A Manchester-based agri-tech startup is taking a significant step toward reshaping how tropical agricultural products move from African farms to global markets. TropiConnect, founded by University of Manchester alumnus Mark Cuthbert, has officially launched its digital trade platform, designed to bridge the gap between farming cooperatives across Africa and international buyers. The platform, now live at [trade.tropiconnect.com](https://trade.tropiconnect.com), follows a series of successful pilot programs and arrives at a time when demand for transparency and fairness in agricultural supply chains is growing.
At its core, TropiConnect addresses long-standing inefficiencies in agri-trade by leveraging technology to create direct connections between producers and buyers. Traditional supply chains often involve multiple intermediaries, leading to higher costs, delayed payments, and limited traceability. By eliminating many of these middle layers, the platform aims to ensure farmers receive fairer compensation while giving buyers confidence in the origin and quality of their purchases. The company’s approach has already gained traction, with partnerships established across East and West Africa, representing over 200,000 farmers producing commodities like coffee, cocoa, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and tropical fruits.
The platform’s technological backbone is where TropiConnect distinguishes itself. Using AI and blockchain, it provides end-to-end traceability—critical for buyers prioritizing sustainability and ethical sourcing. Blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures that every transaction is recorded transparently, reducing the risk of fraud or misrepresentation. Meanwhile, AI-driven analytics help optimize pricing and match supply with demand, making trade more efficient for both sides. For farming cooperatives, this means better access to global markets; for buyers, it translates to a reliable, one-stop gateway for sourcing high-quality African agricultural products.
TropiConnect’s launch comes on the heels of its recognition as the winner of the Venture Further Award, presented by the University of Manchester’s Masood Entrepreneurship Centre. The accolade underscores the startup’s potential to drive meaningful change in agricultural supply chains, a sector often plagued by inefficiency and inequity. The company’s ties to the university have been a key factor in its development, with ongoing research and development collaborations helping to refine its technology and scale its operations. This academic-industry partnership highlights how innovation ecosystems can nurture solutions to real-world challenges, particularly in sectors as complex as agriculture.
Beyond its technological and academic foundations, TropiConnect is also building strategic alliances to amplify its impact. The startup has secured collaborations with Innovate UK, the United Nations, and various African government organizations, signaling broad-based support for its mission. These partnerships could prove vital in navigating regulatory landscapes, expanding market reach, and ensuring the platform’s benefits extend to smaller or more remote farming communities. For governments and international bodies, TropiConnect’s model offers a scalable way to promote sustainable economic growth in rural areas, where agriculture remains a dominant livelihood.
The implications of TropiConnect’s platform extend beyond immediate commercial transactions. By fostering direct trade relationships, the startup could help shift power dynamics in global agricultural supply chains, giving farmers greater agency in negotiations. Transparent pricing and traceability also align with increasing consumer and corporate demand for ethically sourced products—a trend that shows no signs of slowing. If successful at scale, the platform might serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in other regions or commodity sectors, demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to create fairer, more efficient markets.
For now, TropiConnect’s focus remains on solidifying its presence in Africa and proving its model’s viability. The startup’s early momentum suggests it is well-positioned to grow, but challenges remain, from ensuring consistent internet access in rural areas to convincing traditional traders of the benefits of digital platforms. How it navigates these hurdles will determine whether it can fulfill its ambition of becoming the trusted hub for Africa’s agricultural trade. What is clear, however, is that the company’s launch marks a notable development in the intersection of agri-tech and ethical commerce—one that bears watching as it unfolds.