Mavuno | Birrama Digital Commerce

Company Description

Gemini said Birrama Venture Studio is a pan-African venture builder creating a synergistic ecosystem of consumer-focused companies. We ideate and launch ventures in critical sectors like healthcare, e-commerce, and agriculture, designed to empower local producers, reduce inefficiencies, and deliver substantial value to both consumers and communities.

Countries of Operation

• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Rwanda

Ownership of Company

Local Company

Number of years since incorporated

4

Project Pitch

Mavuno is an AI-powered underwriting engine designed to digitize Ethiopia’s $40+ billion agricultural sector, which currently operates in a "data black hole". The project pitches a solution to the "unbankable" nature of the market by closing critical data gaps that prevent farmers and agro-dealers from accessing credit.

Business Model

Mavuno utilizes an "One-Stop Shop" model that integrates digital financing, crop insurance, and market linkages. It creates value by generating "Mavuno Scores" alternative credit profiles based on real-time field data, allowing banks to safely extend credit to underserved rural communities.

Operations

The system deploys hardware (Capsules) and satellite monitoring to gather microclimate and soil data. This data feeds an AI engine that provides actionable insights to farmers via SMS and generates credit limits for banks. Loans are disbursed as digital vouchers for inputs (seeds, fertilizer) through a mobile POS system, with automated repayment handled via market offtake partners and digital payment gateways like Telebirr.

Team

Mavuno is driven by a multi-disciplinary team of experts from Birrama Digital Commerce, combining deep local market knowledge with international technical standards. The organizational structure is strategically divided into three core pillars: Executive Leadership, Technical & Creative Execution, and Strategic Advisory.

Executive Leadership & Operations

The venture is led by Dr. Tamrat Sultun (Business Lead), who provides the overarching strategic vision and venture governance. Operational and financial excellence is managed by Aboneh Teshome (Finance & Operations Director) and Linya Kebede (Operations Lead), ensuring that field activities and supply chain logistics are executed with precision. Dr. Israel Asfaw heads the Health Care integration, while Ribka Ermias serves as Portfolio Director, overseeing the synergy between Mavuno and the broader Birrama ecosystem.

Technical, Creative & Growth

Team The platform’s digital infrastructure and AI underwriting engine are developed by Oliyad Bekele (Technical Lead), Amen Getahun (Platform Manager), and Bereket Getachew (Full Stack Developer). To ensure high adoption among rural users, a robust creative and UI/UX team, including Yodit Melile, Megdlawit Anbessie, and Ruth Mulu, crafts intuitive interfaces, supported by Eyosias Semere (Creative Designer). Market growth and community engagement are led by Abubeker Sultan (Partnership Lead), Yusuf Kemal (Marketing Analyst), and Seble Birhanu (Engagement Officer), with financial compliance supported by Bemnet Tesfaye (Finance Officer).

Strategic Advisory Board

Mavuno is supported by a high-level advisory board that provides critical insights into the Ethiopian regulatory, financial, and micro-lending landscapes: Mr. Shem Asefaw: Strategic Advisor Ms. Ethiopia Yesuf: Microfinance Advisor (Focusing on rural credit accessibility) Mr. Tewodros Sisay: Financial Advisor Ms. Selam Wondim: Business Advisor Ms. Tigist Araya: Growth Advisor

Type of Project

Private Company project

Stage

Growth stage

Annual Revenue (in EUR)

250.000 - 500.000 EUR

Number of employees

11-50

Total Project Cost (in EUR)

795,000.00 EUR

Financing needs (in EUR)

3,200,000.00 EUR

Type of financing needed

• Debt
• Equity
• Grant

The Company is looking for

Financing

Joint Venture/Partnership

• Technology Solution/Equipment
• Clients for my products/services
• Suppliers for my products/services
• Partners to distribute my products

Planned allocation of fundraising capital

Expansion (expanding an existing activity)