3 African Agri-tech Startups Emerge Winners of $1.5m AYuTe Africa Challenge
The AYuTe Africa Challenge has identified three African agri-tech firms as winners.
These companies, ThriveAgric of Nigeria, DigicCow of Kenya, and Brastorne Enterprises of Botswana, will each get US$1.5 million in grant cash and access to professional advisors.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge, run by Heifer International, supports agri-tech innovators on the continent and is a part of Heifer’s mission to helping young entrepreneurs create accessible tech solutions as they grow their companies.
DigiCow is an agri-tech company that uses digital tools to modernize production on small-scale dairy farms, ThriveAgric is a fast-growing startup that increases farmer incomes and production, and Brastorne Enterprises has created digital technology for feature phones that is bridging Africa’s rural digital divide.
The three businesses will receive a combined US$1.5 million in awards as the 2022 AYuTe Africa Challenge winners, as well as continuous support from a team of professional advisors to help them turn their financing into an ambitious expansion strategy.
Adesuwa Ifedi, senior vice president of Africa programs at Heifer International, said: “At a time when Africa is facing unprecedented food-related challenges, it is incredibly inspiring to see these young African champions firmly focused on an agriculture-led future that provides farmers with the innovations they need to succeed.” “In 2021, we set up this competition, challenging young people from Africa to submit ideas that could bring about the positive disruption that our farmers much need. DigiCow, Brastorne, and ThriveAgric are all more than prepared for the situation.
