The USAID-supported East Africa Trade and Investment Hub, Syngenta, Inter Region Economic Network and Toyota Kenya Academy will jointly build capacity of youth from East African, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar to generate creative ideas that will enable their Start-Ups and SMEs to attract investment.
A great opportunity for East African youth-owned Start-Ups and SMEs along the region’s agricultural value chains to exhibit their work in a Trade Fair and win over USD 20,000 cash awards in May 2016.
The Young Innovators in Agribusiness Competition offers an opportunity for Eastern Africa youth-owned start-ups and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to generate creative activities that can attract potential investors and stakeholders through competition.
Worth
- The 12 months competition process will involve training and mentorship for the top 120 entries (60 start-ups and 60 SMEs)
- Trainings will be carried out at the Toyota Kenya Academy, located three Kilometres southeast of Nairobi
- Representatives from the top entries will participate at the 2015 African Green Revolution Forum and the top 30 finalist will receive entry to participate in the Agribusiness innovation and trade fair conducted by IREN and its partners, in may 2016 at Kigali I Rwanda
- The top six finalist will Receive seed capital amounting to USD20,000
Eligibility
- Business should be owned/founded by individuals/groups aged 18 – 35 years.
- Business should be two years and above in operation (registered name and its legal status, sole proprietor, partnership and company, etc).
- Business should have a defined model (beyond idea stage).
- Business should be within the agricultural value chain/food chain
- The competition is open to nationals who own businesses and start-ups from East African Community Members States and Ethiopia, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius.
- Submission must be written in English
- Entry should be submitted as per the template provided
- Deadline: October 30, 2015
- The business model should promote aggregation of small holder farmers and demonstrate agribusiness value chain awareness.
- The business model should be innovative and provide solutions that will reduce post-harvest losses through better crop handling solutions, cold storage models, transportation and logistics.
Deadline: October 30, 2015
To apply and for more information visit here
