Farm to Feed, a Kenya based agritech startup, has raised 1.5 million dollars in seed funding to scale its work on food loss and climate resilient food systems. The company runs a technology enabled marketplace that sources surplus and cosmetically imperfect produce from smallholder farmers and supplies it to institutional buyers. With the new capital, the startup plans to deepen its presence in Kenya and accelerate expansion into additional African markets.
Origins in a strained food system
The concept behind Farm to Feed emerged during the COVID 19 lockdowns, when farmers struggled to move crops as traditional markets shut down. Co founder and chief executive Claire Van Enk initially mobilized donations to buy produce directly from smallholders and distribute it to families in informal settlements. That relief effort exposed a structural problem in Kenya’s food economy, where large volumes of edible but non standard produce regularly failed to reach paying customers.
From emergency response to commercial venture
In 2021 Van Enk teamed up with co founders Anouk Boertien and Zara Benosa to convert the initiative into a commercial venture designed to absorb the full harvest. Instead of allowing irregularly shaped, surplus, or off size fruits and vegetables to go to waste, the startup aggregates both standard and so called rescue grade produce from farmers. It then channels this supply to businesses that value reliable sourcing, traceability, and affordable pricing.
How the marketplace works
Farm to Feed operates a business to business platform that links smallholder farmers with restaurants, caterers, food processors, and other bulk buyers. Farmers access prices and delivery information through a mobile app or a USSD interface, making the system usable for those without smartphones or stable internet. On the buyer side, an e commerce front end and an internal enterprise resource planning system manage orders, inventory, logistics, and traceability data.
Traction and climate impact
The company reports that it has onboarded roughly 6,500 farmers onto its platform since launch. These partners have supplied more than 2.1 million kilograms of produce that might otherwise have been rejected by mainstream markets as imperfect or surplus. By diverting this food from waste streams, Farm to Feed estimates that it has already helped avoid about 247 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Details of the seed round
The 1.5 million dollar seed raise combines 1.27 million dollars in equity with 230,000 dollars in non dilutive funding from DEG’s develoPPP Ventures program, which backs innovative businesses in sub Saharan Africa. The equity portion was led by Delta40 Venture Studio, with participation from DRK Foundation, Catalyst Fund, Holocene, Marula Square, 54Co, Levare Ventures, and Mercy Corps Ventures. Farm to Feed had previously attracted funding from investors including Renew Capital and CityBlue Hotels, laying the groundwork for this larger round.
Why investors are backing the model
Investors view Farm to Feed as a business that tackles both farmer livelihoods and climate resilience in a single model. By purchasing the full harvest and finding channels for every grade of produce, the startup aims to boost farmer incomes while turning food loss into a revenue opportunity. Backers also highlight the company’s digital infrastructure, which they believe can support scale while preserving data on sourcing, quality, and environmental impact.
Expansion plans and value addition
Proceeds from the seed round will be used to reinforce Farm to Feed’s digital backbone and expand its semi processed product lines. The company plans to upgrade its farmer tools, internal systems, and customer platforms so it can handle larger volumes and more complex supply chains. It is also investing in value addition to unlock higher value domestic and export markets for surplus and imperfect crops.
With fresh capital and growing networks of farmers and buyers, Farm to Feed is positioning itself as a key player in efforts to modernize food supply chains in Africa. Its focus on imperfect but nutritious produce, paired with a technology driven logistics and traceability stack, aligns with broader moves to make agriculture more efficient and climate smart. If the company executes on its expansion strategy, it could offer a scalable example of how reducing food loss can generate commercial returns while strengthening resilience for farmers and businesses alike.