Applications are now open for the 2025 AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge, offering young agripreneurs funding and support to scale innovative agtech solutions for smallholder farmers. Apply below:
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline varies by country.
Tell me About the AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge:
The AYuTe Africa NextGen, an initiative of Heifer International, was established in 2021 as an agribusiness innovation initiative designed to catalyze grassroots innovations that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale. The initiative provides incubation and catalytic financing to help agribusinesses scale. AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth, and Technology) leverages the power of African youth and emerging technologies to support smallholder farmers in growing their businesses and incomes.
At the core of the initiative is the AYuTe Challenge, a competition that identifies and supports young African entrepreneurs in developing and scaling agtech solutions. Selected businesses receive a share of a $1.5 million catalytic grant, along with technical support to expand their impact.
Which fields of study are eligible?
The program is open to businesses operating in the following sectors:
- Access to Finance
- Access to Market
- Access to Energy
- Climate Smart Solutions and Resilience
What type of opportunity is this?
Grant Program
Who can Apply for the AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge?
To be considered for the regional AYuTe Africa NextGen, applicants must:
- Have a minimum of three years of experience working with smallholder farmers in Africa, with a demonstrated impact on their revenue.
- Be registered and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Have a sustainable business model that ensures profitability as operations expand.
- Provide a truly innovative product or service, offering unique solutions rather than duplicating existing ones.
- Demonstrate proven demand among smallholder farmers and affordability of their product/service.
For National Champions, applicants must:
- Have launched their start-up in the last three years.
- Be based in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zambia (specific eligibility differs by country).
- Have developed a tech-driven solution to address smallholder farmer challenges with strong potential to scale.
Which countries can apply?
- The program is open to businesses registered and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- For the National Challenge, eligible countries include Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Where will this opportunity take place?
Sub-Saharan Africa
How many spots are available?
Not specified
What are the Benefits of the AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge?
Additionally, the benefits include:
- Catalytic Grants – Selected businesses receive a share of a $1.5 million funding pool.
- Technical Support – Winners receive expert mentorship and advisory support.
- Scaling Opportunities – The program facilitates business expansion and impact across multiple countries.
How can you apply?
Visit the official application webpage to begin.
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Mercy Awofiranye is a creative writer with over five years of experience. Currently, she specializes in creating helpful content for students in the education space. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, and learning new things.
This post was last modified on March 17, 2025 11:51 am