Ugandan Startup SANDI AI Wins $50,000 Agripreneur Prize for AI-Powered Farmer Finance

Ugandan startup SANDI AI Technologies has been awarded the US$50,000 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize 2026, recognizing its innovative use of artificial intelligence to enhance access to finance for farmers across Africa. The company, founded by Nabakka Sandra, received the top honor at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

SANDI AI's solution leverages AI to connect rural farmers with security-free financial loans, directly addressing the significant challenge of limited access to affordable financing for smallholder farmers. Many African farmers struggle to secure traditional loans due to a lack of collateral or formal employment records, despite their productive land and experience.

The prize money will be used to further develop SANDI AI's technology, expand its market reach, and extend its inclusive financial solutions to more farming communities. This achievement highlights a growing trend of African ventures utilizing technology to tackle fundamental issues in agriculture, financial inclusion, and economic development on the continent.

Sandra emphasizes that the technology aims to better understand farmers' potential and create pathways for them to access necessary resources, moving beyond conventional lending models. This approach aligns with a broader transformation in Africa, where AI is being deployed not just for automation but to expand access, improve decision-making, and unlock opportunities for historically excluded communities.