- The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria, initiated by Heifer International and implemented by Wennovation Hub, supports innovative youth-led agritech businesses with impactful solutions for smallholder farmers. Winners receive cash prizes up to $10,000, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
- Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be Nigerian nationals aged 18-35, founders or co-founders of registered agritech enterprises with technological innovations that enhance smallholder farmer productivity and income. Applications open from 17th to 31st July 2023.
- Previous Champions: 2022 winners include Ifeoluwa Olatayo ($10,000) for a USSD short code market aggregation system, Amarachi Usim ($6,000) for vertical sack farming, and Stephen Obe ($4,000) for smart farm technology.
About the AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria
The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an enterprise development program initiated by Heifer International and implemented by Wennovation Hub. This program aims to identify, nurture, and support innovative, relevant, and technology-driven agric-centric enterprises to grow, scale, and thrive.
Candidates should be early-stage or growth-stage youth-led agritech businesses/companies with innovative solutions impacting smallholder farmers at scale.
Previous Champions
2022 AYuTe Nigeria Champions
- Winner: Ifeoluwa Olatayo – Soupah Farm-En-Market Limited – $10,000
- Innovation: Deploying USSD short code to aggregate market participants, find buyers for farmers’ produce, and deliver it to retailers’ doorstep at affordable prices.
- 1st Runner-up: Amarachi Usim – Simkay Foods Limited – $6,000
- Innovation: Vertical Sack Farming—a low-cost technology for planting crops into the sides and tops of large sacks of soil, enabling farmers to grow several crops in a relatively small space by taking advantage of the vertical growth of plants.
- 2nd Runner-up: Stephen Obe – Evet Technology – $4,000
- Innovation: Smart technology innovation that improves farm productivity and prevents pre-harvest wastages.
“I am excited that my enterprise emerged 1st place in this 2022 AYuTe Nigeria Challenge. The $10,000 prize will allow us to establish a better supply chain for small-scale farmers aimed at increasing the income of over 7,000 farmers and connecting over 18,000 tons of food to market.” – Ifeoluwa Olatayo
2023 AYuTe Nigeria Champions
- Winner: Tajuddeen Yahaya – Extension Africa – $10,000
- 1st Runner Up: Segun Adegun – Rural Farmers Hub – $6,000
- 2nd Runner Up: Chinwendu Nweke – Bridge Merchant – $4,000
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Age: Be aged 18-35 by the closing day of submission to the AYuTe Nigeria challenge.
- Innovation Focus: Be a youth with innovative ideas focusing on the agriculture sector.
- Problem-Solving: Have ideas that are proven to solve social problems and are implementable, technically feasible, economically sound (affordable), and environmentally smart (eco-friendly).
- Nationality: Hold Nigerian nationality with an official ID (national identity card, international passport, or permanent voters’ card).
- Financial Statements: Produce financial statements for the venture.
- Founder/Co-founder: Be the founder or co-founder of the enterprise represented in the competition and play an active role in its operations and leadership.
- Criminal Record: Have no criminal record related to corruption, tax evasion, financial impropriety, felony, or other offences.
- Partnership Potential: Have the potential for partnership and collaboration with other actors/stakeholders.
- Company Registration: The company must have been registered/incorporated with the relevant government agencies in Nigeria.
- Scalability and Impact: The ability to scale and impact a large number of smallholder farmers, including recorded evidence of demonstrated impact on smallholder farmers’ revenue and/or operations.
- Job Creation and Poverty Reduction: The potential for job creation and poverty reduction.
- Policy Alignment: Alignment with relevant national policies and international treaties (e.g., SDGs).
- Technological Innovation: An identifiable technological innovation that addresses the following problems for smallholder farmers:
- Smallholder farmer productivity
- Smallholder farmer income
- Labour intensiveness of operations
- Resilience
- Access to information
- Strong competitive advantage
How to Apply
The application period will be open from 17th July to 31st July, 2023, by 5pm WAT.
NOTE: Follow us on social media @heifernigeria and @AyuteAfrica.
Application Form: The form can be accessed on the Web.
Applicants will receive a confirmation message for their application after submission by email/SMS.
Queries: Contact info@wennovationhub.org
Key Timeline
- Application Period: 14th May to 31st May, 2024.
- Top-10 Agritech Innovators: Identified post-application period.
- Top-5 Agritech Innovators: Identified in the second stage.
- Pitch and Awards Ceremony: Top three enterprises awarded cash prizes.
FAQ
Who runs the AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria? The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an enterprise development program initiated by Heifer International and implemented by Wennovation Hub.
How long will the challenge run? The challenge will run for three months, with three agritech innovators awarded the top prizes.
Who can apply for this challenge? CEOs or Co-founders of agritech businesses/companies in Nigeria. Only one individual can represent a business/company.
Is the competition only open to registered Nigerian businesses? Yes, only enterprises already registered in Nigeria or currently being registered are eligible.
What stage of businesses can apply? Early-stage start-ups (fewer than three years old). Priority is given to start-ups with a minimum viable product (MVP) but with no previous experience in an enterprise support program.
Required Documents:
- Soft copy of any National Official ID.
- Soft copy of a clear headshot photo.
Program Benefits:
- Coaching and mentorship.
- Technical assistance to strengthen the MVP, business, and financial model.
- Links to financial and investment opportunities.
- Networking opportunities.
- Cash prize awards of a total of $20,000 for the top three winners:
- Winner: $10,000
- First Runner-Up: $6,000
- Second Runner-Up: $4,000
Terms and Conditions
- Acceptance: By entering this challenge, you agree to the terms and conditions.
- Entry Method: Only online entries via the official application page are accepted.
- Eligibility: Must meet the criteria listed on the application page.
- Age and Residency: Only Nigerian citizens and permanent residents aged 18-35 can apply.
- Application Process: Runs from 17 July – 31 September, 2023. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted.
- Cash Prizes: A total of $20,000 for the top three winners.
- Judging Process: Three stages of judging to identify top innovators.
- Video Submission: Top-10 innovators will submit a 2-minute video introducing their innovation.
- Mentorship Program: Top-5 innovators will partake in a mentorship program bootcamp in Abuja.
- Media Interviews: Winners will be invited for media interviews.
- Final Decision: The judges’ decision is final.
- Contact Period: Winners will be contacted for 30 days post-grand finale. Non-responders will forfeit their prize.
- Promotional Use: Winners’ names and images may be used for publicity purposes.
- Disqualification: Entries may be disqualified for rule contraventions.
- Indemnity: Participants indemnify AYuTe Nigeria against any harm or loss arising from participation.
- Laws: Subject to Nigerian laws.
- Non-Affiliation: The challenge is not affiliated with the Nigerian Government.
- Personal Information: Collected to offer the challenge.
- Right to Modify: AYuTe Nigeria reserves the right to cancel, modify, or amend the challenge if necessary.
Contact Information
For any queries, contact: info@wennovationhub.org
Good luck to all participants!