The Asian Development Bank (ADB), through its venture capital fund, ADB Ventures, has announced a growth capital investment in TelAgri, a Tbilisi-based agri fintech company transforming agricultural lending through satellite intelligence and AI-powered risk analytics. The investment will support TelAgri’s expansion into emerging markets, enabling financial institutions to make faster, more informed lending decisions while helping underserved farmers gain greater access to finance. This marks ADB Venture’s first investment in Georgia and Central Asia.
Agriculture remains one of the most underserved sectors in emerging economies, with up to 70% of small farmers lacking access to finance, according to estimates from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and ADB. A major reason is that lenders often lack reliable, farm-level data to assess risk. TelAgri addresses this challenge by combining satellite imagery, AI, and agronomic expertise to help banks assess farm-level risk, monitor loan portfolios, and identify potential issues before they lead to defaults.
“Agriculture remains central to Georgia’s economy, and TelAgri is a great example of homegrown innovation tackling a very practical challenge,” said Lesley Bearman Lahm, ADB Country Director for Georgia. “By supporting TelAgri, ADB is helping bring important information into the hands of those making critical decisions about farming and finance. This can strengthen agricultural resilience and contribute to stronger, more sustainable economies across Georgia and Central Asia”.
The company is already working with leading financial institutions and government partners across the Caucasus and Central Asia, providing technology that improves agricultural underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and food security planning. The investment will support TelAgri’s plans to accelerate product development, enter new markets, strengthen partnerships with banks and governments, and further develop its proprietary agricultural intelligence platform.
“We believe that better data creates better financial decisions“, said Irakli Chikava, CEO and co founder of TelAgri. “This investment is a strong validation of our vision to build the data infrastructure powering agricultural finance in emerging markets. Together, we can help financial institutions lend with greater confidence while expanding access to capital for millions of farmers“.
ADB Ventures invests in early-stage technology companies developing solutions that address critical development challenges across Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on sectors including agricultural technology, financial technology, climate resilience, and inclusive growth. With this investment, TelAgri plans to accelerate product development, expand its presence across new markets, strengthen partnerships with banks and governments, and continue advancing its proprietary agricultural intelligence platform.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members – 50 from the region.
