Kenyan startup to take big biotechnology strides
Sistema.bio, a Nairobi-bases biodigester technology firm has secured US$15 million in financing to fuel its global growth. This funding means the company can now scale its operations, expand its energy solutions into new markets and move forward with providing clean energy and regenerative agriculture solutions to smallholder farmers worldwide.
The funding round was led by ElectriFI, managed by EDFI Management Company, with contributions from existing investors, including Chroma Impact Investment, KawiSafi Ventures, and AXA IM Alts. Additional financing was provided by existing lenders FMO, Triodos and EcoEnterprises as extensions to existing facilities. BIX Capital and UK Charity Shell Foundation provided the catalytic junior debt, co-funded with UK aid from the UK Government.
“This strategic investment underscores the confidence of Sistema.bio’s investors in the company’s mission to scale up its transformative impact across Asia, Africa and Latin America,” said Joyce Chacho, Independent Board Chair at Sistema.bio.
“The continued trust of ElectriFI and our coalition of investors allows us to focus on our work of engaging millions of farmers to help fight the climate crisis and deliver food security. We are now better positioned to reach our goal of empowering one million farmers by 2025, and reducing 1% of global emissions by 2030.” Alexander Eaton, CEO and co-founder of Sistema.bio, stated.
Coming on the heels of the 2021 Series B funding, the financing package in 2024 is designed to fund growth and unlock additional external capital. This will further fuel Sistema.bio’s expansion and innovation in its efforts to provide affordable, sustainable energy and regenerative agricultural solutions to family farmers worldwide.
The company has a notable strong focus on Africa, operating in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria, with over 100,000 farmers in sub-Saharan Africa benefiting from its operations.
Moreover, Sistema.bio has partnered with Engie Access, an off-grid energy service provider, to introduce its biogas digesters in Zambia and Mozambique. This partnership aligns with the company’s mission to enhance energy access in rural areas and boost farmers’ productivity through renewable energy solutions.
Over the past decade, Sistema.bio has grown into one of the largest integrated renewable energy and agricultural technology companies in the world focused on small-scale agriculture, with more than 100,000 biogas units installed to date operating in over 35 countries.
Sistema.bio’s innovative biogas technology transforms animal waste into clean biogas for cooking, heating, and electricity generation, while also producing nutrient-rich biofertilizer that boosts agricultural productivity. Leveraging advanced data tracking platforms, Sistema.bio enhances its impact by delivering high-quality carbon mitigation, sequestration, and climate change adaptation programs. These initiatives aim at contributing to the decarbonization of agriculture and supporting a shift towards regenerative farming practices.
With its operations cutting across three continents, Sistema.bio boasts of positively transforming the lives of over 100,000 farms and more than 600,000 people worldwide while reducing over 1 million tons of CO2e emissions annually.
As the world continues to seek solutions to climate change, this investment is a vote of confidence in Sistema.bio’s ability to scale its transformative impact.
