Improving Agriculture supply chain efficiency in Nigeria
The Agribusiness Innovation challenge program is a 6 months acceleration program designed to support Agriculture based startups by accelerating their business development, along with opportunities for investment and exposure.
About Agribusiness Innovation Challenge
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss-based foundation, launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, GAIN, which aims to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious foods for all people, especially the most vulnerable, has partnered with Aiivon Innovation Hub to implement the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge to support the holistic development of Nigeria's Agricultural sector. The project aims to help develop businesses leveraging technology, provide technical assistance training to women and youth-led start-ups to strengthen their capacity, improve their access to financial services, and develop their business concepts leveraging innovation to improve supply chain efficiency.
Benefits
Why should you apply?
Grant
The top startups will be eligible for an equity/debt-free sum of about N2,000,000 by GAIN.
Business Advisory
Get access to a pool of mentors and business experts
Free Business Acceleration and workspace
15 Selected startups will undergo 2-months intensive and specialized technical assistance and business development training by experts and key stakeholders. Startups will also be able to access the workspaces at Aiivon Innovation hub Makurdi and all attached benefits for free.
Partnerships
Access to GAIN and Aiivon network of partners
Access to investors
The selected startups would be exposed to local and international investors for possible funding for their business.
Who can apply?
The project is exclusively for:
Agricprenuers
Agritech startups
Female/Youth-led businesses at early stages are strongly encouraged to apply
Selection Criteria & Eligibility
Selection Process
Application Closes by Midnight on the 3rd of October 2022
01
We would establish an evaluation board with outside evaluators and experts under strict confidentiality to evaluate proposals.
02
We will have 2 step screening processes, the 1st is document screening and the 2nd is online interview screening.
03
We will select approximately 30 finalists for the innovation challenge of which up to 15 winners will be selected for the program.
Program Timeline
Looking to innovate for Agriculture supply chain efficiency?
FAQ's
The Agribusiness Innovation challenge program is a 6-month acceleration program designed to support agritech startups leveraging innovation to improve supply chain efficiency in Benue state.
By being a part of the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge, you will be given technical assistance training to strengthen your capacity, improve your access to financial services, and develop business concepts leveraging innovation to improve supply chain efficiency.
Yes, you and your business has to be operating within Benue State to be shortlisted for the program as all activities and training would be done physically in order to improve engagement and delivery of the program.
No, The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge is open to the Agricuture sector, and Climate Smart Agriculture inclusion
Yes, there is. The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge competition culminates in an award day where finalists battle for N2,000,000 in zero-equity prize money. While there will be only one 1st prize winner, other finalists also get to pitch to a room full of international investors.
No, you can apply if your business isn’t registered yet.
The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge is expected to last over a period of 6 months, but the technical sessions would last for only 2 months.
Yes, all genders are allowed to participate in this program, but women and youth-led startups are strongly encouraged to participate.
ANS: Kindly send an email to our helpline at (programs@aiivon.com)
Contact Us
Our Funding Partner
Terms & Conditions
i. Participants of the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge events stand a chance to win sponsored cash and technical assistance prizes. Judges have the sole responsibility of and discretion in selecting winners and the judges' decisions are final. The value of these prizes is to be at the sole discretion of the organisers.
ii. Prize winners must use cash or technical assistance prizes for business or research purposes related to Agrotech innovation.
iii. Participants who are awarded a prize shall be obliged to sign a grant agreement with GAIN detailing how they intend to use the prize funds, including a disbursement schedule. The judges and / or organisers shall have the right to withdraw any cash prize from a participant who fails or refuses to comply with the obligation in this clause.
iv. Prize recipients will be expected to share periodic reports detailing how the funds are being used, as agreed with the organisers.
v. To the fullest extent permitted by law the organisers will not be liable for the cancellation/postponement/change of sponsored prizes”.