// startup autopsy
Agriledger
Blockchain-based crop traceability startup that raised grants but could not commercialize in smallholder markets.
timingSilent Shutdown
Quiet closure with no public announcement · Fatal mistake: Market Misread
| Founded | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2022 |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Agriculture |
// the model, blind
Evaluating only Agriledger’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Unit economics as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: Market timing.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Agriledger founded to build blockchain-based supply chain traceability for smallholder farmers in developing markets.
FUNDING
Agriledger wins GSMA Mobile for Development grant to expand blockchain traceability platform in Haiti and Ethiopia.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Agriledger launches pilot programs across Haiti, Ethiopia, and Papua New Guinea with initial farmer enrollment.
DOWN ROUND
Agriledger experiences declining farmer adoption rates as smartphone penetration and internet connectivity prove insufficient for daily data entry requirements.
PIVOT
Agriledger attempts to pivot toward B2B buyer partnerships after realizing farmers lack incentive to add overhead labor without premium price guarantees.
SHUTDOWN
Silent Shutdown: Agriledger ceases operations after failing to achieve sustainable buyer premium payments or farmer adoption at scale.