Ground Up Investing, the impact investment arm of Corus International, has announced a $6 million first close for its second agricultural investment fund on October 20, 2026. The fund will provide working-capital loans to agricultural businesses in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. This financing model addresses a gap between smaller loans from microfinance institutions and larger investments from commercial lenders.
The initiative targets enterprises that purchase crops directly from smallholder farmers and connect them to larger markets. These businesses play a crucial role in agricultural supply chains, linking rural producers with processors, distributors, and consumers. By supporting these enterprises, the fund aims to generate $200 million in additional income for smallholder farmers and improve land management across more than 20,000 acres.
The fund will provide two-year working-capital loans, typically ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. This financing approach recognizes that agricultural businesses often struggle to secure working capital despite their essential role in rural economies. Without sufficient funding, enterprises may be unable to purchase crops promptly, expand storage capacity, invest in processing equipment, or maintain reliable relationships with farmers.
The initiative builds on Ground Up Investing’s first fund, launched in 2017, which invested $5 million in 15 agricultural enterprises. According to the organization, those businesses collectively paid farmers more than $50 million and created over 800 local jobs. This track record demonstrates the potential for targeted financing to drive positive change in agricultural supply chains.
For African countries, strengthening these businesses could improve agricultural market access, encourage local processing, and reduce losses across supply chains. It could also create more predictable markets for smallholder farmers, whose incomes are frequently affected by limited access to buyers and inadequate storage facilities.
Africa’s agricultural transformation requires investment across the entire value chain. Supporting farmers remains essential, but strengthening the enterprises connecting production to markets is equally important. The Ground Up Investing initiative demonstrates how targeted financing can address a frequently overlooked part of agricultural development, helping to connect investment capital with rural enterprise, stronger markets, and improved livelihoods.
However, the fund’s development targets remain projections, and its actual contribution will depend on how effectively financing reaches viable businesses and translates into higher farmer incomes, improved productivity, and sustainable operations. The organization aims to make a lasting impact in the regions it serves, but the outcome will depend on various factors, including the performance of the businesses it supports.
Key points
- The fund aims to generate $200 million in additional income for smallholder farmers and improve land management across more than 20,000 acres.
- The initiative targets enterprises that purchase crops directly from smallholder farmers and connect them to larger markets.
- The fund will provide two-year working-capital loans, typically ranging from $250,000 to $1 million.
