Twenty-Five Youthful African Agripreneurs Progressed to the “boot camp” Decisive Round of the African Development Bank’s AgriPitch event, ambling nigher to an Investment of $120,000 in Seed Appropriation Prizes, Training, and Supplementary Privileges

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

Photo Credit: Movemeback

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- The ultimate session gives youthful entrepreneurs in Africa’s agrarian sector, the alternative to toss their agribusiness recommendations online to a committee of experts and investors that will have to select the champs.

Thus, AgriPitch organizers collected over 2,500 applications and assessed 605 propositions from thirty nations. The finalists, from twelve African nations, delivered reasonable proposals that best caressed the 2020 theme of “Driving Sustainable Nutrition and Gender Inclusivity in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Youth Agripreneurs Seize the Decade.”

Finalists, all aged under 35, were selected under the competition’s Start-Up,” “Mature Business” and “Women-Empowered Business” groups. “It is encouraging to see that almost 62% of all AgriPitch 2020 applicants self-described as being women-led businesses or having women make up at least 50% of their management,” let out Wambui Gichuri – the Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development.

“Word is spreading that AgriPitch is the competition where all qualified agripreneurs can get the training and support to grow their businesses,” she expanded.

AgriPitch is part of the African Development Bank’s fourth described Agripreneurs Forum (AYAF) – one of the continent’s most exciting platforms for African youth in the agriculture start-up scene – which kicked off online on November 03rd, 2020 and runs through to the AgriPitch winners’ ceremony on November 17th, 2020. The finalists are presently enrolled in the AYAF/AgriPitch online training platform, according to Edson Mpyisi – Coordinator of the Bank’s Enable Youth Program accountable for the exhibition.

“In this two-week-long business development boot camp, AgriPitch competitors can attend virtual sessions on product development, revenue channel identification, logistics, marketing, business management, investment readiness, financing and other issues, led by trainers and coaches,” Mpyisi noted. “The cash awards may be the most
ever bestowed at AgriPitch, and the skills given to all the finalists are invaluable,” he amplified.

In alliance with partners, UN Women, the African Leaders for Nutrition and the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa initiative exclusively. The 2020 AYAF and AgriPitch contest nominated finalists from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Tanzania, Cameroon, Mozambique, Guinea, Malawi, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The
finalists obtain automated access to the AYAF webinar series. The public can also enroll for the webinars, which detail speakers with mastery from across the development, nutrition, gender and agriculture sectors.

The first session on November 03rd, 2020 addressed policies for sustainable nutrition and gender inclusivity. Remaining webinars are scheduled for: 10 November: Empowering youth and women in agricultural value chains to address nutrition 17 November: Strategic partnerships for equity in agriculture: Financing women, youth
and nutrition.

The AgriPitch finals and winners’ ceremony will be held on 16th and 17th November, 2020. In upswing to obtaining seed funding prizes and post-competition mentoring, AgriPitch winners will be brought on for the AYAF online DealRoom, which relates expansion-ready, youth-led African businesses with global investors. Companies
selected for the AgriPitch Competition shortlist, but who didn’t make it to the competition, also entitle to join the AYAF/AgriPitch online DealRoom.

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent