In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures and Farm Star piloted a mobile-based solution delivering AI-powered weather forecasts and farming advice to smallholder farmers. Reaching 63 farmers—70% of them women—the pilot saw 80% reporting higher yields, with 97% applying the guidance received. Results point to strong demand and potential for scale, especially as 80% of participants lacked good alternatives.

This call for proposals invites early‑stage startups to join Mercy Corps Ventures’ Ventures Lab in tackling financial exclusion through AI. With up to $50,000 in equity‑free funding, we’re looking for solutions that expand access to credit, insurance, savings, and remittances for unbanked, climate‑vulnerable populations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Apply by December 1, 2025.

As climate-driven water challenges intensify, Mercy Corps Ventures launched a global call to fund tech solutions improving water efficiency, access, and infrastructure for vulnerable communities. We received 243 applications from 48 countries—uncovering powerful trends in innovation across AI, IoT, purification, smart irrigation, and more. This blog shares what we learned and where the most promising solutions are emerging.

In Ghana, Mercy Corps Ventures partnered with Haraka and Grameen Foundation to test blockchain-powered microloans for women’s savings groups. No apps, no crypto wallets, no collateral. The result? Faster, cheaper credit in local stablecoins helping over 500 borrowers — 90% of them women — grow businesses and build resilience.

Selected from 230+ applications in 50+ countries, OPAL for Floods will pilot in Senegal, using AI, satellite imagery, and smart contracts to help Thiès and Grand Dakar act before floods.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, massive amounts of edible food are wasted every year simply because they don’t meet visual standards. Farm to Feed is a women-led startup that turns this “imperfect” produce into valuable supply for commercial kitchens, helping farmers earn more while reducing climate impact. Learn why Mercy Corps Ventures is backing this innovative, climate-smart solution.

How can stablecoins improve the way aid reaches people in crisis? This piece explores a humanitarian cash pilot in Northeast Syria, where farmers received digital payments via stablecoin rails for the first time. You'll find how it worked in practice—from speed and cost gains to vendor hesitancy—plus firsthand insights from local participants, implementation lessons, and what this means for future aid delivery at scale.

Mercy Corps Ventures partnered with Quipu and Anzi Finance to pilot a DeFi credit solution for Colombian microentrepreneurs. Using AI‑driven credit scoring and decentralized stablecoin capital, the pilot issued 313 loans averaging $108 to underserved entrepreneurs—86% reported better climate resilience, and 80% saw income growth.

As global agriculture shifts toward sustainability, biologically derived inputs like biostimulants and biopesticides are emerging as powerful tools to boost yields, protect ecosystems, and support smallholder farmers. This blog explores the opportunities, challenges, and startup strategies shaping the next era of sustainable farming.