Pioneer Facility Pledges US $500,000 to Bangladesh Ag‑tech Start‑up iFarmer

Impact‑investment fund Pioneer Facility will provide US $500,000 to Bangladeshi ag‑tech start‑up iFarmer, marking the fund’s first commitment in the country since adding Bangladesh to its regional portfolio last year, the organisations announced on Wednesday.

Managed by Singapore‑based Nexus for Development, Pioneer Facility backs ventures with measurable social, economic and environmental impact. To date it has disbursed more than US $3.7 million across South‑East Asia and Bangladesh, focusing on climate resilience, gender equity and poverty reduction.

Boost for smallholders

iFarmer, founded in 2018, connects smallholder farmers with quality inputs, tailored finance, agronomic advice, insurance and guaranteed market access. The company aggregates crops at fair prices and supplies fertiliser and other inputs via a tech‑enabled supply chain, linking farmers, input suppliers and financial institutions.

“This funding will allow us to reach many more farmers with better farm inputs, easier credit and stronger market linkages—directly lifting incomes and livelihoods,” iFarmer co‑founder and CEO Fahad Ifaz said in the statement.

Pioneer Facility’s investment “will help scale iFarmer’s innovative model, transform supply chains and build a more sustainable, resilient food system in Bangladesh,” added Nexus for Development Executive Director Laura Alsenas, noting that smallholders still face major barriers to affordable finance and high‑quality inputs.

About Pioneer Facility

Registered in Singapore, Pioneer Facility channels working capital to enterprises tackling climate change and rural poverty. The iFarmer transaction underscores its strategy of supporting businesses that can rapidly deepen impact while demonstrating financial viability.