Nigerian Startups, Farmignite and Ankora, Emerge Winners at the Pitch AgriHack 2018

Two Nigerian Agritech startups, Farmignite Company and Ankora Global Services, have emerged winners at the grand finale of the Pitch AgriHack 2018 for agricultural entrepreneurs held during the African Green Revolution Forum in Kigali Rwanda.

The startups took home €7,500 and $15,000 in funding respectively from the event.

#PitchAgriHack2018 winners announced at #AGRF2018: @greenhousekenya 🇰🇪; Fenou Packaging 🇧🇯; @farmcredibly 🇯🇲; @farmignite 🇳🇬; @cowtribe 🇬🇭; @agroinnovagh 🇬🇭; Ankora Global Services 🇳🇬; @etchridona, 🇹🇬. pic.twitter.com/TmSU8M1Q8Y

— CTA (@CTAflash) September 8, 2018

26 AgriTech startups (14 of which are led by women) were chosen for the finals out of the 325 applications. These 26 were selected to ‘pitch-off’ in front of potential investors and an illustrious judging panel, after which, 9 of them were announced winners in the two different categories.

Category 1: Early-Stage (each receiving grants between €5,000 and €7,500):

• Illuminum Greenhouses Kenya – Kenya
• Fenou Packaging – Benin
• Develop Digitally – Jamaica
• Farmignite Company – Nigeria

Related Post: CTA Unveils ‘Pitch AgriHack 2018’ for Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs, a Chance to Win €15,000

@farmignite received Investment readiness training for ICT4Ag start-ups Certificate, thanks to @CTAflash, @AfDB_Group,@SugubaAfrica . we are equipped and ready to takeover the Agrictech space #KCC2018 #Rwanda #2018 pic.twitter.com/lIK6iU574X

— farmignite (@farmignite) September 11, 2018

Category 2: Advanced (each receiving grants between €12,000 and €15,000):

• CowTribe Africa – Ghana
• Agro Innova – Ghana
• Ankora Global Services – Nigeria
• CLIN SARLU (e-agribusiness) – Togo

In addition, Fenou Packaging from Benin received a special prize presented by one of the organizers, Suguba Africa, for being the best Francophone startup led by a woman.

“#PitchAgriHack is designed to accelerate digitalisation and help modernise and transform African agriculture. This year we encourage greater participation of young women,” says CTA director @mhailu, before announcing the winners of #PitchAgriHack2018 at #AGRF2018 pic.twitter.com/oYmCp1Weak

— CTA (@CTAflash) September 8, 2018

Related Post: 6 Nigerian Agritech Startups Make 2018 Pitch Agrihack Competition Finalists List

Organised by CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRA), Women in Tech Africa, Nigeria’s Wennovation Hub, and Suguba Africa, it is designed to “reward young agricultural entrepreneurs building viable businesses that boost innovation for a more sustainable agricultural sector.”

These are entrepreneurs who have been inspired to make a difference – to help transform agriculture for future generations and to encourage young people to see the potential in farming and agribusiness. They are showing a pathway to enable the modernisation of agriculture. They are shining a light on the hope that will greatly improve rural lives and make agriculture attractive and profitable to youth who are too often migrating to cities in search of better opportunities. –Micheal Hailu, Director for CTA

#PitchAgriHack2018 awards about to be announced in front of African leaders: @PaulKagame, President of Rwanda 🇷🇼, @WilliamsRuto, Deputy President of Kenya 🇰🇪, @nakuffoaddo, President of Ghana 🇬🇭, and Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, Prime Minister of Gabon 🇬🇦. #AGRF2018 pic.twitter.com/z5PG2HyUSS

— CTA (@CTAflash) September 8, 2018

The theme for the 2018’s competition was “Women entrepreneurs innovate for agricultural transformation in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific” and it witnessed the presence of four African leaders: H.E. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; H.E. William Samoei Arap Ruto, Deputy President of Kenya; H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President, Republic of Ghana; and H.E. Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, Prime Minister, Republic of Gabon.