Grace Ashiru
Downforce Technologies, a climate tech startup based in London, has secured $4.2 million to develop new products targeting Africa and to expand into additional markets. This funding round was spearheaded by Equator VC, an early-stage venture firm focused on climate tech in Africa. Existing shareholders Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund, Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Perivoli Innovations, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), whose investment is managed by Virescent Ventures, continue to support the company.
“This funding enables us to democratize access to the technology and empower a wider audience to make data-driven decisions for soil health and climate action,” said Professor Jacquie McGlade, CEO of Downforce Technologies, in a statement.
Launched in 2020, Downforce Technologies, under the leadership of Professor Jacquie McGlade, offers cost-effective remote sensing software that enables farmers to measure soil health quickly. The company also provides tools for planning and executing verified carbon projects, collecting and reporting farm emissions data, and implementing soil health improvement initiatives.
Africa contributes only a small fraction of global food production. In 2021, Africa’s total food exports amounted to just over $60 billion, whereas the U.S. exported $177 billion worth of food in the same year. Despite the continent’s capacity to produce more food due to its uncultivated arable land, the challenge of measuring soil fertility remains significant. These measurements are typically expensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors.
Downforce Technologies is among a growing group of climate tech startups—AgroCares, SoilSense, Regen Technologies, and EcoPeanut—offering diverse solutions for soil carbon measurement, farm management, and climate sustainability for African farmers.
“Downforce has successfully introduced a compelling software platform, poised to act as a catalyst for increased investment in soil organic carbon globally, particularly in Africa, to ensure food security, promote climate mitigation, and enhance resilience to climate change,” said Nijhad Jamal, Managing Partner at Equator.
