminals, the bank aims to meet the diverse financial needs of the Zambian economy.
Invictus Investment
Debt Financing in 2022
Invictus Investment is a company that specializes in the trading of various agricultural commodities and food products. Operating across multiple regions, including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the USA, and Asia, it focuses on providing quality and consistent commodities directly from producers to consumers. The company deals in a diverse range of products, including grains, oilseeds, edible oils, animal feed, pulses, spray-dried gum Arabic, and meats. In addition to agricultural goods, Invictus Investment also engages in the trading of non-manufactured precious metals and other general items, positioning itself as a key player in the global commodities market.
AgDevCo
Venture Round in 2022
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.
iProcure
Series B in 2022
iProcure Ltd operates a supply chain platform focused on optimizing the agricultural input supply chain in rural Africa, particularly in Kenya. Founded in 2012 and based in Nairobi, the company provides a comprehensive solution that combines business intelligence, data-driven stock management, and an efficient procurement and distribution system. Its web and mobile technology enables agriculture retailers to manage ordering, inventory, and point-of-sale operations while analyzing client profiles and purchasing patterns. This platform enhances retailers' ability to predict demand and improve inventory management, ultimately streamlining distribution and enhancing customer service. Additionally, iProcure offers warehousing and storage facilities, ensuring that products reach the end consumer effectively.
Lona Group
Venture Round in 2022
Lona is a manufacturer and exporter of citrus products based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company specializes in a diverse range of agricultural products, including grapefruit, mangoes, grapes, pears, plums, avocados, pomegranates, lemons, and oranges, as well as various vegetables. Through its operations, Lona aims to deliver high-quality produce to international markets, leveraging South Africa's favorable climate for citrus cultivation.
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, established in 2015, is a Kenyan agtech company based in Nairobi. It specializes in providing smallholder farmers with access to critical farming inputs, financing, and advisory services. Apollo's innovative platform employs agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology to assess credit risk and tailor financial and technical assistance to each farmer's unique needs and location. This approach enables farmers to enhance their yields and profits, with a focus on emerging markets, starting in Kenya.
AgDevCo
Venture Round in 2022
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.
Leap India
Debt Financing in 2021
Leap India Food and Logistics Limited, founded in 2016 and based in Coimbatore, India, specializes in agricultural warehousing and logistics. The company focuses on addressing grain storage challenges by developing and operating modern food storage facilities and logistics platforms. Its services cater to both government and commercial organizations, facilitating efficient mass handling of grains through dedicated corridors in procurement and deficit zones. By providing agricultural silos and logistics solutions, Leap India aims to enhance the efficiency of grain storage and distribution across the country.
Pula Advisors
Grant in 2021
Pula GmbH is an insurance intermediary based in Mollis, Switzerland, specializing in agricultural insurance broking services. The company focuses on providing data-driven insurance solutions for small-scale farmers across six countries in Africa. By leveraging machine learning and analyzing weather patterns and farm losses, Pula helps farmers navigate climate risks and enhance their agricultural practices. Through the use of mobile technology, Pula empowers hundreds of thousands of smallholders to protect their crops and make informed financial decisions, ultimately enabling them to invest in their farms and improve their overall income.
AgroStar
Series D in 2021
AgroStar, founded in 2013, is a leading AgTech startup in India dedicated to supporting farmers in enhancing their agricultural practices. The company offers an omnichannel platform that provides comprehensive solutions for farmers throughout the crop life cycle, enabling them to increase yields and lower cultivation costs. AgroStar's services include expert advice, tailored content, and access to agricultural inputs such as seeds and nutrients, as well as hardware products. With a strong reliance on data and agronomy expertise, AgroStar effectively reaches millions of farmers across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers can access these solutions through various channels, including the Agri Advisory Center, the AgroStar Agri Doctor app, and AgroStar retail stores, ensuring convenient support for their agricultural needs.
Ergos
Series A in 2021
Ergos is focused on creating an integrated supply chain for farmers through the establishment of micro warehouses. The company acts as a transformational bank for farmers, utilizing technology to offer custodial services such as warehousing, loans, and market linkages, allowing farmers to turn their produce into financial assets. By maintaining a network of digitally connected rural micro warehouses, Ergos enables farmers to store their harvest, thereby preventing distress sales during peak harvest periods and minimizing waste through effective warehousing practices. Additionally, Ergos assists farmers in addressing immediate liquidity needs by collaborating with non-banking financial companies and banks. This model empowers farmers to sell their produce at optimal times, resulting in increased incomes of 25% to 30%. Founded in 2012 and based in Patna, Bihar, Ergos is dedicated to enhancing the agricultural supply chain and improving farmers' financial outcomes.
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.
Indorama Fertilizers
Debt Financing in 2018
Indorama Fertilizers operates a world-class, 1.4 million metric tonnes per annum urea manufacturing facility based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The plant has been developed to global environmental, social and construction standards. It plays a key role in supporting the agricultural sector in Nigeria by providing a reliable supply of fertilizers for local farmers, thereby enabling import substitution and supporting the diversification needs of the Nigerian economy. Indorama Fertilizers is also advantageously located to serve neighboring West African countries and key Western hemisphere markets, including North America, South America and Europe
Kamponji Enterprises
Private Equity Round in 2017
Kamponji Enterprises Limited (KEL) is one of Malawi’s poultry companies. Established in 2013, the Limbe-based company produces, distributes and retails table eggs, broiler day-old chicks and animal feed across Malawi.
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.
Africa Improved Foods
Venture Round in 2015
Africa Improved Foods provides a scalable and sustainable solution to malnutrition via local production of nutritious foods. It has already invested in technology and operations. Embedded in its business model is a comprehensive strategy to reduce poverty, create jobs, and address stunting and malnutrition. AIF implements a value chain approach to develop local maize and soy farming to a much higher standard.
Feronia
Post in 2013
Feronia is an agribusiness based in Vancouver, Canada, operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company produces crude palm oil and palm kernel oil from three oil palm plantations, the first of which was established in 1911. Following its acquisition of the palm oil business in 2009, Feronia focused on revitalizing these plantations, which were on the verge of extinction, through significant investment and development efforts. The company aims to contribute to the local economy and secure a sustainable future for its operations, supplying palm oil primarily for the domestic market. In addition to palm oil production, Feronia also engages in arable farming, further supporting its agricultural initiatives in the region.
Foresythe Farm
Private Equity Round in 2013
Foresythe Farm runs a breeding herd of circa 5,400 cattle in Zambia.
Valency International
Valency International is a global commodities trading company, specializing in the sale and purchase of a wide array of products, including agriculture, fertilizer, industrial, and other commodities. It serves diverse industrial sectors by facilitating the trade of steel, iron ore, fertilizers, raw nuts, timber chemicals, and agricultural products, aiming to provide clients with affordable and reasonable pricing.
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