With a goal to support African agripreneurs by improving their business bankability and ensuring that they are “pitch ready” for potential investors, the African Development Bank launched the AgriPitch Competition 2022.
Themed “The Role of African Youth within African Food Systems” the competition will instill a culture of innovation and nurturing for technology-led agribusiness innovations, to create jobs and improve youth livelihoods.
The AgriPitch 2022 competition partners include women-founded and led enterprise support advisory firm Private Equity Support; the Private Financing Advisory Network, a global network of climate and clean energy financing experts; and EldoHub, an education, innovation, and technology organization targeting youth and women.
The 2022 edition of AgriPitch will help competitors identify innovative solutions and develop ideas that contribute to strengthening Africa’s food systems, mitigate the effects of gender marginalization, and enhance sustainable nutrition across the continent.
Held annually, the AgriPitch competition is a key activity of the Bank’s Enable Youth Program and also provides technical capacity-building skills as well as facilitates youth access to financing.
Benefits
Agripreneurs will vie for a share of $140,000 in seed funding prizes, a slot in the competition’s business development boot camp, as well as receive mentoring, training and coaching from experts.
Semifinalists will pitch their business plans to potential investors in the AgriPitch deal room, be eligible for one-on-one mentorship, and access to post-competition digital expertise.
Eligibility
The AgriPitch competition is open to African youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years who work within the agriculture value chain.
AgriPitch 2022 offers three competition categories:
- Early Start-ups (0-3 years of operation)
- Mature Start-ups (3 or more years in operation)
- Women-Empowered Businesses (firms with at least 51% share of women ownership or founded by a woman).
How to apply
Apply for the AfDB AgriPitch Competition 2022 before the deadline of Friday, November 4, 2022.
