African Agritech Startups can benefit from AgriHack 2021
The AGRF and Heifer International have announced that Agritech startup can apply for the Pitch AgriHack 2021.
This will be the seventh edition of the Pitch AgriHack contest, exclusively at African businesses bringing technological innovation to the agriculture sector.
The aim of the competition is to accelerate entrepreneurial growth and job creation in the agriculture sector, leveraging on advanced technologies and youth participation in Africa’s food security agenda.
The open competition will be looking to support participating startups with driving innovation in agriculture across three categories: Early-stage, Mature/Growth-stage, and Women-led, with prizes totaling US$45,000.
Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs at Heifer International speaking on the competition said:
“As a continent with a thriving youth population, Africa’s agricultural sector must look to its youth for the innovation that will fuel the future growth of this strategically important sector,”
Integrating youth and technology in the agricultural sector will transform the continent, creating new jobs and income-generating opportunities for young Africans”.
Dickson Naftali, Head of Generation Africa also added that the organisation believes that the food system of Africa can be enhanced if there are collaborative efforts to support young people.
“It’s a privilege to have an established and experienced non-profit organization like Heifer International on board.
“At Generation Africa, we believe that food systems can change if we collaboratively support young African agrifood entrepreneurs. Pitch AgriHack 2021 can give access to the tools and expertise they need to make their businesses successful”.
Six winners will be selected from the open-application categories and two winners from the invite-only AYuTe Africa Challenge category, with winners announced at the AGRF Summit which takes place September 7-10 in Nairobi.
Top contestants will receive a one-day boot camp in preparation for their final pitches, with winners receiving continued support as they develop and grow their enterprises.
Business profiles of the finalists will also be published in a Deal Book for circulation at the AGRF and online, while individual profiles will be made public on the GenAfrica.org platform and reviewed for relevance to their investor community.
Application is open until August 16, 2021, interested Agritech startups can apply here.