Deadline: To be announced
Are you an African agripreneur developing innovative solutions for smallholder farmers? The AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge 2025, an initiative of Heifer International, is now accepting applications. This competition is designed to identify and support young agripreneurs who are transforming Africa’s food systems through technology and innovation.
About AYuTe Africa NextGen
Launched in 2021, AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth, and Technology) Africa NextGen serves as a catalyst for agribusiness innovation. The initiative empowers young entrepreneurs by providing funding, technical support, and incubation opportunities to scale their businesses and impact smallholder farmers.
Successful applicants will receive a share of $1.5 million in catalytic grant funding, along with access to expert mentorship and resources to expand their agribusiness ventures across multiple African countries.
Why Apply?
The AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge is more than just a funding opportunity. It is a platform for young agripreneurs to:
- Showcase their innovative solutions that improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
- Scale their agribusinesses with financial and technical support.
- Gain exposure and partnerships in Africa’s fast-growing agri-tech ecosystem.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the AYuTe Africa NextGen Challenge 2025, applicants must:
- Have at least three years of experience working with smallholder farmers in Africa and demonstrate a positive impact on their revenue.
- Operate in one of the following sectors:
- Access to Finance
- Access to Market
- Access to Energy
- Climate-Smart Solutions & Resilience
- Be registered and actively operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Have a sustainable business model that ensures profitability while expanding services to more smallholder farmers.
- Provide a unique and innovative solution, rather than a duplicated service.
- Demonstrate strong demand from smallholder farmers and affordability of their solution.
How to Apply
Interested agripreneurs can apply through the official AYuTe Africa NextGen website.
For more details and to submit your application, visit: AYuTe Africa Challenge.