We started in the fields,
not a boardroom.
How UfarmX evolved from farming 100 acres in Nigeria to
building the credit infrastructure for African agriculture.
✦ Our Journey
From farmers to
infrastructure
We did not start in a boardroom. We started in the fields — and
that is what makes us different.
2022–2023
Nigerian farm fields
✦ The Full Story
UfarmX began in the fields, not a boardroom.
In 2022, during COVID, our founder Alexander Zanders purchased 100 acres in Nigeria on land gifted by his grandmother. Working alongside local farmers, he discovered a broken system: hardworking farmers could not access credit because banks saw them as too risky. Without credit, they could not afford quality inputs. Without quality inputs, yields stayed low. It was a cycle trapping millions in poverty.
So we ran an experiment. We provided 15 farmers with inputs on credit, technical support, and connections to buyers. The results: yields tripled, revenues doubled, and our default rate stayed under 10 percent — outperforming traditional banks.
That experiment became UfarmX. But we realized we could not lend to every farmer in Africa ourselves. So we pivoted — instead of lending directly, we built the infrastructure that enables others to lend safely.
Today, we are scaling across Nigeria, Senegal, Liberia, and Kenya with $6.8M+ in facilitated credit and under 10% defaults. In 2026, we launch our API product — making our credit scoring available to any financial institution at the click of a button.
✦ Timeline
2020
Alex purchases 100 acres in Nigeria on his grandmother's land during COVID.
2021
Discovers the credit gap firsthand working alongside local farmers.
2022
Runs 15-farmer pilot — yields triple, defaults stay under 10%.
2023
Pivots to B2B model; onboards first retailer partners in Nigeria.
2024
Techstars Farm to Fork; expands to Senegal; wins Black Ambition Grand Prize.
2025
Expands to Liberia; $6.8M GMV; 72+ retail partners; Bayer partnership.
2026
Launching API product for banks; Kenya pilot; closing $3M seed round.
✦ Meet the Founder
Alexander Zanders
Founder & CEO
Alex is a farmer-turned-fintech founder with deep roots in African agriculture. After purchasing 100 acres in Nigeria during the COVID pandemic, he experienced firsthand the credit barriers facing smallholder farmers.
Techstars Farm to Fork alum, Black Ambition Grand Prize winner, World Economic Forum attendee, and operator of ELE Farms in Nigeria — named after his grandmother.
✦ Our Values
Built for
everything we do
Farmer First
Every decision starts with
impact on the farmer.
Infrastructure Mindset
Every decision starts with
impact on the farmer.
Data-Driven
Every decision starts with
impact on the farmer.
Infrastructure Mindset
Every decision starts with
impact on the farmer.
Ready to be part of the story?
Join the retailers, banks, and partners building the future of African agricultural finance.
