Village Capital Backs Two Nigerian Companies with New Investment

Global nonprofit Village Capital has deployed $450,000 from its Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility into two Nigerian startups: Trade Lenda and AirSmat. This marks the investment vehicle’s entry into Nigeria after previously supporting companies in Ghana.

The facility, launched in July 2025 with funding from FMO and RVO, focuses on early-stage businesses working on economic mobility and climate resilience. The latest investments bring its total portfolio to seven startups across both countries.

Trade Lenda: Financial Services for SMEs

Trade Lenda provides digital business loans, embedded finance solutions, and Sharia-compliant financing options. They’ve already supported over 260,000 SMEs and farmers across Nigeria, with women comprising 66% of their customer base.

According to Adeshina Adewumi, co-founder and CEO: “The capital has enabled us to accelerate our growth, acquire a higher license, and attract more competitive funding.” The investment helped Trade Lenda secure an additional $2 million in local debt facilities at lower rates, expanding their lending capacity while reducing costs.

AirSmat: Climate Tech for Agriculture

AirSmat converts agricultural waste into biochar-based fertilizer—a sustainable solution that improves soil health and creates income opportunities through carbon markets. The investment will fund the completion of a commercial factory and expand production capabilities.

Founder Soji Sanyaolu noted, “Access to capital structured around the realities of building a climate-tech company has been transformative for AirSmat.”

The facility’s approach prioritizes working with local ecosystem partners like Africa Fintech Foundry to identify promising startups that might be overlooked by traditional investors. This model mirrors their strategy in Ghana where they invested in Rivia Clinics and VDL Fulfilment.

With additional investments planned across Nigeria and Tanzania, Village Capital is demonstrating a commitment to supporting early-stage companies building resilient systems for African markets.