General News
Releaf Secures $4.2M in Seed Funding, Grants to Drive Industrialization of Food Processing
Releaf, an agtech start-up that develops proprietary hardware and software solutions that makes African farmers and food factories more efficient and profitable, has raised $2.7 million seed funding in a round led by Samurai Incubate Africa, Future Africa and Consonance Investment Managers with participation from Stephen Pagliuca, Chairman of Bain Capital and Justin Kan (Twitch).
Releaf also secured $1.5 million in grants from The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) and USAID.
The seed funding will enable the development of industrial food processing technology in Nigeria’s smallholder-driven Oil Palm sector while the grant will enable Releaf to provide working capital and other value-added services for smallholders and small-scale processors.
Grant funding will support the training, recruitment and retention of more women and youth in Nigeria Oil Palm sector through the creation of both digital and technical jobs.
Nigeria’s oil palm industry is dominated by smallholder farmers, with 80 percent of local market share.
However, production rates are low because many still rely on ineffective processes for de-shelling, including the use of rocks and inappropriate hardware. These ineffective processes also lead to low quality palm kernels which are largely unfit as input for high quality vegetable oil manufacturing.
As a result, food factories are unable to purchase these raw materials and operate significantly under capacity. On average, food factories have 3X more installed capacity than utilization, which impacts the cost of food and hampers further investment into processing capacity.
Releaf acts as a bridge between smallholder farmers and food manufacturing companies with its proprietary patent-pending machinery, Kraken. Kraken can process any quality of palm nut into premium quality (95 percent purity) inputs for food factories. Releaf’s software connects the start-up to more than 2,000 smallholder farmers, ensuring consistent, large-scale supply.
While palm kernel oil production is not foreign to Nigeria, Releaf’s technology and scale means it can process 500 tonnes of palm nuts per week.
The software offerings also allow the start-up to receive inbound supply requests from farmers via USSD, provide working capital financing as well as collect proprietary data on supply availability.
Speaking about the new funding, Ikenna Nzewi, CEO and co-founder of Releaf, said, “our mandate is to industrialize Africa’s food processing industry. This round of funding enables us to develop and prove our technology with smallholder farmers in the oil palm sector.
Given Nigerians spend ~60 percent of their income on food and Africa’s population is set to increase by 100,000 people per day over the next three decades, we’re presented with an incredible opportunity to feed more people, reduce consumer costs, and supply the fastest-growing food market in the world.
Releaf is committed to harnessing technology to accelerate the economic wealth of rural, agrarian societies throughout the Continent. We firmly believe that a robust real economy is the foundation for long-lasting and shared prosperity for Africans and are excited to deepen partnerships with like-minded organizations, governments, and firms.”
This new funding will enable better productivity and accelerate the eradication of the menial and archaic processes that are prevalent across Nigeria’s oil palm sector and the agriculture sector as a whole.
It will also enable Releaf to drive more value and profitability across the oil palm value chain, as well as support direct and ancillary job creation in the farming communities of South and Eastern Nigeria.
Rena Yoneyama, Managing Partner at Samurai Incubate Africa who led the round commented, “Releaf’s novel approach to operating within the value chain with proprietary technology set it aside from many agtech startups we have spoken to.
“We believe the firm’s thesis on decentralizing food processing would have a strong match with Africa’s economic development landscape for the next few decades. Ikenna and Uzo are the perfect founders to disrupt this market in Nigeria and beyond.
“We are thrilled to back them as they innovate in providing both agro-processing and financial services to rural communities and farmers.”
Iyin Aboyeji, General Partner at Future.Africa noted, “more than 50% of the goods in supermarkets globally contain glycerine – an extract made from palm oil – a cash crop that is passed down from generation to generation.
“The team at Releaf is building the agro-allied industry of the future from the ground up starting with palm oil which they have developed novel technology to aggregate, deshell and process into critical ingredients like vegetable oil and glycerine. Future Africa is delighted to back Releaf to build the future of modern agriculture”
Dr. Nneka Enwonwu, Country Relationship Manager, from The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) said, “We are thrilled to partner with Releaf on their mission to improve efficiency and profitability for farmers and food factories in Africa.
“The founders’ vision and the team’s enthusiasm gave us confidence that Releaf will deliver real value for rural communities and create digital/technical jobs for women and youth. We are looking forward to their results and success over the coming years and continuing to support their work.”
Young Nigerian tech genius, Oluwatobi Oyinlola, has developed the world’s smallest GPS tracking device, a prototype measuring just 22.93 x 11.92 mm.
Recognised by the Guinness World Records, the device was created at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, on April 27, where he is employed as a researcher.
It has been hailed for its potential across industries, from logistics and personal safety to medical devices and wildlife monitoring.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated the feat in a post on X, praising Oyinlola for showcasing the ingenuity of the West African country’s youth. “You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!” he wrote.
