Doga Makiura

Doga Makiura is the Founder and CEO of Degas Ltd., a technology-based smallholder farmer financing startup based in Ghana.1 With a vision of "Changing people's lives, dramatically," Makiura has led Degas to finance over 26,000 farmers in 2023, helping to double their incomes.1

Professional Background

Makiura founded Degas Ltd. in November 2018.1 The company uses advanced technologies such as:

• Machine learning for credit scoring
• Satellite data analysis
• Native mobile apps

These tools are used to collect farmer and farm information, enabling financing for farmers often overlooked by traditional market systems.1

Company Achievements

Under Makiura's leadership, Degas has:

• Provided financing to a total of 46,000 smallholder farmers in Africa2
• Built one of Africa's largest data-driven farmer networks2
• Secured $16 million in total funding, with a recent $7 million extension to their Series A round3

Other Roles and Projects

In addition to his work at Degas, Makiura:

• Is a member of the board at M-Ahwiii ltd in Kigali, Rwanda, working on the AGRO-FIBA Project1
• Previously served as Executive Producer for Emerging Market Development at Quipper in Tokyo1
• Was a Collaboration Researcher at The University of Tokyo's Center for Spatial Information Science1

Vision and Future Plans

Makiura is focused on expanding Degas' impact through:

1. Scaling up climate tech businesses
2. Developing marketplace formation businesses2

He aims to contribute to decarbonizing the world from Africa while simultaneously increasing smallholder farmers' incomes.2

Makiura's approach combines on-the-ground operations with cutting-edge technology, reflecting his commitment to using "AI for Good" in addressing agricultural and environmental challenges in Africa.12