The CXO Conversations - Mechanizing Africa’s Future Through Technology and Entrepreneurship

Synopsis:

At the Inclusive Fintech Forum 2026 in Kigali, Divine Muragijimana speaks with Jehiel Oliver, founder of Hello Tractor, about transforming African agriculture through technology, data, and entrepreneurship. Oliver shares his journey from investment banking and private equity into building a platform that now operates across 18 countries and serves over 2.5 million farmers. The conversation explores Hello Tractor’s ecosystem-driven model connecting farmers, booking agents, tractor owners, operators, and financiers through AI-powered tools and data infrastructure. Oliver also discusses talent in Africa, building high-performing local teams, and launching Hello Tractor’s new experience center to rebrand agriculture as innovative, scalable, and opportunity-driven.

About Jehiel Oliver

Jehiel Oliver is the Founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, an agricultural technology company that connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers in need of tractor services. At Hello Tractor, Jehiel is responsible for overall management and strategic direction.

He has been recognized globally for his work in social entrepreneurship, including by Foreign Policy Magazine as a Top 100 Global Thinker, the World Economic Forum as a Circulars Innovator, the World Food Prize as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer (TAP), and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as a Next Gen Changemaker.

Jehiel was appointed under the Obama Administration to serve two years as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, where he most recently chaired the technology subcommittee. Throughout his career, he has served on several investment fund boards and currently sits on the boards of Root Capital and Sanku.

Before founding Hello Tractor, Jehiel worked in investment banking, private equity, and consulting in the United States. His work bridges finance, technology, and impact, using AI and data-driven innovation to unlock productivity, empower rural entrepreneurs, and catalyze inclusive economic growth.