Ground Up Investing has secured $6 million in the first close of its second investment fund, bringing it closer to its $20 million target. The fund will provide financing to small and medium-sized agricultural businesses across Africa and Latin America, with a focus on improving farmers' incomes and supporting rural communities.

The investment firm, which operates under Corus International, plans to address the financing challenges faced by agricultural businesses that struggle to secure loans from traditional financial institutions.

Corus International is serving as the fund's anchor investor, supporting its goal of expanding access to capital for agricultural enterprises.

The fund is expected to support sustainable land management across more than 20,000 acres of farmland and generate approximately $200 million in additional income for smallholder farmers. Ground Up Investing aims to create $10 in additional farmer income for every dollar invested.

Businesses in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador will be eligible for two-year working capital loans ranging from $250,000 to $1 million.

These businesses play an important role in purchasing produce from smallholder farmers, connecting them to reliable markets and creating employment opportunities in rural communities.

Since 2017, Ground Up Investing has provided more than $50 million in agricultural financing. Its first fund invested $5 million in 15 agricultural businesses, helping generate over $50 million in payments to farmers while supporting more than 800 jobs.

One example is Uganda's Mountain Harvest, a coffee producer working with over 3,000 farming families and reportedly paying farmers 30% above standard market prices.

Ground Up Investing also plans to expand its impact in the coming years. According to its CEO, Mark Muckerheide, the organisation hopes to generate $1 billion in additional income for farmers over the next decade.

However, access to affordable financing remains a major challenge for smaller agricultural businesses, particularly those that have outgrown microfinance but cannot meet the requirements of commercial lenders.

At TheGreyIT, we believe investments like this can help agricultural businesses expand while creating better income opportunities for farmers. Making financing accessible to smaller enterprises remains essential to building stronger agricultural markets and improving livelihoods in rural communities.