We are proud to announce that SAMS (Smart Agricultural Monitoring System) has been selected as one of only seven startups in the Mastercard Foundation Idea to Venture (I2V) Award, a significant milestone in our journey to build innovative solutions that empower smallholder farmers across Cameroon and beyond.
This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and validates our vision of making smart agriculture accessible, affordable, and inclusive for every farmer, regardless of their location or access to technology.
A Solution Rooted in Real Challenges
Across Cameroon, millions of smallholder farmers face challenges ranging from unpredictable weather and declining soil health to limited access to timely agricultural information and reliable markets. These barriers continue to affect productivity, food security, and household incomes. SAMS was created to bridge this gap.
SAMS is an offline-first, solar powered, digitally inclusive, multilingual smart farming solution that leverages artificial intelligence, solar-powered IoT sensors, and accessible mobile technologies such as SMS and USSD. SAMS provides farmers with real-time, crop-specific insights and practical recommendations that support better decision-making throughout the farming season, helping them improve their yields by over 30%. Our marketplace and AI-guided real-time learning platform seek to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses by over 40%.
Turning Innovation into Impact
Since the beginning of our journey, our focus has been on building technology alongside the communities we serve.
To date, SAMS has:
- Validated its solution with over 100 farmers and agricultural stakeholders across three regions of Cameroon.
- Developed an early working prototype that integrates AI and sensor technology.
- Continued refining the platform through direct engagement with farmers and ecosystem partners.
Every conversation with a farmer has helped shape a solution designed for real-world agricultural challenges.
What This Award Means
Being selected for the Mastercard Foundation Idea to Venture Award is more than an achievement—it is an opportunity to accelerate our impact. The program will support SAMS as we continue strengthening our technology, expanding partnerships, and preparing for larger-scale implementation. It also connects us with a network of mentors, innovators, and experts committed to supporting African-led solutions that create lasting social and economic impact.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on what matters most: empowering smallholder farmers with the tools, knowledge, and technology they need to increase productivity, improve resilience, and build sustainable livelihoods. In the coming months, we will continue expanding our pilot activities, strengthening collaborations with key stakeholders, and enhancing the SAMS platform to better serve farming communities across Cameroon.
We are grateful to our farmers, partners, supporters, and everyone who has believed in our vision. This recognition belongs to all of us, and it motivates us to keep building a future where technology works for every farmer.
The journey has only just begun.