Nigeria: AGRI-Business Innovation Challenge

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition in partnership with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC) has co-created the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge to attract eligible agritech startups with solutions for improving the food supply chain in Nigeria.

The Challenge aims to identify, develop, and scale innovative solutions to food safety challenges and a healthier food supply chain that can meet the needs of a growing population while also addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change in Nigeria. In addition, the challenge which is a part of GAIN’s Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project provides technical assistance training to women and youth-led start-ups to strengthen their capacity, improve their access to financial services, and develop their business concepts leveraging innovation to improve food supply chain efficiency in Nigeria.

Challenge Areas

The challenge seeks solutions that addresses any of these thematic areas. This challenge welcomes solutions or viable products that address FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN challenges with an outcome of achieving food safety and quality as well as healthier diets for all.  Examples of solutions may include and not limited to the following thematic areas:

• Cold Chain Storage
  • Innovations designed to support the preservation and management of temperature-sensitive agricultural products, such as starchy root vegetables, i.e Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes, and more, at controlled and low temperatures to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life
• Tech-enabled Food Traceability
  • Innovations that enable producers and consumers to quickly track and trace the history of food products throughout the supply chain, from farm to fork

What they offer

Shortlisted early-stage startups with a Minimum Viable Product should expect to go through the following process from the programme;

• Pitch Readiness bootcamp
• Mentorship Community
• Technical Assistance Programme
• Demo Day
• Deal Day
• $16,000 EQUITY-FREE GRANT

Eligibility Criteria

• Women and Youths aged 18-35 years (Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply).
• Applicants must have Agri-business innovations that can address and solve the Food Supply Chain challenges in Nigeria.
• Shortlisted candidates should be willing to commit to all programme deliverables.
• Finalists should be willing to test and replicate their solutions in the following states of Nigeria; Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Ibadan.
• All Applicants must have businesses registered with  the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

For more information, visit NCIC.