Participants in the Kosmos
Innovation Center (KIC) AgriTech Challenge Pro are making steady progress
through an intensive programme of training, coaching and mentorship designed to
strengthen their businesses and prepare them for the next stage of their
entrepreneurial journey.
Since recruitment and
orientation, 30 participating teams have engaged in a series of practical
learning sessions focused on equipping them with the knowledge, tools and
capabilities required to build stronger, more market-ready agribusinesses.
Building the Capabilities to
Grow
A key element of the AgriTech
Challenge Pro is its emphasis on capacity building alongside business
development. The programme recognises that having a promising business idea is
only the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey. For start-ups to grow
sustainably, founders need the technical, commercial and managerial
capabilities to develop their products, understand their markets, manage their
businesses and navigate the regulatory environment.
Through a combination of structured training, coaching and practical assignments, participants have been exposed to critical areas of business development, including Investor Readiness, Design Thinking, Product Development and Prototyping, Legal Agreements, Certifications and Regulatory Compliance, Market Access and Financial Management, among others. These trainings are designed to move teams beyond theory, helping them apply new knowledge to the development and refinement of their own businesses.
From Ideas to Market-Ready
Solutions
The focus on Design Thinking,
Product Development and Prototyping has supported teams to better understand
customer needs and translate identified problems into solutions that can be
tested and improved. With support from the technical expertise of the KIC
Center of Excellence- Kumasi, the start ups are receiving tailored coaching and
assessment for their product development.
At the same time, sessions on Market Access are helping participants think more strategically about their customers, routes to market and opportunities for commercial growth.
Preparing Entrepreneurs for
Investment
Access to finance remains an important consideration for many early-stage businesses. The Investor Readiness component of the programme is therefore helping participants understand what investors look for and how to communicate their businesses effectively. Teams are being supported to strengthen their business propositions, understand their financial position and articulate their growth potential—skills that become increasingly important as entrepreneurs seek investment and strategic partnerships.
Similarly, training in Financial
Management is strengthening participants’ understanding of financial planning,
business performance and the importance of making informed financial decisions
as their ventures grow.
Coaching that Supports the
Entrepreneurial Journey
Beyond the structured training sessions, coaching and mentorship remain an important part of the AgriTech Challenge Pro experience. The programme provides teams with opportunities to receive guidance, test their assumptions, receive feedback and refine their business models as they progress.
This combination of training, coaching, mentorship and practical application is intended to help entrepreneurs address the challenges they encounter at different stages of their business development. For early-stage start-ups, this support can be particularly valuable in helping founders move from an initial concept to a clearer value proposition, a more developed product and a business model with stronger potential for growth.
Preparing for the First Pitch
The teams are now approaching the First Pitch stage of the AgriTech Challenge Pro, an important milestone in the competition. The pitch will provide an opportunity for teams to demonstrate how they have developed their businesses, present their solutions and communicate their value proposition while receiving feedback on areas requiring further development. As they prepare, the knowledge and skills gained through the programme’s training and coaching sessions will be critical in helping teams articulate their progress, demonstrate their understanding of the market and present a compelling case for their businesses. For the participants, the journey continues—with each training, coaching session and business milestone bringing them closer to turning innovative ideas into viable solutions with the potential to create value across Ghana’s agricultural sector and beyond.
The AgriTech Challenge Pro is
part of the implementation of the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural
Transformation (IYAT), a partnership between KIC and the Mastercard Foundation.
The program seeks to empower young people with opportunities for job creation
through entrepreneurship, innovation, and dignified work within agriculture and
adjacent sectors.