The Yield Lab Latam, a leading AgriFoodTech venture capital fund, has announced a strategic investment in IncluirTec, an agrifintech firm enhancing financial inclusion for rural communities in Latin America. This funding, from the firm's Opportunity Fund, will accelerate IncluirTec's mission to de-risk agricultural lending. The partnership aims to empower financial institutions to better serve smallholder farmers and underserved populations.
Revolutionizing Rural Credit with Technology
IncluirTec addresses the critical lack of formal financing available to the region's rural productive sectors. Its "Agrifintech-as-a-Service" platform provides financial institutions with the digital tools to scale agricultural credit safely. This model effectively bridges a significant gap between traditional finance and the specific needs of agricultural producers.
The company's platform dramatically improves operational efficiency, cutting loan disbursement times from an average of 25 days to three days or less. This fully digital process eliminates the need for farmers to make costly trips to branch offices. It also provides them with significantly more favorable credit conditions than informal alternatives.
A Proven Model for Scalable Impact
At the heart of IncluirTec's solution is a proprietary alternative scoring algorithm that analyzes a borrower's productive capacity and economic behavior. This multidimensional approach moves beyond traditional credit metrics to provide a more accurate risk assessment. The model integrates field intelligence with advanced analytics for sustainable lending decisions.
The platform's effectiveness is demonstrated by its significant scale, now operating in four Latin American countries with 18 financial partners. It has processed over 100,000 loans, enabling a credit portfolio valued at USD $200 million. This traction underscores the market's demand for innovative rural financing solutions.
The model's financial sustainability is proven by an exceptional 97% on-time repayment rate, showing that rural inclusion can be profitable. Furthermore, access to this formal credit has been shown to increase farmer productivity. Studies indicate an average yield-per-hectare increase of 12% for participants.
Strategic Partnership to Fuel Expansion
Santiago Murtagh, Managing Partner at The Yield Lab Latam, expressed confidence in the partnership, citing IncluirTec's experienced leadership. He emphasized that the company's impressive repayment rate proves its scoring model is key to unlocking scalable agricultural finance. This validation from a leading investor is a significant milestone for the company.
Angélica Acosta, Co-founder and CEO of IncluirTec, noted that the investment accelerates the company's vision to transform agricultural finance. She stated that the partnership validates their technology-first approach to strengthening food security. This collaboration will expand their reach and help build climate resilience for rural communities across the region.
Addressing a Systemic Challenge
This investment highlights a broader industry shift toward data-driven agrifintech solutions that embed risk assessment directly into lending processes. IncluirTec’s strategy focuses on modernizing agricultural credit by empowering traditional banks rather than displacing them. This collaborative approach is designed to foster systemic and sustainable change within the financial ecosystem.
While the model has proven successful, scaling across the diverse regulatory and agricultural systems of Latin America remains a key challenge. The company's ability to adapt its platform to different local contexts will be crucial for its long-term goal. Ultimately, the objective is to meaningfully reduce the structural rural credit gap across the continent.
The investment by The Yield Lab Latam in IncluirTec marks a pivotal moment for agricultural finance in Latin America. By leveraging technology to solve the persistent rural credit gap, the partnership is set to drive greater financial inclusion. This collaboration promises to enhance food security and build lasting economic resilience for underserved farming communities.