African Development Bank (AfDB) AgriPitch Competition

The goal of AgriPitch 2022 is to support agribusinesses by focusing on strengthening the banking capabilities of their businesses and ensuring they are available to potential investors at all times. Entrepreneurs will be coached and mentored through a two-week personalized and interactive training program to review, prepare, and promote their businesses to raise capital from investors.
Agribusiness will meet investors in the virtual AgriPitch DealRoom, after training in how to manage the investor engagement process and their knowledge in areas such as: business models , investment/business plan, financial structure, market needs assessment, business financing and business presentation.

GOAL

Improve investment readiness of agribusinesses through training and ensuring they are available to investors.
Most youth-led businesses focus on the food system for judges and investors, with the aim of raising the profile of these businesses and facilitating their access to finance ( debt, equity and/or allowance).
Showcasing the ingenuity of young African agribusinesses to compete globally, while motivating other young Africans to aspire and seize opportunities in agribusiness.

Eligibility Criteria

Early Start-ups (0-3 years)	Mature Start-ups (above 3 years)	Women-empowered Businesses (WEBs)
Meet eligibility criteria for Early Start-ups. Individuals who are at the very early stage of developing ideas/concepts for agripreneurship or a newly established business.Must have a clearly defined prototype or proof of concept. May or may not have had any products introduced to the market. May or may not have a registered corporate entity.	Individuals and firms with existing market traction: technology, product or service, already in the market.Must have a clear investment ask and growth plan/strategy.Must be a registered corporate entity.	Meet eligibility requirements for either Early Start-ups or Mature Start-ups. Firms that are 51% owned by women or founded by a woman.

Source: Scholarship Aid

Beneficiaries

Youth: AgriPitch participants are young people between the ages of 18 and 35 who own at least 25% of their businesses and hold leadership and management positions in the business. Early start-ups: Companies from the ideation stage with proof of concept. Start-up / Mature MSMEs Companies must be registered with existing traction in the market. Women Empowered Enterprises (WEB): Businesses that are at least 51% owned or founded by women and have influence in the market.

Favorable Business Department

AgriPitch, part of the African Development Bank’s 4th Young African Entrepreneurs Forum (AYAF), is a platform for young Africans interested in the agricultural entrepreneurship scene. In keeping with the 2022 theme, the AgriPitch Dealroom will be held virtual. The bank, through its Virtual Investor Transaction Office 2022, aims to provide access to capital and capital markets, which are often the two main obstacles that young agribusinesses must overcome when developing their businesses.

Mentoring

The AgriPitch online program includes a training session (Bootcamp) on strategic partnerships in agricultural equity, nutrition and finance for youth and women.
During the two-week business development training program, AgriPitch competitors can attend virtual sessions on product development, revenue channel identification, logistics, marketing, business management business, investment readiness, finance and other matters, supported by trainers and trainers.

After the training and bootcamp, participating agribusinesses will receive mentoring and monitoring (virtual) training for a period of six months. Mentoring will also connect AgriPitch participants to relevant resources over the course of six months and beyond. Winning SMEs will have access to a total of $140,000 in funding.
Application deadline: 4/11/2022

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