2025 KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro: 22 young startups shine with funding support to champion agribusiness innovations – Nsemkeka
Twenty-two young entrepreneurs have received financial support for demonstrating creativity and commitment for agribusiness and technology integration aimed at transforming agriculture in Ghana and beyond.
The youth-led startups showcased innovative business ideas and practicable solutions tailored to address critical challenges within the agricultural sector.
Through the 2025 KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro, funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 were granted to the winning team of entrepreneurs who now progress unto the KIC Business Incubation Program to improve their innovative businesses.
The potentials of agriculture fused with technology have prompted efforts of sustainable and large-scale youth-led participation in the agricultural sector.
Kosmos Innovation Center Agrotech Pro, partnering the Mastercard Foundation, sourced 61 youth-led startups from 16 academic institutions under the Initiative for Youth In Agricultural Transformation (IYAT) Program, to provide young people with employment and work opportunities through entrepreneurship within the agricultural sector.
In the 9th edition of the Kosmos Innovation Center AgroTech Challenge Pro in Kumasi, 44 entrepreneurial teams pitched business models to a panel of ideation team members.
The ideas range from food innovation, nutrition and food security, climate technology, circular economies, climate action as well as Agrictechnology to add value from production, post-harvest, processing, marketing,
and distribution.
Executive Director for KIC, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse explains that the challenge will empower youth entrepreneurs and catalyze sustainable growth in the agribusiness sector of Ghana.
“The Agro tech challenge has over 10,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries. This program is aimed at waiting young people to create employment for themselves and for others. That is why the partnership with Mastercard foundation was very essential.
“It’s giving hope for youth to engage in dignified and sustainable ventures that secures their futures. KIC Agro tech challenge in itself is not the end, it is the means that these young people will take advantage of to excel with their business and investment ideas,” he said.
After vigorous evaluation, TEN startups who stood tall received KIC funding support to progress unto the KIC Business Incubation Program.
The incubation program is an accelerator program which provides specialized coaching and mentorship, networking, physical infrastructure, access to technical expertise and a continuous learning environment for businesses.
Benjamin Gyan-Kesse disclosed the feasibility checks, investor readiness check list, and business validation carried in the assessment of business models will ensure that the young business stay afloat.
“As part of the program you join the incubation program where you are nested and supported. They continue to keep capacity building; mentorship and their businesses will continue to receive polishing from us as they go through the process. The prizes are awarded based on performances of the businesses, evaluating the minimum sponsorship they require to be able to execute their businesses, and a decision is made afterwards,” he said.
The top winners of the challenge are however excited for the support explaining that it will aid them in their intention of developing the agricultural landscape and creating employment.
“We are grateful for the journey and KIC funding. This will impact our business and help us upscale it, Empower small holder tomato farmers, and produce quality, nutritious and low cholesterol wine to fill the wine market,” said entrepreneurs from Tomavi Wines who won $10,000.
“We produce industrial lubricants from cashew shells, and the expectation is that we should be able to produce in bigger barrels and cut lubricant importation in Ghana. We will be able to create more impact and facilitate our progress in the future,” entrepreneurs from Pure Lube who won 25,000 said.