Kenyan climate-tech startup SunCulture has secured a $5 million investment from WaterEquity, marking the first deal under the firm’s newly launched Water & Climate Resilience Fund. This strategic funding aims to enhance SunCulture’s efforts in providing solar-powered irrigation solutions to smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded in 2013 by Samir Ibrahim and Charlie Nichols, SunCulture has developed solar-powered water pumps that offer an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional diesel and manual irrigation systems. These systems not only improve agricultural productivity but also provide households with access to clean water for daily needs such as drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
The company’s pay-as-you-grow financing model has enabled over 45,000 smallholder farmers to adopt these technologies, significantly reducing the financial barriers to sustainable farming practices.
The $5 million investment from WaterEquity will be utilized to expand Operations: Enhance manufacturing and distribution capabilities to meet the growing demand for solar-powered irrigation systems, increase Market Reach: Extend services to additional countries within Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Togo, and trengthen Financial Accessibility: Further develop financing models to ensure affordability for low-income farmers.
This funding aligns with WaterEquity’s mission to mobilize capital for water and sanitation solutions that enhance climate resilience in emerging markets.
With this investment, SunCulture is poised to scale its impact, addressing critical challenges related to water scarcity and food security in Africa. The partnership with WaterEquity underscores a shared commitment to sustainable development and the empowerment of smallholder farmers through innovative technology solutions.
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