Nigerian Startups Trade Lenda & AirSmat Secure USD 450 K From Village Capital

Nigerian startups Trade Lenda and AirSmat have secured a combined USD 450 K investment from Village Capital’s Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility, marking the fund’s entry into Nigeria after backing two Ghanaian startups months earlier.

Trade Lenda, founded by Adeshina Adewumi, is a digital financial services platform that provides business loans, embedded finance, and Sharia-compliant financing to SMEs and farmers. The company says it has supported more than 260,000 customers across five Nigerian geopolitical zones, with women accounting for 66% of its users.

AirSmat, founded by Soji Sanyaolu, is a climate-tech startup that converts agricultural waste into biochar-based fertiliser, improving soil health while generating carbon-market opportunities for farmers. AirSmat will use the funding to complete and commission a commercial factory and expand production.

Africa Fintech Foundry sourced both investments for Village Capital.