What does it take to turn bold ideas into real solutions for smallholder farmers? At Incofin Foundation, we use a Theory of Change framework to make sure innovation isn’t just exciting on paper — but actually delivers impact in the field.
For our Advancing Digital Innovation for Smallholder Farmers in Latin America program, the goal is clear: Improved farmer profitability, access to finance and markets, climate resilience, and gender inclusion.
To make sure we achieve this goal together with our grantees, we co-created a tailored Theory of Change with each of the 14 agtech startups in our portfolio. Together, we mapped the challenges farmers face, the activities each project would pursue, and the outputs, outcomes, and impact we expect to see.
Early focus: building and testing products
During the first six months, most energy went into digital product and service development. Teams ran user research with farmers to design tools that truly respond to their needs, while software developers worked to get new or updated platforms market-ready. From weather apps to digital finance dashboards, the emphasis was on making sure the tech is practical, user-friendly, and relevant.
What’s next: from building to scaling
With core products now in place, the next phase shifts toward business development. Startups are shifting their activities towards adoption and growth, e.g. they:
- roll out marketing campaigns,
- identify commercial partners, and
- scale farmer outreach.
By combining co-creation, farmer insights, and structured impact frameworks, these startups are not only developing useful tools but are laying the foundation for sustainable growth and resilience among smallholder farmers.
This is just the beginning. As we move further along the engagement framework, we’ll continue sharing lessons on how digital innovation can scale — and what it really takes to bridge the gap between technology and impact.
