From rural Kenya to the Earthshot shortlist: Pula CEO Thomas Njeru reveals to Launch Base Africa how the profitable agtech reached 24 million farmers and why impact and profitability are not mutually exclusive.
The company recorded impressive growth in 2024, adding over 1 million users who placed more than 15 million investment orders worth approximately EGP 170bn ($3.4bn).
We looked through our data and uncovered a jarring reality: in 2025, Nigerian VCs are eerily quiet—even after some announced headline-making fundraises. For local founders, this isn’t just a data point; it’s a big concern.
In August 2024, Qardy closed a seven-figure pre-seed funding round backed by investors including White Field Ventures, Vastly Valuable Ventures, and a number of angel backers.
The EDFI loan follows a separate $12 million investment last year from Vancouver-based Key Carbon — formerly Carbon Neutral Royalty — with backing from private equity firm Cartesian.
Last year, HAVAÍC — a venture capital firm known for strategic tech investments and a recent exit from fellow emergency-tech startup RapidDeploy — invested $1.1 million in AURA through a bridge round, in partnership with AfricInvest.
Cameroon’s ultimatum comes just weeks after the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) initiated a similar regulatory crackdown across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
The company has raised $19 million since inception, supplemented by $20 million from contract chip design — a necessity in a region where deep-tech funding is scarce.
From rural Kenya to the Earthshot shortlist: Pula CEO Thomas Njeru reveals to Launch Base Africa how the profitable agtech reached 24 million farmers and why impact and profitability are not mutually exclusive.