Steward is a community-lending platform that connects individual investors with regenerative farms and food producers, providing secured, interest-bearing loans to support their growth. The platform addresses the financing gap faced by small-scale producers who struggle to access capital for sustainable agricultural practices and infrastructure improvements.
Funding
$13.1M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Small and medium-sized regenerative farms and food producers often struggle to secure adequate financing through traditional lending institutions. These producers face challenges accessing capital for sustainable agricultural practices, infrastructure improvements, and land acquisition. This lack of access hinders their growth and the expansion of regenerative agricultural practices.
Solution
Steward provides a community-lending platform that directly connects individual investors with regenerative farms and food producers, enabling secured, interest-bearing loans. The platform bridges the financing gap by offering business loans and a suite of services tailored for regenerative producers. This allows producers to upgrade equipment, improve infrastructure, or purchase land, fostering the growth of sustainable and local food systems. Investors can participate in unique agricultural projects or a collection of regenerative businesses, supporting the ecological and economic regeneration of their region.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes regenerative farms and food producers seeking capital for sustainable growth, as well as individual investors interested in supporting regenerative agriculture and local food systems.
Features
- Direct lending platform connecting investors with regenerative farms and food producers
- Secured, interest-bearing loans for equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and land acquisition
- Loan options for land purchases, infrastructure improvements, and equipment
- Flexible financing solutions tailored to the specific needs of regenerative producers
- Online platform for investors to easily back agricultural projects
- Stewardship program providing guidance and resources to funded farms
- Loan origination fee of 2% rolled into the cost of the loan
- Investor service fee of 1% annually