Deadline Date: April 04, 2026
The IGNITE Challenge is requesting applications to support startups, SMEs, and cooperatives with commercially viable solutions to strengthen the food system, create jobs, and enable young women to participate as entrepreneurs or employees.
The program focuses on funding, acceleration support, investment readiness and Demo Day preparation, market linkages, and visibility for participating ventures.
Across its first three editions, the IGNITE Challenge has supported 19 high-potential agrifood enterprises with USD 725,000 in milestone-based funding, helping them strengthen operations, launch new products, enter new markets, and support job creation, including in refugee and host communities. Building on this success, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Impact Hub Kigali (IHK) launched the fourth edition of the program as part of a five-year partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to support young women and men in building sustainable livelihoods in agriculture and agribusiness.
Each participating venture can receive up to $24,000 in equity-free funding, alongside five months of curated technical support, coaching, and masterclasses to address business gaps and strengthen skills. Startups also receive structured investment readiness and pitch preparation, culminating in a Demo Day that offers exposure to investors and the broader ecosystem. The program facilitates market linkages and visibility through connections to key stakeholders, community events, and collaboration opportunities with Farmer Service Centres (FSCs).
Eligible applicants must have valid business registration with at least two years of operation in Rwanda, proof of a revenue-generating business with market traction, and a team of at least three full-time members including the founding team. At least 50% of the founding and senior management team must be from Rwanda or East Africa, and the entity must maintain key operations in Rwanda. All participants are expected to provide mentorship, share learnings, and support other ventures and FSCs involved in the program.
For more information, visit Impact Hub Kigali.
