Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [18/05/2020]

SA agritech startup Agrigate One is hoping its seamless trading platform can help farmers reach the market during the pandemic.

This, as Indian food delivery startup Swiggy, which is funded by Naspers, announced that it plans to cut 1100 jobs and scale down some related businesses.

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched a regular daily roundup on the virus and how it is affecting Africa’s tech startup sector.

SA agritech startup Agrigate One is hoping its online platform can help farmers reach the market during the pandemic

Those with any news releases relating to Covid-19 and Africa’s tech startup sector can send these to editor@memeburn.com.

Here then is the latest on the coronavirus and African tech startups:

One-stop farm platform: SA agritech startup Agrigate One is hoping its seamless trading platform that integrates all aspects of the fresh produce value chain can help farmers reach the market during the pandemic. The startup was founded in 2018 by Greg Whitaker (pictured above), who grew up on a Limpopo citrus farm and is now based in the UK. His business partners are Dante Visser, David Skjoldhammer, Wian Potgieter and Irene Rupert. “Currently no farm visits are possible so buyers resort to the platform to raise purchase orders and updates of the stock they have purchased. The system also looks for alternative transport solutions and inefficiency in the supply chain due to less capacity due to Covid,” said Whitaker. He declined to reveal details of the investment the business has landed, saying it was confidential for now. In one year, three of the 12 farmers who signed up for a pilot, shipped 417 containers to 28 international buyers.

Naspers-funded startup to cut jobs: Indian food delivery startup Swiggy, which is funded by Naspers, plans to cut 1100 jobs and scale down some related businesses, US tech publication TechCrunch reported in an article today. Naspers in 2017 invested $80-million in the startup as part of a Series-E funding round (see this story).

Sokowatch providing relief: East Africa-based ecommerce Sokowatch is using its network of shop owners and tech to distribute e-vouchers to families in need living in informal settlements, identified in partnership with organisations such as Uweza Foundation in Kibera slum in Nairobi and World Hope in Kawangware. Sokowatch estimates that through its operations in the nine largest cities in East Africa, about 1.5-million vulnerable families and 14 000 local shops could be provided with assistance digitally, eliminating the logistical challenges that usually face relief efforts.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [15/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [14/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [13/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [12/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [11/04/2020]

Featured image: Agrigate One founder Greg Whitaker (Supplied)