Application Deadline: 21st May 2018
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRA), Women in Tech Africa, Wennovation Hub (Nigeria) and Suguba (regional), is launching Pitch AgriHack 2018. The theme for this year’s edition is “Women entrepreneurs innovate for agricultural transformation in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific”.
Requirements:
- The competition is open to both male and female founders and co-founders of e-agri start-ups, and, more specifically, to companies owners of platforms (websites, apps, devices using software, etc.) offering digital services to the agricultural sector.
- Applicants need to be nationals and residents of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries signatories of the Cotonou Agreement (see list in the rules).
- 50% of finalists will be women founders or co-founders of start-ups; discussions at the final will include issues around strengthening engagement of young women in agricultural technology innovations.
- Applicants must be aged between 18 to 35 years old.
- The finale will be held during the 2018 edition of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2018), organised by AGRA and other partners, in Rwanda in Septembre 2018.
Pitch AgriHack will:
- provide a business training boot camp to selected start-ups
- conduct a pitching competition
- offer grants and facilitate access to investments, capacity building and promotional opportunities.
Two categories are available:
- Early stage platform
This is for e-agriculture applications and platforms that have already been developed but that may still need software or business model improvements. Participants must be able to demonstrate the business potential and functional features of their applications or platforms.
- Advanced platform
This category is for e-agriculture applications and platforms that are already in operation and generating revenues.
Special prizes will be awarded in each of the two categories to woman-owned or co-owned businesses.
The platforms can be websites or apps, and they must offer digital services to the agricultural sector. They can also be hardware associated with software and both will be described.
Prize
- Up to nine winning companies (including up to five women-led companies) will receive from CTA, AfDB and partners involved a cash prize of up to €15,000 (per start-up), as well as promotional support, additional capacity building and networking opportunities.
- Some may eventually also benefit from investments from other partners
Benefits
Best start-ups selected at the boot camp and pitching event will benefit from one of the packages below, provided by CTA, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Suguba(regional):
a) Early stage grant package (offered by CTA and AfDB)
Up to four winners of the first category (early-stage platforms) will be granted benefits including:
- A grant ( up to Euros 7,500 Euros), to further develop the platform and the services offered;
- A package of publications (business, agriculture and ICT books); the grant will be disbursed in two to three instalments, at different operational stages as agreed with the start-up;
- Attendance of at least two regional or international capacity building or networking events, selected after consultation with CTA or partners involved;
- Possible face-to-face or online acceleration/incubation programme or mentorship.
- Facilitation of access to investments and networking with business and ecosystem partners;
Up to two winners in this category will be women-owned businesses.
b) Advanced platform grant package (offered by CTA and AfDB)
Up to four winners of the second category (advanced platform) will be granted benefits including:
- A grant ( up to Euros 15,000 Euros), to develop services offered; the grant will be disbursed in three instalments, at different operational stages as agreed with the start-up;
- A package of publications (business, agriculture and ICT books)
- Attendance of at least two regional or international capacity building or networking events, selected after consultation with CTA or partners involved;
- Possible face-to-face or online acceleration/incubation programme or mentorship.
- Facilitation of access to investments and networking with business and ecosystem partners;
Up to two winners in this category will be women-owned businesses.
c) Special Suguba Africa Prize
CTA’s partner Suguba will give a special prize of 2,500 euros to a start-up based in a francophone country. Priority may be given to a woman-owned business. This prize could be offered in addition to the early stage or advanced stage grant package.
In total, up to 9 start-ups will benefit from grants. In case the quality of platforms in a category does not make it relevant to select enough winners in the category, additional winner(s) may be selected in another category.
Other opportunities facilitated by CTA may be gained by other best participants (depending on the quality of their services), including those who may not benefit from grants.
Application process
- Start-ups will provide details on problems addressed, the technical solution proposed, key metrics, customer segments targeted, unique value proposition compared with the competition, cost structure, revenue streams and other business strategy inputs.
- They will also demonstrate that they are incorporated or that they will close the process a month before the final.
Key Dates
- Deadline for registration: 21 May 2018
- Announcement of finalist start-ups: by 15 July 2018
- Boot camp and pitching events (final): 03 to 07 September 2018 at AGRF 2018.
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