Adding to the accolades, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, lauded the innovation as a symbol of national pride and technological potential.
He commended Oyinlola’s journey, noting his early support for the young inventor’s IoT startup. “Long before this global recognition, I had the privilege of backing Oluwatobi. His journey, now continuing at MIT, is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary potential of our people,” Tijani said.
The prototype not only marks a leap in miniaturised technology but also highlights Nigeria’s growing footprint in global innovation. Bosun added that as Nigeria intensifies efforts to nurture homegrown tech talent, Oyinlola’s success is a beacon for the next generation of innovators.
“The world is only beginning to see what you’re capable of,” said the Minister.
Africa is becoming a global hub for solar energy development. The commercial and industrial sectors are driving this trend, with photovoltaic systems being installed on-site at businesses, educational institutions, and government facilities to meet energy demands.
This is according to CBi-electric: low voltage, which manufactures and supplies low voltage electrical distribution, protection, and control equipment.
2.5 gigawatts-peak (GWp) of solar capacity was built across Africa in 2024, with 194.34 GWp expected in 2025, according to the company.
Dr. Andrew Dickson, engineering executive of CBi-electric: low voltage, outlines how several reasons are hastening the continent’s transition to solar. “Energy poverty remains a major issue across Africa, with reliable grid electricity reaching only 14% of Zimbabweans, for example.”
He goes on to say that inconsistent power supply is another significant contributor, stating that “Persistent nationwide blackouts are affecting countries like Botswana, disrupting day-to-day operations. And in hydro-electric dependent countries such as Zambia, climate change is reducing water levels, leading to lower electricity generation and higher prices.”
Dickson believes that strategic system design and management are critical to realising the full potential of solar energy on the continent.
He said: “As Africa’s solar energy market continues to expand in 2025, organisations have an opportunity to capitalise on its long-term benefits. With the right technologies and safeguards in place, solar is not only a clean energy solution it’s a strategic asset that pays off.
“By combining surge protection, DC breakers, and monitoring tools, businesses can reduce unexpected costs, minimise downtime, and extend the life of their investment.”
Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a major initiative to train over 200,000 Nigerians in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, aiming to build a digitally skilled workforce and position Nigeria as a continental leader in AI-driven innovation.
The announcement was made by Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, during the 10th Annual Symposium and Awards of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, held at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.
AI’s Role in Sustainability and Economic Growth
Chief Nnaji, represented by Dr. Patricks Oghuma, Special Assistant to the Minister, emphasized the transformative power of AI, particularly when integrated with chemistry to address sustainability challenges.
“We are at the intersection of a revolution where artificial intelligence and chemistry converge to create new frontiers,” he stated. “This powerful synergy offers a vision of the future where innovation and sustainability work hand in hand”.
He also highlighted the gap between scientific research and real-world application, stressing the need for transformational research that directly solves real-world problems through AI.
Academic and Industry Collaboration
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, noting that AI’s ability to model, predict, and optimize is vital for reducing waste, conserving energy, and enhancing chemical processes.
“At NOUN, we remain committed to providing accessible, technology-enhanced education that directly addresses national and global challenges,” Prof. Peters said.
The symposium gathered key stakeholders in science, technology, and academia, focusing on leveraging AI to drive sustainable solutions and calling for stronger collaboration between research institutions, industry, and government.
Building a Knowledge-Driven Economy
Prof. Edu Inam, Chair of the ACS Nigeria Chapter, reinforced the society’s commitment to research mentorship and student engagement, noting that ACS continues to host campus events and outreach programs aimed at nurturing young scientific minds.
The initiative is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s AI adoption, fostering economic growth, sustainability, and technological advancement across multiple sectors.
Airtel Reveals Mechanism of Spam Alert Service
Nigerian Tech Prodigy sets World Record with Smallest GPS Tracker
Minister Seeks Digital Tech Adoption to Improve Agriculture, Boost Food Security
Africa Looks to Solar Amid Electricity Challenges
Fidelity Bank grows PBT by 167.8% to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025
News3 days agoTomato ‘Ebola’ May Disrupt Nigeria’s Agric Value Chain- Rewane
General News2 days agoFCMB Group Posts ₦35bn Q1 Profit as Revenue Surpasses Forecast
News3 days agoLoan Controversy: Court adjourns Otudeko, others’ case to June 11
Broadcasting3 days agoMultiChoice vs FCCPC: Only President has Power to Fix Prices- Court
Telecom3 days agoSEO Secrets: How Media Professionals Can Make Their Blog Posts Rank High
Telecom2 days agoMTN Group Strengthens Nigeria-South Africa Economic Ties Amid Africa’s Transformation
E-Business2 days agoMinister Seeks Digital Tech Adoption to Improve Agriculture, Boost Food Security
Telecom2 days agoAirtel Reveals Mechanism of Spam Alert Service