Bio-Logical, a Nairobi-based climate tech startup, recently secured a substantial $1 million in seed funding. Spearheaded by the Steyn Group, this investment round also featured prominent angel investors, including Rob Konterman, Luke Calcott-Stevens, and Jochem Wieringa. The primary objective behind this financial backing is to facilitate the establishment of Bio-Logical’s inaugural site in Kenya, which will serve as a launching pad for the company’s expansion across the region.
The utilization of these funds will be directed towards the development of a biochar production facility with an annual capacity to convert more than 30,000 tonnes of agricultural waste into biochar. This innovative approach is expected to sequester a noteworthy 25,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Moreover, Bio-Logical plans to generate carbon credits from this process. The revenue generated from these credits will be employed to subsidize the production of resilience-building fertilizers tailored for smallholder farmers. By doing so, Bio-Logical aims to empower 1 million smallholder farmers and sequester 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually by the year 2030.
Why The Investors Invested
The investors’ decision to inject $1 million into Bio-Logical stems from a strategic analysis of the startup’s potential impact. In a world where smallholder farmers face a grim future due to climate change-induced challenges, Bio-Logical stands out by offering a circular economy solution. By transforming agricultural waste into biochar — a potent carbon-sequestering material — the startup not only addresses environmental concerns but also regenerates degraded soil. This unique approach directly tackles the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture, boosting crop drought resistance and increasing yields by over 50%.
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The investors recognize the urgency of addressing climate change’s impact on smallholder farmers globally, a crisis exacerbated by soil degradation and shifting weather patterns. Bio-Logical’s commitment to mitigating these challenges aligns with a broader vision of creating a more sustainable and resilient agricultural ecosystem. The circular economy model, where carbon credits contribute to the welfare of climate-vulnerable communities, resonates strongly with the investors’ ethos.
A Look At Pineapple
Bio-Logical, founded by CEO Rory Buckworth, operates with a mission grounded in social responsibility. Established on the belief that smallholder farmers should not bear the brunt of a climate crisis they did not cause, the startup employs innovative technology to pave the way for a more sustainable future. The company’s first site in Kenya will boast the title of the largest biochar production facility in Africa, symbolizing Bio-Logical’s commitment to making a substantial impact.
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Founded to address the immediate challenges faced by smallholder farmers globally, Bio-Logical’s solution combines cutting-edge technology with a deep sense of social responsibility. By transforming waste into biochar and supporting smallholder farmers with resilience-building fertilizers, Bio-Logical aims to uplift communities, enhance food security, and contribute to the fight against climate change. The founders, Rory Buckworth and Philip Hunter, envision a future where carbon credits serve not just to remove carbon from the atmosphere but also to build the resilience of climate-vulnerable communities.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard