Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo is the founder and CEO of Farmatrix Agro Allied and Technology Company, a Nigerian startup dedicated to enhancing market access and sustainability for smallholder farmers to increase their profitability and reduce post-harvest loss. A certified Food System Specialist, Climate Reality Leader, and Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, she has impacted over 4,000 farmers through innovative solutions that reduce post-harvest losses. With a background in Computer Science and an MBA in business administration, she leverages technology to drive food system transformation and agricultural resilience across Africa. Nyifamu was recently recognized as a finalist for this year’s Aurora Tech Award supported by inDrive, which celebrates the most innovative and trailblazing women founders of IT startups from across the globe.
Can you tell us a little about your background and your company? Moving from Lagos to Northern Nigeria, I witnessed firsthand the resilience and struggles of smallholder farmers (a small farm operating under a small-scale agriculture model) in my community. Despite their hard work in food production, they faced significant post-harvest losses and low profitability due to limited market access and inefficiencies in the supply chain. This inspired me to start Farmatrix, a tech-driven solution that connects farmers to markets, financing, and warehousing solutions, ensuring they earn more for their efforts. My mission is to improve agriculture in Africa by leveraging technology to build a more inclusive and resilient food system.
What inspired you to start your business? The inefficiencies in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and the struggles of smallholder farmers were my biggest motivation. Many of these farmers work tirelessly yet remain financially unstable due to unfair market practices and a lack of access to storage and financing. Farmatrix was born out of my desire to bridge this gap and ensure that their hard work translates into sustainable income and food security.
How did you create awareness for your brand? We leveraged digital marketing, strategic partnerships, and community engagement to build awareness. Our collaborations with organizations like the Mastercard Foundation and CCHub, Premier Tropicana Nigeria LTD helped us reach more farmers. Additionally, we use social media, agricultural cooperatives, and local market influencers to ensure our solution gets to the right audience.
What strategies helped you secure funding and scale your business? We focused on showcasing our impact and scalability to potential partners and investors. Participating in reputable entrepreneurship programs like the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program, Seedstars, Mastercard Foundation FAST Program and Lagos Business School’s Enterprise Development Center provided credibility and opened doors for funding opportunities. Additionally, forming strategic partnerships with key players in the agricultural value chain has been instrumental to our growth.
What have been your biggest successes so far? Farmatrix has impacted over 4,000 farmers, reduced post-harvest losses, and provided better market access and financing solutions. We’ve also established key partnerships with organizations like Premier Tropicana Nigeria Limited, and are in advanced discussions with Heifer, Technoserve, and AGRA. Our vision is scaling rapidly, and we are on track to achieving our ambitious impact goals.
What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them? One of the biggest challenges was navigating the fragmented agricultural supply chain and building trust among farmers. We overcame this by engaging local farming cooperatives, demonstrating the value of our platform, and ensuring transparency in our operations. Access to funding was another hurdle, but by joining accelerator programs and forming strategic partnerships, we’ve been able to secure critical support for our expansion.
What are your plans for the future? Our goal is to scale Farmatrix across Africa, impacting 1,000,000 smallholder farmers through expanded market access, financing, warehousing, and logistics solutions. By 2028, we aim to transact over 350,000 metric tonnes of grains, onboard 50,000+ farmers, and establish relationships with 100+ off-takers, FMCG companies, and export markets. We are also continuously improving our SaaS platform to democratize access to purchase orders, warehousing, and logistics.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?
Be Bold and Audacious – Doing business, especially in Africa, requires resilience. Don’t wait for permission, create your own opportunities.
Leverage Networks and Mentorship – Surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry leaders who can offer guidance and support.
Embrace Challenges as Stepping Stones – Failures and obstacles are part of the journey. Learn from them and use them to refine your strategy.
Stay Mission-Driven – Focus on solving real problems and adding value, not just making profits. Impact-driven businesses thrive in the long run.
What are your top three tips for entrepreneurial success?
Firstly, aim to solve a real problem – the most successful startups always address pressing challenges and focus on creating value-driven solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives.
Secondly, stay resilient and adaptable, as entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared to pivot, innovate, and push through setbacks with determination.
Lastly, always make sure to leverage your network and partnerships. Success doesn’t happen in isolation, and building strong relationships with mentors, investors, industry experts, and like-minded entrepreneurs will help open doors and support your growth.
Who are five people who inspire you the most, and why?
I draw immense inspiration from five phenomenal women who have built sustainable solutions to real-world challenges, proving that it is possible to innovate, lead, and thrive:
- My mother, Happiness Manzo – A pillar of strength, resilience, and selflessness, she instilled in me the values of hard work, determination, and service to others.
- Opeoluwa Fayomi (Co-founder & CEO, Pullus Africa) – A visionary leader revolutionizing agribusiness by leveraging technology and sustainable solutions to empower farmers and transform food systems.
- Ndidi Nwuneli (CEO, ONE Campaign) – A powerhouse in social impact, agribusiness, and policy advocacy, championing food security, women empowerment, and economic inclusion across Africa.
- Cherrie Atilano (Founder/CEO, AGREA) – A global leader in agriculture and sustainability, whose commitment to inclusive agribusiness models has inspired me to scale Farmatrix with impact-driven innovation.
- Odun Eweniyi (Co-founder, PiggyVest) – A tech entrepreneur redefining fintech and financial inclusion, proving that women can disrupt industries, lead successful startups, and drive economic transformation.
What are your favourite inspirational or motivational quotes?
- “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
Where can our readers connect with you?
