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Riwe

Parametric climate insurance and agricultural risk management for smallholder farmers in Africa

Specialty Solutions Startup Seed
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Overview

Riwe is a parametric insurance and climate risk management platform for smallholder farmers across Africa. Founded in 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria, the company builds and distributes weather-linked insurance products that pay out automatically when satellite-verified climate triggers -- such as drought or flooding -- are met, eliminating the need for manual claims paperwork. Distribution reaches farmers without smartphones through USSD shortcodes and community agent networks, extending coverage to underserved agricultural communities.

The platform includes a suite of products spanning weather intelligence, parametric insurance (Cover), harvest-cycle farm finance, and Ije AI, a WhatsApp-based farm advisory assistant. An enterprise B2B layer provides embedded underwriting APIs, climate-linked lending infrastructure, and risk intelligence dashboards for banks, insurers, and government agencies operating in African agricultural markets. The company also maintains a digital farmer identity product called Rupa, enabling access to financial services for farmers without formal credit history.

Riwe has served over 15,000 farmers across 7+ Nigerian states under its RAIN (Resilience through Affordable and Inclusive Weather Insurance) programme, backed by UNDP, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, with a target of reaching 200,000 enrolled farmers by 2030. The company was selected for the Nigerian Insurers Association Innovation Lab and received recognition from NAICOM as part of Nigeria's insurtech licensing framework in 2026.

Products & Services

Cover (Parametric Insurance)

Climate-linked parametric insurance product with automatic payouts triggered by satellite-verified weather events including drought and flooding. No claims paperwork is required; payouts are initiated automatically when defined climate parameters are met. Distributed via USSD shortcode (347820#) and community agents, making coverage accessible on basic mobile phones without internet connectivity.

Key Features

  • Satellite earth observation data for trigger verification
  • Smart contract-based automatic payout execution
  • USSD distribution for non-smartphone access
  • Community agent distribution network

Target Users: Smallholder farmers, rural agricultural communities

Weather Intelligence

Real-time local weather monitoring and early-warning system providing actionable signals for farm planning and risk detection. Delivers seasonal alerts directly to enrolled farmers based on satellite data feeds.

Key Features

  • Real-time satellite weather monitoring
  • Early warning alerts for crop-threatening conditions
  • Seasonal planning signals for farming communities

Target Users: Farmers, agricultural lenders, government agricultural agencies

Farm Finance

Harvest-cycle credit products structured around agricultural seasonal timelines rather than conventional lending periods. Linked to the Rupa digital identity profile that enables unbanked farmers to access loans and financial services.

Key Features

  • Harvest-cycle loan terms aligned to crop seasons
  • Digital farmer identity (Rupa) for credit history building
  • Integration with insurance coverage for de-risked lending

Target Users: Smallholder farmers, microfinance institutions, agricultural lenders

Ije AI

WhatsApp-based agricultural advisory assistant providing real-time guidance on planting schedules, crop care, pest management, and weather conditions.

Key Features

  • WhatsApp delivery for broad mobile accessibility
  • Instant farm guidance and crop management advice
  • Weather alert integration

Target Users: Enrolled farmers

Enterprise Platform (B2B)

Climate intelligence and parametric infrastructure layer for institutions operating in African agricultural markets. Provides embedded APIs, underwriting data, and risk management tools for external integration.

Key Features

  • Embedded underwriting APIs for banking and insurance integration
  • Farmer credit scoring and portfolio risk dashboards
  • Reinsurance-ready parametric risk data
  • Subsidy programme infrastructure and auditable delivery tracking for government clients

Target Users: Banks, insurers, reinsurers, government agencies, development finance institutions

At a Glance

Founded
2022
Headquarters
Abuja, Nigeria
Employees
1-10
Funding
Seed

Category & Focus

Category
Specialty Solutions
Subcategories
Parametric Insurance Agri-Insurtech Climate Risk Management
Insurance Verticals
Specialty/E&S
Target Customers
Carriers, Consumers, Reinsurers

Customers

  • UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
  • IsDB (Islamic Development Bank)
  • ISFD (Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development)
  • AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa)
  • GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit)
  • FSD Africa
  • MasterCard
  • MTN
  • Leadway Assurance
  • Novus Microfinance Bank
  • European Union
  • NAICOM / NIA Innovation Lab

Links

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Last updated: 2026-06-23