KIGALI, Rwanda — A Ugandan technology company seeking to expand access to agricultural finance through artificial intelligence has won the 2026 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize, securing US$50,000 (about Shs190 million) in growth funding.
SANDI AI Technologies, founded by Ugandan entrepreneur Nabakka Sandra, received the top award during the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Summit in Kigali, where entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and agriculture sector players gathered to discuss investment and innovation in Africa’s food systems.
The startup is developing an artificial intelligence-based solution aimed at helping smallholder farmers access unsecured loans, particularly those who struggle to meet the collateral and documentation requirements imposed by conventional financial institutions.
The prize funding will be used to advance SANDI AI’s technology, expand its operations and extend its services to more farming communities.
Sandra said the company is focused on using technology to make financial systems more responsive to the circumstances of farmers.
“Farmers should not be limited by systems that were not designed around their realities,” she said. “Technology gives us an opportunity to understand farmers better, recognise their potential, and create pathways that allow them to access the resources they need to grow.”
Tackling finance barriers
For many smallholder farmers, access to capital remains a major obstacle to expanding production and improving their businesses.
Traditional lending systems often require borrowers to provide fixed assets, formal income records or other forms of security. These requirements can exclude farmers whose businesses may be viable but whose assets and income do not fit conventional lending models.
SANDI AI is seeking to address this challenge by applying artificial intelligence to agricultural finance, with the aim of developing better ways of understanding farmers and connecting them with appropriate financial opportunities.
The company’s model brings together technology, agricultural information and financial inclusion in an effort to provide an alternative pathway for farmers who remain underserved by formal finance.
The approach comes as African technology companies increasingly apply artificial intelligence to sectors beyond automation, including agriculture, financial services and access to essential economic opportunities.
Sandra, whose background includes artificial intelligence and sustainable development, founded SANDI AI around the idea of applying emerging technology to practical challenges affecting African communities.
Agriculture became a key area of focus because of its importance to livelihoods and food security, as well as the persistent financing constraints faced by small-scale producers.
The company’s recognition at the GoGettaz competition highlights the growing participation of African startups in developing locally designed solutions to structural challenges within the food and agriculture sector.
SANDI AI emerged from a field of agrifood enterprises participating in the competition and was recognised as the leading female-led venture.
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize is designed to support young African entrepreneurs developing businesses in agriculture, food production, sustainability and related areas.
The US$50,000 award provides SANDI AI with capital to accelerate product development and market expansion while increasing its visibility among potential investors and business partners.
The startup operates at the intersection of three areas attracting growing interest across Africa: agriculture, financial inclusion and artificial intelligence.
The opportunity is significant. Farmers require financing to invest in inputs and expand production, while banks and other financial institutions need better ways to assess agricultural businesses and manage the risks associated with lending to the sector.
Technology companies are increasingly seeking to bridge that gap by providing alternative ways of generating and analysing information about businesses and potential borrowers.
For SANDI AI, the challenge now is to translate its continental recognition into wider adoption and measurable improvements in farmers’ access to capital.
Sandra said the company intends to continue developing its technology and expanding its reach as it works towards making agricultural finance more accessible.
The award gives the Ugandan startup both financial backing and continental exposure as it seeks to scale a technology-based approach to one of the longstanding challenges facing Africa’s agricultural economy.
