A Nigerian national, he moved to Rwanda to pursue his university studies. There, he felt compelled to provide innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions for smallholder farmers and urban households, particularly in arid areas or those vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Israel Smart, a Nigerian entrepreneur based in Rwanda, is the founder of Smartel Agritech, a startup at the forefront of developing hydroponic systems. These systems are specifically designed for arid zones and regions impacted by climate change.

Launched in 2022, Smartel Agritech creates soilless farming solutions that utilize nutrient-enriched water instead of traditional soil. This innovation allows for cultivation in areas with limited water or arable land. The company’s systems integrate hydroponics with smart irrigation, solar energy, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. This combination optimizes plant growth, monitors nutrient needs in real time, detects crop diseases, and automates irrigation. According to the startup, this technology reduces water usage by up to 90% compared to conventional farming, while simultaneously increasing yields and decreasing agriculture's carbon footprint.

Smartel targets smallholder farmers, urban households, and refugee communities. Its goal is to facilitate local production of vegetables, fodder, and fruits at lower costs and with reduced environmental impact. The company also provides training, technical support, and revenue-sharing models to encourage the adoption of its systems.

To date, Smartel Agritech reports creating 400 direct and 2,150 indirect jobs. It has also trained 1,750 small-scale farmers and installed over 300 hydroponic systems. The company estimates these achievements have cut carbon emissions by 360 tonnes, or approximately 1.2 tonnes per system.

On June 24, 2025, Smartel joined the ninth cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa.

Israel Smart pursued studies in software engineering and machine learning at the African Leadership University in Rwanda. In 2023, he served as a project assistant at OpenAI. The following year, he interned as a software engineer in the Sustainability and Governance division at Libra Group in the U.S. Libra Group is a global conglomerate with diverse interests including aerospace, investments, hospitality, shipping, real estate, and renewable energy.

He was recognized as a Young Environmental Ambassador by the Bestseller Foundation in 2023 and joined the World Food Programme’s accelerator for his connected food systems. In the same year, he received the Diana Award, an honor for young individuals making a significant social or humanitarian impact in memory of Princess Diana.

Written in French by Melchior Koba,

Translated and adapted into English by Mouka Mezonlin