Shamba Records, a Kenyan agritech startup previously featured on BitKE for its blockchain-based supply chain and farmer data solutions, has been selected as one of 15 African startups joining the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First 2025 cohort.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS [DEADLINE: MAY 9 2025] | Google for Startups Accelerator Invites Applications from AI and ML African Startups for Cohort 9
Successful startups will gain access to a range of benefits, including up to $350,000 in Cloud creditshttps://t.co/gwy4ikDVHJ pic.twitter.com/07ows0tZpr
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 22, 2025
The startup is among four Kenyan companies – alongside Nobuk, Maza AI, and Fastagger – chosen to participate in the 10-week accelerator. Other selected ventures span 10 countries, with Nigeria and Kenya leading in representation.
BitKE has previously highlighted Shamba Records for its pioneering work in digitizing smallholder farming records and enabling transparent farm-to-market traceability using blockchain and IoT tools. By integrating Web3 infrastructure into agriculture, Shamba has tackled longstanding trust issues around produce quality, payments, and farmer identity verification – earning recognition from platforms like Cardano and the CV Labs.
Shamba Records has demonstrated impressive traction and growth in its user base:
Back in 2019, it was already being used by over 6,000 farmers, according to multiple reports on its platform’s usage.
More recently, Shamba Records has expanded significantly, now reporting over 30,000 active users leveraging its platform for features like data-driven farming, weather alerts, market access, and credit opportunities.
Summary:
6,000+ farmers (circa 2019)
30,000+ active users (current)
This shows a strong five-fold growth in just a few years, highlighting the platform’s increasing reach across smallholder farming communities.
Speaking to Hedera on the problems the startup is solving, George Maina, the CEO and Founder of Shamba Records said:
“We’re able to provide a farmer’s wallet which is able to cut down the payment period from 90 days to just a single minute to the farmers.
Besides that, we’re able to provide a credit-scoring engine that is able to score small-holder farmers and also unlock new credit lines for their farms.
Lastly, we’re able to provide market linkages to the farmers making sure that whatever they produce, they’re able to get a ready market.”
Maina says Shamba Records has been able to reach over 50,000 farmers.
We’ve been talking about the impact @Hedera is having in Africa a lot lately, and for good reason. The continent is ripe for the changes web3 can enable.@RecordsShamba is one of the teams at the cutting edge. pic.twitter.com/TIJW8CrkLA
— The HBAR Bull | ℏ/acc (@thehbarbull) July 8, 2025
This selection into Google’s AI-focused program signals a growing convergence between blockchain, AI, and climate-smart agriculture – a space Shamba is well-positioned to lead. The accelerator will offer equity-free support, mentorship, and access to Google’s AI and Cloud resources.
Shamba’s traction reflects a broader shift in Africa’s tech ecosystem. As previously reported by BitKE, investor interest is now favoring deep tech and climate-tech solutions over generic MVPs. Shamba’s integration of AI and blockchain to drive smallholder productivity and supply chain transparency exemplifies this new investor thesis – one that rewards real-world utility over hype.
With Google’s backing, Shamba Records is expected to deepen its AI capabilities – possibly around crop yield predictions, fraud detection, or farmer credit scoring – all areas where data transparency is essential.
This isn’t just a win for Shamba – it’s a validation of Africa’s emerging deeptech players who are solving real problems at scale.
Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the evolving Kenyan and African blockchain space.
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