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AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya

AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya promotes agricultural innovation in Kenyan youth, contributing to the country’s food security.

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About the Challenge

AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya promotes AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya promotes agricultural innovation in Kenyan youth, contributing to the country’s food security through three key pillars:

  1. IDENTIFY: We identify game-changing innovations that address challenges facing smallholder farmers.

  2. ELEVATE: We elevate youth-led innovations through mentorship, training and linkage to access to opportunities.

  3. GROW TOGETHER: We support agritech innovations that benefit smallholder farmers, alongside our partners.


The challenge is an initiative of Heifer Kenya, which is working closely with KCIC to run the competition.  KCIC will employ its expertise in business acceleration to develop a strategic direction for youth, agriculture, and technology in line with Heifer Kenya’s mission and approach.

Kenya’s agricultural industry is the backbone of its economy. However, young Kenyans, who represent more than half of the national labour force, remain almost entirely excluded from this significant industry. This is due to challenges such as negative perceptions of agriculture, lack of awareness of agribusiness value chains, and limited opportunities offered by new technologies and innovative business models.

Young people have the potential to significantly reduce poverty and establish Kenya as one of the key players in agricultural markets. AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya will translate the energy and ideas of young Kenyan agri-tech innovators into meaningful impact for smallholder farmers across the country and support the winners to grow their businesses and profile.

Now in its fourth chapter in Kenya, the challenge has already made substantial strides. To date, we have received over 600 applications from enthusiastic young innovators. More than 350 entrepreneurs have been trained and mentored, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the agribusiness sector. Additionally, we have been awarded $93,460 in cash to help the winning agripreneurs scale their innovations and make a tangible impact on the agricultural landscape.

    • John Waweru – Optimerce Consulting Ltd – KES 1,000,000
      Innovation: Digitizing the process of produce collection at farm-gate through mobile apps.

    • 1st Runner-up: Joshua Gitonga – RafikiPay – KES 750,000
      Innovation: Processing of sunflower, groundnuts, soya and canola oil from hybrid seeds.

    • 2nd Runner-up: Grace Kyarimpa – Agrodiverse Ltd Kenya – KES 250,000

  • Read the press release for the 2022 AYuTe Kenya Champions here:

    • IDEATION-STAGE TRACK

    Winner- VUNAPAY- 250,000 KES

    Founder- Koya Matsuno

    VunaPay provides instant payouts to smallholder farmers through agricultural cooperatives by offering end-to-end produce and farm input management solutions, saving farmers from manual processes, and late payment.

    1st Runner Up- AGRONOMY PLUS – 150,000 KES

    Founder- Michael Odhiambo

    Agronomy Plus is an on-demand Agtech enabled agribusiness that aims to upscale smallholder farmers. Functioning as an "Uber for Agronomists," agronomy plus utilizes geolocation technology, USSD, Web, and Android App to instantly connect farmers to agribusiness service providers and off-takers.

    2nd Runner UP- SILO AFRICA- 100,000 KES

    Founder- Eliud Rugut

    Silo Africa serves smallholder farmers with digitized grain silos equipped with an advanced aflatoxin and pest detection device which is IoT powered, that provides a safe and secure way of preserving grains up to 10 years without the use of chemicals.

     

    • PRODUCT-STAGE TRACK

    Winner- ECO BRISTO- 1,000,000 KES

    Founder- Mutuma Muriuki

    Eco Bristo is a pioneering agritech startup committed to sustainable pest management. They develop solar-powered insect traps that attract and capture pests such as moths, fruit flies, and other crop-damaging insects revolutionising pest control and improving crop production.

    1st Runner Up- AGRITECH ANALYTICS- 400,000 KES

    Founder – Maryanne Gichanga

    AgriTech Analytics is a startup in the smart agriculture industry that leverages Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Satellite Imagery and Data Analytics to provide farmers with actionable insights towards increasing crop yields, reducing resource consumption, and ensuring sustainable agriculture.

    2nd Runner Up- GROWAGRIC- 200,000 KES

    Founder - David Njonjo

    Growagric is a startup in the agritech space. It operates as a platform that provides farmers with working capital, farm management tools, training, and connects the farmers to ready markets at the end of the farming cycle.

    • SPECIAL AWARD CATEGORY -

      Winner 1: Agromony Plus(1st runner up-ideation stage)

      Winner 2: One Million Avocados.

