GrainChain, a commodities tracing platform that makes use of sensible contracts to open up liquidity for low-income farmers, has raised $8.2 millio
GrainChain, a commodities tracing platform that makes use of sensible contracts to open up liquidity for low-income farmers, has raised $8.2 million in its newest funding spherical, the corporate introduced Friday.
Luis Macias stated the cash will bolster GrainChain’s burgeoning operations in Mexico, Honduras and the southwest United States.
“This funding is basically going to permit us so as to add to our operations and scale up the degrees that we’re anticipating, giving us the power to implement throughout all the provide chain,” he stated.
Overstock VC wing Medici Ventures contributed the majority at $5 million. An early backer of GrainChain with a $2.5 million fairness stake in late 2018, Medici had beforehand agreed to contemplate buying future fairness. It now controls 17.65 % of GrainChain, stated Medici spokesperson Roger Johnson.
Different new backers embody Eden Block, based on a press launch.
GrainChain envisions itself as a form of glue between disparate actors within the agriculture provide chain. It brings farmers, bankers, insurers, exporters and commerce associations on a unified blockchain platform the place they’ll validate the motion of crops and commodities, and even make funds via event-triggered sensible contracts.
Final September, a part of that imaginative and prescient took type as GrainChain inked deals with stakeholders from throughout the Honduran espresso business. This included low-income farmers selecting the beans, lots of whom wrestle to safe loans from bankers weary of provide chain inefficiencies.
Each farmers and bankers expressed hope on the time that GrainChain’s traceability belief issue might change that.
Medici’s CEO Jonathan Johnson stated the VC acquired on board to assist help GrainChain’s efforts to “eradicate middlemen and re-humanize commerce.”
Macias stated the platform has attracted curiosity from extra provide chain stakeholders within the time since. “Persons are excited in regards to the implementation,” he stated.
The brand new funding will even construct out GrainChain’s international presence. Macias stated that he’s at present brokering offers in two extra international locations that he expects to announce later this 12 months.
“We’re happy to help their continued international growth.” Medici’s Johnson stated.
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