SINGAPORE, 11th March 2025 – Agros, a pioneer in solar-powered irrigation for the agricultural sector in Southeast Asia, has closed a US$4.25 million Series A funding round to accelerate its expansion and innovation.
Co-led by long-time investors Gaia Impact (with Gaia Energy Impact Fund II), Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia, and Wavemaker Impact, the round also welcomed new investors like the Global Innovation Fund (“GIF”) – an impact-first investor backing social innovations in emerging markets. Silverstrand Capital and angel investor Steve Melhuish (PropertyGuru Founder) reaffirmed their support by joining the round. Agros expects to raise additional debt financing in the coming months.
Founded in 2019, Agros has now expanded its operations to Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar, providing solar-powered irrigation solutions that fully remove fuel expenses while avoiding CO₂ emissions. To date, Agros has supported more than 6,000 smallholder farmers, and improved the lives of more than 30,000 members of the farming community.
By 2027, the company aims to partner with 30,000 farmers to increase their collective income by US$40 million, and prevent 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions through the deployment of its solutions.
“This Series A funding marks a major milestone for Agros as we scale our impact across Southeast Asia,” said Max Nelen, CEO and founder of Agros. “With the continued trust of our existing investors and the support of new partners like the Global Innovation Fund, we are accelerating our mission to empower smallholder farmers with sustainable, tech-driven solutions.”
This investment, which follows Agros’s pre-Series A round of US$2.7 million raised less than 2 years ago, underscores the company’s rapid growth and commitment to transforming agriculture in Southeast Asia. Agros will use the funds to drive the company’s nationwide expansion in Indonesia, accelerate product innovation, and further develop its in-house digital infrastructure. Having entered Indonesia in 2024, Agros is expanding quickly in the country, as a response to the country’s push for increased rice production and reduced dependency on rainwater.
“Agros is a prime example of a climate-resilient solution that delivers both environmental and economic benefits. As solar water pumps become a no-brainer for farmers due to the maturity of the technology and significant cost savings, Agros is uniquely positioned to scale these solutions across the region. This reinvestment reflects our strong confidence in Max and his team, as well as our belief in Agros’ ability to drive meaningful change for both people and the planet”, said Victor Beulque, Investment Director at Gaia Impact and Agros board member.
“GIF finds and funds innovations that help the world’s poorest people adapt to extreme weather and build resilience to climate shocks,” said Francesco Valente, Investment Director at the Global Innovation Fund. “Agros offers innovative products and services and makes them accessible to poor smallholder farmers, maximising productivity while minimising environmental impact. Our risk capital investment will support Agros on its pathway to scale, helping the business crowd in additional funding.”
Looking ahead, Agros plans to raise additional debt financing during the first half of 2025 and is considering a Series A extension in the near future once key milestones are met.
For more information, please contact:
Max Nelen, Founder & CEO
max.nelen@agrosglobal.com
About Agros
Agros is the Agri-Tech pioneer in sustainable farming solutions for the agricultural sector across Asia. By combining innovative solar irrigation technology with flexible financing, Agros provides a suite of integrated solutions to enable farmers to double their profit and become climate-resilient for generations to come. For more information, visit: www.agrosglobal.com