Pitch AgriHack Competition for African Entrepreneurs ($45,000 Total prize money) 2023

We want Africa’s brightest young minds to present their solutions to the world. Our young agritech entrepreneurs have the potential to revolutionize the way we address food security challenges and empower smallholder farmers across the continent.

Pitch AgriHack offers a platform for these visionary minds to present their technological solutions in order to transform the continent’s agricultural landscape. With a total prize money of US$45,000, Pitch AgriHack 2023 will reward the most promising ventures that address key challenges and promote sustainable agricultural development.

• Table of Content
• About VC4A
• VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition
• Aim and Benefits of VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition
• Requirements for VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About VC4A

VC4A started with the mission to build up Africa’s start up community. Started in 2007, the network building organization has grown organically over the years into what is now the leading community working to build high growth high impact companies globally. Increased economic momentum is fueled by a growing number of entrepreneurs and their ambition to transform society. It is imperative we seek out the collaborations and partnerships needed to bring together the capital, knowledge, and network these entrepreneurs require to succeed – and to provide every entrepreneur with an e... continue reading

VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition

Aim and Benefits of VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition

• Three winners and three runners-up will be selected, with each winner receiving a cash prize of US$10,000 and each runner-up receiving US$5,000. 

Requirements for VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition Qualification

Candidates are early-, mature- or growth-stage, or women-led technology or digital services companies with innovative solutions impacting smallholder farmers at scale.

Applicants should have:

• A clear and defined description on how their solution is impacting smallholder farmers.
• Strong organizational and operational structure.

The applicant applying must:

• Be aged 18-40 on the day of submission to the 2023 Pitch AgriHack Competition.
• Hold nationality (with official ID) from any of the 54 nations of the African Union.
• Be the founder/co-founder of the enterprise represented in the competition and play an active role in its operations and leadership.
• Have no criminal record related to corruption, tax evasion, financial impropriety, felony or
  other offenses.
• Not be a previous Pitch AgriHack or GoGettaz finalist or winner.
• Submit the application form in English.
• Agree with the Terms & Conditions.

Early-stage category, venture must have:

• The ability to scale and impact a large number of smallholder farmers.
• An identifiable technological innovation that addresses the following problems for smallholder farmers:
  • Smallholder farmer productivity
  • Smallholder farmer income
  • Labor intensiveness of operations
  • Resilience
  • Access to information for smallholder farmers
  • Strong competitive advantage

Growth-stage category, venture must have:

• The ability to scale and impact a large number of smallholder farmers.
• Recorded evidence of demonstrated impact on smallholder farmers’ revenue.
• An identifiable technological innovation that addresses the following problems for smallholder farmers:
  • Smallholder farmer productivity
  • Smallholder farmer income
  • Labor intensiveness of operations
  • Resilience
  • Access to information for smallholder farmers
  • Strong competitive advantage

Interview date, Process and Venue for VC4A Pitch AgriHack Competition

Selection Criteria

There will be a screening process to determine the top 12 start-ups, which will be invited to attend a pitch training session. Half of the selected start-ups will be women-owned start-ups (one official co-founder must be female). The selection is mainly based on the quality of the information submitted in the application. Additional information may be requested by the organizers.

Online screening criteria

• How real is the need?
• What problem does the solution solve?
• How unique is the solution?
• Does the team demonstrate an ability to execute?
• What is the market opportunity?

Technical assessment criteria

• Early-Stage Category:
  • Scalability
  • Feasibility/Proof of concept
  • Technical viability of the solution
• Mature-Stage Category:
  • Smallholder farmers reached
  • Profitability

Final pitch criteria

• Impact on Smallholder Farmers
• Technological Innovation
• Business Model
• Team
• Scalability
• Use-of-funds

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details,visit VC4A website