KIC organises Business Validation Trips for KIC start-ups in the AgriTech Challenge Pro

The KIC Team organised validation trips to 35 Agritechie Start-ups participating in the 2024 AgriTech Challenge Pro. KIC teams were accompanied by Faculty Advisors, Technical Officers and Program Officers assigned to the respective universities to support the businesses. During the trips to the various production sites, the teams had the chance to see the different primary users of the tech innovations from the start-ups. There were also interactions with smallholder farmers from whom the businesses source some of their raw materials. The Start-ups are located in Greater Accra, Central, Western, Ashanti, Western North, Eastern, Volta, Northern, Upper East and Upper West. Regions.

Speaking about the impact of the experience on the field, KIC’s Executive Director, Mr. Benjamin Gyan- Kesse, highlighted the transformation that the businesses had gone through showing evidence also of the use of the traction funds received from KIC.

“At KIC, we are concerned about the start-up’s profitability and scalability, but we are also concerned about their support to other actors along the entire value chain, and this includes smallholder farmers,” he said.

As part of the product and service development for these businesses, each business received USD2000 each from KIC. Some businesses had obtained business registrations or were far advanced for other regulatory certificates from FDA and GSA. Some of the businesses had also partnered with organisations such as Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), local departments of Agriculture, Municipal Assemblies, Environmental Protection Agency, Farmer Based Organisations, local groceries, as well as other companies within the agricultural value chain for their raw materials.

The businesses have started piloting some of the products and have received feedback that helps them to embed into the iterative product development process. There are also some businesses that use the waste products from the farmers, reducing the environmental impact of agricultural produce.

“It was great to interact with some of the customers, stakeholders and partners for these startups, who are in diverse professions and places. These business validation trips help crystallize the solutions the startups are working on, and for the KIC and its partners to see beyond the business pitches. The trips involve the kind of due diligence which ensures the startups are prepared for investors,” said Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Entrepreneurship Development Specialist at KIC.

KIC’s AgriTech Challenge Pro is a 5-month program that supports young entrepreneurs, provides them with training, and capacity building. Through KIC’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the program intends to reach more young people, providing them with skills for dignified and fulfilling jobs.