SANDI AI wins US$50,000 prize for agricultural fintech innovation

Ugandan startup SANDI AI Technologies has won the Grand Prize at the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize 2026, held during the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. The female-led company received US$50,000 in funding to advance its technology and expand into new markets.

Founded by Nabakka Sandra, SANDI AI uses artificial intelligence to help rural African farmers access loans without requiring traditional collateral such as property, formal employment records, or fixed assets. The technology aims to bridge the gap for small-scale farmers who possess productive land and experience but lack the documentation required by conventional financial institutions.

Sandra stated that the goal is to create smarter and more inclusive financial pathways, noting that “farmers should not be limited by systems that were not designed around their realities.” The prize money will be utilized to improve the platform's capabilities and reach more underserved farming communities across the continent.