Village Capital has recently invested USD 150,000 in Rhea Soil Health Management (Rhea) and Regxta, two women-led startups, via Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Financing Facility. The financing initiative is aimed at promoting innovation and financial inclusion by offering support to alumni of Standard Chartered’s Futuremakers program, which is centered on promoting women-led entrepreneurial ventures.
Village Capital is a seed stage venture capital firm that identifies, trains, and provides funds for early-stage ventures solving major global problems in agriculture, education, energy, financial inclusion, as well as health.
With its commitment to revamping traditional investment models to support emerging entrepreneurs, Village Capital has recently invested USD 150,000 in Rhea Soil Health Management (Rhea) and Regxta, two women-led startups, via Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Financing Facility.
What this Investment means for African Women-led Businesses
The investment by Capital Village is such a timely one, particularly because it is coming at a time when access to funding continues to be a substantial challenge for women entrepreneurs in Africa, especially in the agriculture and technology sectors.
The Women in Tech Financing Facility strives to close this gap by offering catalytic capital that enables women-led businesses to grow their operations and drive transformative change within their communities. This is the reminder to women doing great things in any sector to keep going.
Rhea Soil Health Management; A Brief Background
Rhea is a Kenyan-based startup that is reshaping agriculture by providing affordable and accessible soil testing solutions to farmers. Agripad, the main product of the startup, is a portable soil testing equipment that enables smallholder farmers to enhance their crop production by understanding their soil’s nutritional needs. This innovation tackles a serious issue in agriculture, where no access to soil data usually leads to poor farming practices and diminished soil health. Rhea’s impact is already being felt across the rural parts of Kenya, where farmers are adopting data-driven practices to increase productivity.
Priscilla Wakarera, the founder of Rhea had the following to say concerning the village capital investment,: “Building a science-driven hardware-software business in Africa’s agritech sector is challenging, especially with the need for continuous R&D and market-driven innovation, Village Capital’s investment will help us finalize the production of our Agripad devices, expand our agent network, and strengthen our impact on smallholder farmers and agronomists across Kenya. The Standard Chartered Women in Tech program equipped us with the tools to scale sustainably and create meaningful results, and joining Village Capital’s portfolio solidifies that foundation.”
A Bit About Nigeria’s Regxta
In Nigeria, Regxta is thriving in the advancement of financial inclusion via its custom services for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The business focuses on giving digital financial solutions to women-owned businesses that frequently face barriers when trying to access formal financial services. Regxta’s platform provides microloans, savings products, and financial literacy tools that empower entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and attain financial security.
“Village Capital’s investment arrived at a crucial time, enabling us to expand our reach, secure a microfinance banking license, and enter new markets,” Regxta’s founder, Rukayat Bello said on receiving the fund. “This support affirms Regxta’s position as a high-impact startup driving poverty reduction, fostering economic growth, and creating sustainable opportunities for underserved communities in Nigeria.”
The Gap in Funding Availability for Women-led Businesses
The Women in Tech Financing Facility which is a joint initiative of both Village Capital and Standard Chartered addresses the gap that exists for women-led businesses attempting to access funding. Based on recent studies, women-led startups receive significantly lesser funding than the male-led ones, receiving only as little as less than 3% of global venture capital funding, even though evidence shows that businesses led by women deliver higher returns on investment.
By offering catalytic capital alongside mentorship, the facility enables female entrepreneurs to overcome unique challenges and biases, empowering them to build sustainable businesses and create positive social impact.
The Importance of Supporting Women-led Businesses
Eva Waweru, a Village Capital representative emphasized the significance of supporting women-led businesses in piloting economic and social progress. She said; “women entrepreneurs are critical drivers of economic and social progress. Our collaboration with Standard Chartered aims to ensure these leaders have the financial backing they need to scale their businesses and maximize their impact. Through targeted investments, we are creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports innovation and sustainable development in Africa.”
The investment in Rhea and Regxta also highlights the crucial role that technology plays in tackling pressing social and economic challenges across Africa. By capitalizing on digital tools and data-driven solutions, both businesses are improving productivity and financial security in sectors that are essential to the continent’s development.