The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to address the human suffering caused by malnutrition, has partnered with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC) to introduce the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge. This initiative aims to attract eligible agritech startups offering solutions to enhance the food supply chain in Nigeria.
The Agribusiness Innovation Challenge has several objectives, including the identification, development, and scaling of innovative solutions to food safety challenges. It also focuses on creating a healthier food supply chain capable of meeting the needs of a growing population while addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change in Nigeria. The challenge is part of GAIN’s Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project and provides technical assistance and training to women and youth-led startups. This support aims to strengthen their capabilities, enhance their access to financial services, and help them develop innovative concepts to improve the efficiency of the food supply chain in Nigeria.
Benefits for early-stage startups with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) selected for the program include:
- Pitch Readiness
- BootCamp
- Mentorship Community
- Technical Assistance Program
- Demo Day
- Deal Day
- An equity-free grant of $16,000
Requirements for participation in the challenge are as follows:
- Applicants must be women and youths aged 18–35 years, with strong encouragement for female applicants to apply.
- All applicants must have agri-business innovations capable of addressing and solving food supply chain challenges in Nigeria.
- Shortlisted candidates should commit to fulfilling all program deliverables.
- Finalists must be prepared to test and replicate their solutions in specific Nigerian states: Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Ibadan.
- All applicants must have businesses registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Terms and conditions associated with the challenge include:
- Participants have the opportunity to win sponsored cash and technical assistance prizes, with the judges having sole responsibility and discretion in selecting winners.
- Prize winners are expected to use the cash or technical assistance prizes for purposes related to agritech innovation.
- Prize recipients must sign a grant agreement with GAIN outlining how they intend to utilize the prize funds, including a disbursement schedule.
- The judges and organizers retain the right to withdraw a cash prize from any participant who fails to comply with their obligations.
- Prize recipients are required to provide periodic reports detailing the use of the funds, as agreed with the organizers.
- The organizers will not be liable for any cancellation, postponement, or changes to sponsored prizes.
To apply for the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge, interested parties can follow the provided application link.
The application deadline for this opportunity is October 19, 2023.
For more details, kindly visit the Official Website.
