FAQs – AgriTech Challenge Classic

It is a Center that invests and supports young entrepreneurs and small businesses with viable ideas in the agriculture sector to thrive. KIC provides entrepreneurs with leadership training, mentorship and  network of support, as well as potential access to seed funding from KIC or other entities willing to invest in start-ups. For more information on the Kosmos Innovation Center, please visit www.kicghana.org

KIC AgriTech Challenge Classic is a 7-month program that identifies young people who are interested in setting up a business and provides them with a system of training, workshops, and support to develop their business ideas. The program uses coaching and market research tours to encourage participants to take a fresh look at the agriculture value chain and identify new areas with potential business opportunities.

KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro is a 5-month acceleration program aimed at equipping existing early-stage teams or AgriTech startups with the right tools, funding, and support to bring their business ideas or products to market and prepare them to scale. Half of the startups and business teams that enter the Pro would be from the Classic.Further FAQ would be available on www.kicghana.org 

Students and graduates from tertiary institutions are the targets of the AgriTech Challenge Classic.  Smallholder farmers form a greater chunk of the indirect beneficiaries of this KIC program.

For Phase 3, which is running in 2024, KIC is working with 16 academic institutions (AIs). They are the host AIs, leading recruitment of youth for the program in their respective regions. Applications can be accessed through web channels for KIC and these universities. Other support organizations would also be sharing information about applications via emails, social media, etc.
Application links will be made available on kicghana.org and on various media channels for youth to apply.

For 2024, KIC is working with 16 academic institutions -University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Development Studies (UDS), SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Ho Technical University (HTU), University of Energy & Natural Resources (UENR), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Damongo Agric College, Ohawu Agric College, Kwadaso Agric College, and Ejura Agric College. Trainees would have to join the Classic at the campus of the region or at the nearest region.

The trainings would mostly be virtual. There would be blocks of physical training sessions as well couched around orientation, pitch competitions, etc.

The capacity building sessions (trainings) would be facilitated by various lecturers at the academic institutions, subject matter experts, and other resource personnel.

The trainings would be organized at times when there are not lots of classes ongoing at the host academic institution, and times as chosen by the technical team. This would allow for most of the trainers/facilitators, and trainees/AgriTechies to be available. These times would be weekday afternoons and evenings as well as Saturdays.

KIC would provide funding to teams formed in the AgriTech Challenge Classic to conduct market research and test their minimum viable product (MVP) assumptions. Some teams would also receive funds to work on their MVPs. These funds are for teams that progress through the Classic.

All trainings will be free but KIC would not cover transport to training rooms, this cost must be borne by the individuals (trainees).

The Classic focuses on the agricultural value chain – from farm to fork. All business ideas that are worked on through the Classic by the teams that have been formed must touch the agriculture value chain.

Individuals (not teams) are admitted into the Classic. In order to form a business team in the Classic, all the team members (or co-founders) must apply into the program and be admitted. After acceptance into this program, the members can come together within it to work on a business idea.

Yes, there are regional, zonal and national pitch competitions in the Classic involving teams formed in the program. These competitions would form the basis for teams to be selected into the AgriTech Challenge Pro (accelerator program after which there is seed funding for winning teams). 

The winners are announced at the end of the AgriTech Challenge Pro, which follows the Classic. Winning startups would receive up to $50,000 in seed funding.

The Kosmos Innovation Center was established in March 2016 by Kosmos Energy as their Corporate Social Investment Program. The Program has grown to become an independent Foundation with a fully established structure, operating independently. 

Contact the Center via info@kicghana.org or +233 302 740 888

Our address is: # 77 Nii Nortei Nyanchi Street, Dzorwulu – Airport West, Accra 

Website: www.kicghana.org