Applications now open for Pitch AgriHack 2019

©budabar Fagan via 123RF

Selected finalists will pitch their innovations to ICT4Ag and business experts at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Accra between 3 and 7 September 2019.

Since the launch, the AgriHack Talent initiative over 1,000,000 farmers and agricultural stakeholders have been reached by the services provided by competition entrants. In 2018 there were 325 applicants from 36 countries. Of the 26 finalists, 14 were women-owned companies. Winners were awarded in the presence of four heads of states and governments.

The competition is organised with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), OCP Group, Greentec Group and with the contribution of the World Bank, FAO and other partners.

"We are proud that Pitch AgriHack has become such an important part of the AGRF. More importantly, we are proud to see how so many of our alumni have grown. Since the inception of the AgriHack talent initiative, we have worked with more than 1,000 young digital innovators with around 100 entering the final stages of the competition. Many have gone on to win additional funding close to € 2,000,000 from various players and created jobs," said Ken Lohento, senior programme coordinator for ICT4Ag.

Welcoming the partnership with CTA for 2019’s competition Karim Lofti Senhadji CEO of OCP Africa said: "OCP firmly believes that the agricultural sector will play a vital role in enabling young people's access to employment in Africa.

"As such, the group has integrated the promotion of youth agribusiness into its strategy. In this spirit, OCP also partners with organisations thriving to accelerate entrepreneurial initiatives in agriculture, especially those promoting women like CTA’s AgriHack."

Up to €15,000 will be awarded to seven start-ups in different categories including three new special prize categories: data analytics services, public choice and the Greentec Prize. Interested parties are encouraged to apply by the closing date of May 24, 2019. 50% of finalists are planned to be women and this year the competition is open to North Africa for the first time.