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Kigali, Rwanda | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | Ugandan agritech startup SANDI AI Technologies has won the 2026 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize, earning US$50,000, equivalent to about Shs190 million, to expand its artificial intelligence-driven solutions for agricultural finance.
Founded by Ugandan entrepreneur Sandra Nabakka, SANDI AI emerged as the overall winner of the continental competition at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
The award places the Ugandan startup among African ventures developing technology-driven solutions to some of the continent’s persistent challenges in agriculture, including limited access to finance for smallholder farmers.
SANDI AI is developing an artificial intelligence-powered platform aimed at connecting farmers to unsecured financial loans by using technology to improve how their financial needs and potential are assessed.
The company plans to use the prize money to strengthen its technology, expand its market presence and reach more farming communities.
Nabakka said the recognition reinforces the need for financial systems that reflect the realities of smallholder farmers, many of whom operate outside conventional lending requirements.
“Farmers should not be limited by systems that were not designed around their realities,” Nabakka 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.”
Financing gap
Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for smallholder farmers, who often lack the conventional collateral, formal income records and credit histories required by traditional lenders.
This can leave farmers unable to purchase quality inputs, increase production or take advantage of emerging market opportunities, despite having land, farming experience and established businesses.
SANDI AI is seeking to address part of this financing gap by applying artificial intelligence to the way farmers are assessed and connected to financial services.
The approach is part of a broader trend in Africa in which technology companies are developing alternative tools for financial inclusion, particularly for businesses and individuals underserved by traditional institutions.
For agricultural lenders, improved access to data and more effective risk assessment could help reduce some of the challenges associated with financing rural enterprises.
Continental recognition
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize recognises young African entrepreneurs building businesses in agriculture, food systems, sustainability and related sectors.
SANDI AI competed against other agrifood ventures from across Africa before securing the top recognition as a female-led enterprise.
The award was presented during the Africa Food Systems Forum, which brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss investment, innovation, food security and the transformation of Africa’s agricultural sector.
For Uganda’s technology ecosystem, the win provides international visibility for a locally founded startup seeking to combine artificial intelligence with agricultural and financial inclusion.
Nabakka, who has a background in artificial intelligence and sustainable development, has positioned SANDI AI around practical applications of emerging technology rather than technology development alone.
The company’s focus on agriculture reflects the sector’s importance to livelihoods across Africa, alongside the financing challenges that continue to limit the ability of many small-scale producers to grow.
The US$50,000 prize gives SANDI AI capital to develop its technology and expand its operations at a time when investors and development partners are increasingly looking to technology to address structural challenges in Africa’s food systems.
The intersection of artificial intelligence, agriculture and financial services presents a potentially significant market opportunity, particularly as financial institutions seek better ways to understand agricultural businesses and manage lending risks.
For SANDI AI, the immediate challenge will be translating the continental recognition and prize funding into measurable growth, including wider farmer access to finance and a sustainable business model.
Nabakka said the company’s ambition is to make agricultural finance more accessible to farmers who have traditionally been excluded from formal financial systems.
The prize therefore marks a significant step in SANDI AI’s expansion, while highlighting the growing role of African startups in developing locally relevant solutions to the continent’s agricultural and financial challenges.
