Agtech Startups that are facilitating the delivery of digital services to the agricultural sector have been invited to apply for the Pitch AgriHack 2019 powered by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the OCP Group, GreenTec Group and with the contribution of the World Bank and FAO.
Applicants need to be nationals and residents of any African country (Central Africa, Eastern Africa, North Africa to Southern Africa, West Africa), and nationals and residents of Caribbean and Pacific signatories of the Cotonou Agreement between EU and ACP countries.
The final will be held during the 2019 edition of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2019), organised by AGRA and other partners, in Ghana in September 2019.
Pitch AgriHack 2019 involves:
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a competition followed by a pitching session in Accra
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a partnership and investment readiness training boot camp for finalist start-ups;
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grants and facilitation of access to investments, capacity building and promotional opportunities.
Categories
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Early stage platform
Digital services that can be submitted in this category include services enabled by platforms that are at an early stage and are generating revenues between 0 and 20,000 euros annually. These include prototypes with functional features that demonstrate good potential for success.
At least two winners will be awarded in this category.
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Mature platform
Digital services that can be submitted in this category include services enabled by platforms that are at a more advanced stage and are generating revenues above 20,000 euros annually. At least two winners will be awarded in this category.
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Special prizes
Four special prizes are planned.
a) Data analytics services
This prize will be awarded to the best platform that innovatively deploys agricultural data analytics, offering added value to customers. Candidates to this award will have to demonstrate how their platform achieves this.
b) Public choice
This prize will be awarded by the public during the final of the Pitch AgriHack 2019 in Ghana.
c) OCP Group Award
This prize will reward an African company for the innovation and quality of their digital services as well as for their impacts.
d) GreenTec-Award
This prize shall go to a promising start-up that has developed a digital model/solution that is not only a profitable business (or has very strong profitability potential) but has at the same time a positive impact on people’s lives. Criteria will also include the visible traction and the potential in other African markets.
Are you offering digital solutions for agriculture🌱? CTA in collaboration with @AGRAAlliance @ocpgroup @GreenTecCapital and the support of @WorldBank @FAO & other partners is launching #Pitchagrihack 2019
— CTA (@CTAflash) April 25, 2019
👉🏾Apply & win up to €15,000 for your startup https://t.co/ZfeuWgxEcB pic.twitter.com/JZuO4tqfuV
Prizes and other benefits
A winning start-up will receive up to 15,000 euros (grant contract). At least seven awards are planned. Apart from the grant contracts, all winners will receive:
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a package of publications (business, agriculture and ICT books);
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attendance to at least two regional or international capacity-building or business networking events, selected after consultation with CTA or partners involved;
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extensive promotion by CTA;
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involvement in CTA’s Pitch AgriHack’s winners’ network;
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possible seed funding or investment from partners involved.
Other opportunities facilitated by partners involved or CTA, may be gained by other participants, including those who may not benefit from the grants (depending on the quality of their services).
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, revenue streams and other business strategy elements. They will also demonstrate that they are incorporated or that they will close the process a month before the final.
Selection process
Applications will be screened by teams of business experts and investors.
Key Dates
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Deadline for registration: 24 May 2019
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Announcement of finalist start-ups: by 15 July 2019
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Boot camp and pitching (final): first week September 2019 in Ghana.
Apply here.
