AgTech Generation
Rising

The AYuTe Africa NextGen, an initiative of Heifer International, was established in 2021 as an agribusiness innovation initiative designed to catalyze ground-up innovation that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale, providing the incubation and catalytic financing needed for these businesses to scale. AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) combines the power of African youth with the many possibilities of emerging technologies to support smallholder farmers across the continent grow their businesses and incomes.

At the core of the initiative is the AYuTe Challenge, a competition that identifies and enables young African entrepreneurs to develop and scale agtech solutions. Selected companies receive part of a $1.5 million catalytic grant, along with technical support to scale their solutions and expand their impact.

AYuTe NextGen Conference 2025

AYuTe NextGen gathering serves as a vibrant platform within the AYuTe Africa NextGen initiative by Heifer International. The 2025 edition, scheduled for June 17th - 19th, 2025, at the Speke Resort and Conference Center, Munyonyo, Uganda, will be a dynamic event themed “AgTech Generation Rising”.

The conference will feature bold, youth-led conversations and solution-driven panels, envisioning an agricultural future shaped by a new generation of tech-enabled innovators. Attendees can also explore an immersive expo showcasing cutting-edge innovations in agritech and agribusiness.

A major highlight is the AYuTe NextGen Regional Competition Finale, where standout agritech innovators will pitch solutions in three key areas: Access to Markets, Access to Finance and Climate-Smart Agriculture—all aimed at unlocking scalable solutions for Africa’s smallholder farmers.

Through collaborative dialogue, experiential learning and engagement, AYuTe Next Gen encapsulates the vitality of African youth, the spirit of innovation, and the empowerment of young people. This convergence of elements aims to catalyze prosperity for smallholder farmers while fostering sustainable growth in agriculture across the continent.

What awaits you at AYuTe NextGen?

- Exclusive access to some of Africa's biggest investors, VCs and industry leaders.

- Discover business and career opportunities that exist in Africa’s agriculture.

- Make your voice heard! Participate in engaging and insightful youth-led conversations.

- Watching live pitches of some of Africa's brightest minds.

- Immerse yourself in the latest innovations transforming agriculture in Africa.

- Enjoy the best of Ugandan culture and entertainment!

Youth

Tech

Watch Snippets of Last Year's AYuTe NextGen

Meet Some of Our Previous AYuTe Africa Champions

West Africa 2022

ThriveAgric: Building Africa’s Largest Network of Productive, Profitable Farmers

Uka Eje and Ayodeji Arikawe are recognized for their work in developing a powerhouse agritech innovation, connecting African smallholder farmers to financing, education and premium markets on harvest. ThriveAgric already has assembled a network of over 500,000 farmers in Nigeria and beyond—40% of them women and about a third of them youth farmers, with plans to reach 10 million by 2027.

Southern Africa 2022

Brastorne: Circumventing the Internet to Connect the Unconnected in Rural Africa

Martin Stimela and Naledi Magowe are recognized for their work connecting the unconnected across rural Africa, creating information and market opportunities for farmers. The Botswana-based Brastorne Enterprises has connected 1.8 million Africans who lack meaningful internet access, through its multi-channel solutions that are compatible with feature phones, and is committed to connecting 760 million Africans.

East Africa 2022

The Digital Dairy Farm: DigiCow Delivers for Africa’s Smallholder Milk Producers

Peninah Wanja, Vincent Kimani and Jemimah Wanjiku are recognized for their work connecting dairy farmers to critical farm services by harnessing mobile phone technology. DigiCow’s innovative and practical support system for small-scale dairy farmers has reached 60,00 farmers to date, providing fast and easy access to skilled and approved veterinarians, artificial insemination providers and feed supply services.

Meet the Champions

Latest Updates

AYuTe NextGen - AgTech Generation Rising

Press Release

Empowering Changemakers: Heifer Africa’s AYuTe Challenge Winners Amplify Impact of their Agritech Solutions with MIT Solve Innovators Program

Fourteen young African innovators with groundbreaking agritech solutions which emerged from the AYuTe Africa Challenge, an initiative of Heifer Africa, have been invited to participate in the second edition of the MIT Solve Innovators Program.

See All Updates

AgTech Generation Rising