Rachel Kyalo

A Kenyan tech entrepreneur who revolutionized agricultural practices through mobile technology, empowering farmers and improving livelihoods.

Rachel Kyalo is a visionary entrepreneur from Kenya, best known for co-founding M-Farm, a mobile-based platform that connects smallholder farmers to real-time market prices, weather updates, and agricultural insights. Launched in 2012 but gaining significant traction post-2020, M-Farm addresses a critical gap in African agriculture by leveraging SMS and mobile web technologies to bridge information asymmetry between farmers and buyers. Kyalo's innovation has empowered over 250,000 farmers across Kenya to negotiate fair prices, reduce post-harvest losses, and adopt climate-smart practices. Her work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Before M-Farm, Kyalo worked in telecommunications, where she observed how mobile penetration could transform rural economies. This insight led her to pivot toward agri-tech, combining her technical expertise with grassroots understanding of farming challenges. Post-2020, M-Farm expanded its services to include microloans and insurance partnerships, further cementing its role as a lifeline for smallholders. Kyalo has been featured in Forbes Africa and received accolades such as the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (2015). Her advocacy for women in tech and agriculture continues to inspire young innovators across East Africa.