🌯Inclusive FinTech Knowledge Bites [Week #63]
How UX design, agent networks, and funds transform AgriTech. AI-driven farming advice to overcome connectivity challenges and synergy of technology and personal touch for a sustainable future.
Hey,
I’m Hugo Pacheco, and this is The Barefoot Economist —a newsletter where, every week, I break down three essential stories on last-mile technology, emerging market innovation, and financial inclusion. Consider it your bite-sized takeaway to stay informed—sharp, insightful, and easy to digest.
This week on The Barefoot Economist:
💡 UX, Agents & Funding: What’s Working in AgriTech?
🚜 No WiFi, No Problem – AI Farming Advice
⚡ Merging Tech & Touch for a Green Future
Enjoy your reading!
💡 UX, Agents & Funding: What’s Working in AgriTech?
Another GSMA AgriTech Accelerator Field Focus Session just wrapped in Senegal, bringing together founders, investors, and industry pros to talk shop on UX, agent networks, and the brutal reality of raising capital.
Here’s the deal—building digital solutions for smallholder farmers isn’t just about having a great product. If your onboarding sucks, agents burn too much cash, or investors don’t see the vision, you’re stuck.
This session wasn’t about theory. It was about what’s actually working on the ground. Here’s what we learned.
UX & The Hard Truth About Product AdoptionEveryone talks about human-centered design (HCD), but here’s what that really means when your users are rural farmers with low digital literacy:
Onboarding needs to be stupidly simple. If it takes too long, they’re out.
Too many features = nobody uses them. Minimalism isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s survival.
Farmers need immediate, tangible feedback. If they input data and don’t see a result (especially in patchy connectivity areas), they won’t bother next time.
The Accelerator teams got it: good UX isn’t about looking pretty. It’s about making sure the most critical action gets done with the least friction.
The Agent Model Dilemma: Cost vs. TrustAgents are essential because, frankly, farmers don’t trust apps or digital services by default. But here’s the challenge:
Hiring, training, and paying field agents is expensive—way more than most startups expect.
The winning play? Multi-functional agents. Instead of just signing up farmers, they build ongoing relationships, provide training, and offer additional services. Fewer agents, stronger ties, lower churn.
Some startups are going all-in on remote support (think voice servers and lightweight apps) to cut costs. Works well if connectivity is stable, but rural coverage still sucks in some areas.
The most forward-thinking teams are investing in dashboards to better manage agents, track metrics, and drive smarter field decisions.
Investment Reality CheckEveryone wants funding, but investors still have tunnel vision. If you're not in Kenya or Nigeria, good luck. The big funds flock to those hubs, while North Africa and Southeast Asia get left in the cold.
So what’s the workaround? Smart partnerships.
Align with companies in investor-favored markets to piggyback on their credibility.
Define clear value splits—who brings what to the table?
Use partnerships as a Trojan horse to access profitability, aggregating demand, and find new markets and investors.
💡 Seeking actionable strategies for agent networks? Don't miss our webinar, "Tech & Touch Playbook: Business Model Innovation," on April 10 at 1PM GMT. Sign up now to get an early bird discount! 🐤