    Founder- Akayru Kevin-Dylan Nyakaru

    One Million Avocados applies technology in farming to increase the production and quality of avocados. The startup utilizes blockchain, IoT, sensors, satellite, and drone monitoring, combined with Artificial Intelligence technologies to increase the production and quality of avocados using precision farming

    1. Seed capital (including implementation costs and technical assistance) up to  a total of KES. 9 400, 000 for the top 8 winners.

    2. Up to 6 months customised post award business advisory support  to the top 8 winners.

    3. Customized training boot camps at the various levels of the competition;

    4. Technical Assistance at the various levels of the challenge to strengthen the Minimum Viable Product and the business and financial model of the start-up;

    5. Coaching & Mentorship, personalized to unpack training into business implementation;

    6. Links to opportunities including financial & investment, and other enterprise related actors;

    7. Networking opportunities to showcase your solution and meet with investors and other stakeholders.

    1. Established and registered in Kenya or in the process of registration and having operations in Kenya.

    2. Be either an early-stage start-up or a scale-up phase

    3. Have an innovative climate-smart solution in the following value chains: red meat (beef, goats, and sheep), dairy, poultry and horticulture.

    4. Have an innovative solution responding to the above value chains at either of the following levels: production, aggregation, post-harvest losses management, value addition, access to market, or financing.

    5. The solution has to have a positive impact on small-holder farmers.

    6. Youth are highly encouraged to apply.

  • The AYuTe Africa Challenge, Kenya is targeting the following regions with the corresponding counties:

    The regions include:

    1. Nairobi

    2. Central Regional Economic Bloc: Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Laikipia, Nakuru and Kiambu

    3. Lake Region Economic Bloc and North Rift Economic Bloc: Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi

    4. ASAL & Coastal Counties: Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Kilifi, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Turkana, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Taita Taveta Kajiado and Narok

  • To apply, fill out the application form here -  AYuTe 2025 Innovation Challenge Application Form

    The call for applications is open until 28/11/2025 at 11.59 PM EAT.

    Any queries? Please write to info.kenya@heifer.org/ info@kenyacic.org

  • 7/11/2025 Call for applications.

    28/11/2025 Call for application Window Closes.

    14/11/25 Info Session

     

    Application form Questions

  • Who runs AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya? The AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya is an initiative of Heifer Kenya, which works closely with an accelerator to run the challenge. For the 2025 Challenge, Heifer International Kenya is working in collaboration with KCIC, a leading climate incubator in Kenya.

    How long will the challenge run? The challenge will run for 4 months from the time of the call for applications to the awarding of the winners.

    Who is eligible to participate? SMEs established and registered in Kenya, or in the process of registration with operations in Kenya, are eligible. Additionally, they could be early-stage start-ups or scale up with innovative, climate-smart solutions focusing on beef, dairy, poultry, or horticulture value chains.

    Program Eligibility:

    Is the AYuTe Kenya challenge only open to Kenyan enterprises? Yes, only enterprises undergoing registration or that are already registered in Kenya are eligible to apply.

    What stage of enterprise can apply?

    1. Ideation (Concept or Prototype) – You are in the early stage of developing your idea. You may have a concept note, model, or prototype, but it has not yet been tested or implemented in the market.

    2. Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – You have developed and tested a functional version of your solution with initial users or farmers. The product/service shows early traction and potential for refinement and scale.

    3. Scaling (Ready for Market) / Growth Stage – Your innovation is already in the market, generating revenue or impact, and you are seeking support to expand operations, reach new markets, or improve efficiency.

    Is there an age criterion for the founders of the enterprise? No, however, youths are highly encouraged to apply.

    What kind of innovations do you expect the enterprises to be? Innovations offering innovative climate smart solutions that are responding to the needs of the agri-value chain at various levels e.g. production, aggregation, post-harvest losses management, value addition, access to markets, financing, etc.

    Your application

    How do I participate in the 2025 AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya Competition? To participate, you need to fill in the online application form here: AYuTe 2025 Innovation Challenge Application Form

     Before completing your application form, make sure that you have:

    1.    Familiarise yourself with the AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya requirements and the eligibility criteria.

    2.  Filled out the application form with as many details as possible to all the questions asked and then;

    3. Submit your application before the lapse of the application deadline, which is 28th November 2025 at 11.59 pm EAT.

    Is my application automatically saved? Yes.

    Is the entry to the competition confidential? Yes, it is. Any information provided in the application will be held in full confidence as we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).