African Development Bank Group’s $140,000 AgriPitch Contest Names 25 Finalists to Compete for Grand Prizes | African Development Bank

Twenty-five youth-led companies in the agricultural sector from 14 African countries have advanced to the finalist round of the African Development Bank Group’s 2022 AgriPitch competition.

The Bank, in conjunction with executive lead Private Equity Support and partner organizations Eldohub and the Private Finance Advisory Network, has announced the 25 finalists for the Competition that will award $140,000 in grants and business skills training.

Among the 25 finalists are 17 small and medium-sized enterprises owned or managed by women. Thirteen are from French-speaking countries, while the remaining 12 are from English-speaking countries.

The AgriPitch competition focuses on African youth aged 18 to 35 working in the agricultural value chain. The 25 finalists will receive training to build business skills with the required tools and knowledge to strengthen their investment readiness and financial management and help them pitch viable business proposals.

“These young agripreneurs show great potential and are a testament to the level of innovation that exists across Africa. The Bank’s support, through the AgriPitch Competition, will increase the bankability of these projects and represent a tangible step towards improving agribusiness and food security on the continent,” said Edson Mpyisi, the bank’s Chief Financial Economist and ENABLE Youth Coordinator.

The competition received more than 1,000 applications from African agripreneurs, including about 250 entries from small and medium-sized enterprises owned or managed by women.

“It is comforting to see and evaluate hundreds of great potential investment opportunities from across the region,” said Diana Gichaga, Managing Partner at Private Equity Support. “It reaffirms the critical role the agricultural sector plays in the African economy and the continued efforts to advance these initiatives through platforms such as the AgriPitch Competition,” she added.

The AgriPitch competition is a central and recurring activity of the African Development Bank’s ENABLE Youth Program, sponsored by the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Trust Fund. The 2022 edition will reward three startup categories: early startups (0-3 years active), mature startups (active for 3 years or more), and women-empowered companies (companies with at least a 51% stake in owned by women or founded by a woman). The finalists pitch their business plans to potential investors in the AgriPitch deal room and are eligible for one-on-one mentorship and access to digital expertise after the competition.

Click here to watch the video announcement of the 25 finalists for the AgriPitch Competition 2022, with this entry code: .51E*7M.

You can click here for more information about the finalists