Call for Applications: AGRF and Heifer International Pitch AgriHack 2021 (Prizes Totaling US$45,000)
Competition gives cash grants to innovators, increasing use of technology and creating jobs across Africa’s agricultural sector.
Deadline: 16th August,2021
The AGRF and Heifer International launched the Pitch AgriHack 2021, a competition concerned with advancing entrepreneurial growth and job creation with in the agriculture sector this is through leveraging advance technologies and youths participation in the Africa’s food security agenda. This is the seventh edition of Pitch AgriHack and it is a pitching contest aimed at all African businesses that are bringing technological innovations within the agriculture sector. Generation Africa, a confined platform of the AGRF will host the competition.
The open competition part of Pitch AgriHack 2021 will be in support of companies that are supearheading innovation in agriculture in the three categories-Early-stage, Mature stage, and Women-led, with monetary prizes adding up to US$45,000. A fourth invite only group, sponsored by Heifer International, will award up to $1.5 million in grants to extensive ventures that are so far generating measurable effect for Africa’s smallholder farmers.
As a continent with an exciting youth population, Africa’s agricultural sector must look to its youth for the innovation that will power the future growth of this strategically important sector,” said Adesuwa Ifedi, the Senior executive Vice President for Africa Programs for Heifer International. “Combining youth and technology in the agricultural sector will change the continent, creating income generating opportunities and new jobs for youths in Africa”.
Additionally to its sponsorship of Pitch AgriHack 2021, Heifer International is collaborating with Generation Africa to run this year’s competition. Both organizations have a shared vision of eliminating poverty and hunger through continuos, community led development that starts with agriculture.
Having an established and experienced non-profit organization like Heifer International on board is a priviledge,” said Head of Generation Africa, we believe that food systems can change if we cooperatively support young African agrifood entrepreneurs. Pitch AgriHack 2021 provides access to the equipment and skills required to make their businesses successful.”
Doctor Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and Special Envoy to the UN Food Systems Summit, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Heifer International as it collaborates with the AGRF and Generation Africa on Pitch AgriHack 2021. Through sharing knowledge, supporting mutually beneficial projects and working together, we can make a large impact and drive agricultural transformation in Africa to hear our message the future of food and farming depends on them,”
Six winners will be chosen from the open application classes and 2 winners from the invite only AYuTe Africa Challenge category, with winners announced at the AGRF Summit that takes place September 7-10 in Nairobi. Winning top contestants will have a one day boot camp in preparation for their final pitches, the winners will get support as they expand and continue to grow their enterprises.
Business profiles of the finalists will be published as well 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.
Applications are already open from 27th July to 16th August,2021, APPLY NOW.
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