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About AYuTe Africa Challenge Malawi

Compete for a chance to win a share of MK36,000,000 ($20,000,00). AYuTe Africa Challenge Malawi, is targeting agri-preneurs to come up with solutions to smallholder farmers, who face numerous challenges throughout the value chain, from production to markets.

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About The Challenge

This a national competition poised to showcase young agri-preneurs, groups and organizations involved in agricultural technology, come up with agri-tech and innovative solutions to address everyday challenges faced by farmers. Considering the myriad challenges in the agricultural value chain, Heifer International, created the AYuTe Africa NextGen in 2021 to catalyze ground-up innovation that addresses challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale. The program provides incubation support and catalytic financing to help these businesses grow. Since inception, AYuTe winners and finalists across Africa have received over $10 million in financial and technical support to scale their impact.

Apart from Malawi, the challenge is also in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Senegal. The AYuTe Africa Challenge Malawi will expose young agri-preneurs beyond national borders, with a drive to making Africa and the rest of the world, food sufficient. This is reimagining Africa through innovative financing.

  • 1. A chance to win a share of the Thirty Six Million Kwacha ($20,000.00) cash prize.

    2. Mentorship program for participants.

    3. Exposure to both potential funders and end users of the innovations.

    The AYuTe Africa Challenge, an initiative by Heifer International, aims to support young agritech innovators across Africa. This challenge awards cash grants to promising young professionals who are using technology to transform farming and food production on the continent.

    • Cash prize awards of a total of US$20,000.00 shared among the three top winners.

    • Customized one week incubation program to the top 15 finalists.

    • Customized training boot camps at the various levels of the competition

    • Technical assistance at the various levels of the challenge to strengthen the business and financial model of the start-up as well as proven established ideas;

    • Coaching & mentorship, personalized to unpack training into business implementation;

    • Links to financial & investment opportunities

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

    • Must be a Malawian individual, group or organization working in agriculture, technology or agriculture technology space.

    • Must have a viable agri - tech solution or minimum viable product either in development or in use but needing scaling.

    • The product or idea must truly be innovative and respond to needs of the agriculture value chain at any level.

    • Must have a focus on impacting the lives of smallholder farmers. Must have a traceable and accessible physical location.

    • Illustrate a sustainable business model demonstrating ability to deploy the technology at scale.

  • •Fill out the application form here

    •The call for applications is open until 9th May 2025, 17:00hrs CAT

    Any queries? Please send an email to: heifer.malawi@heifer.org

  • The AYuTe Africa Challenge Malawi is targeting the following three regions with respective districts:

    The regions include:

    1. Southern Region

    • Balaka

    • Blantyre

    • Chikwawa

    • Chiradzulu

    • Machinga

    • Mangochi

    • Mulanje

    • Mwanza

    2. Central Region

    • Dedza

    • Dowa

    • Kasungu

    • Lilongwe

    • Mchinji

    • Nkhotakota

    • Ntcheu

    • Ntchisi

    • Salima

    3. Northern Region

    • Chitipa

    • Karonga

    • Likoma

    • Mzimba

    • Nkhatabay

    • • Rumphi

    • 28th April: Call for applications.

    • 9th May: Call for application Window Closes.

    • 19th - 23rd May: Due diligence on selected applicants.

    • 6th June: Selection of top finalists

    • 20th June: Award Ceremony