Green Innovation & Agritech Slam 2019 Launch
10 winners; Over 1 Million Birr Prize; Business Development Support
The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through its Green Innovation Centres project, and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) funded by the European Union, in partnership with iceaddis, officially launch the Green Innovation & Agritech Slam 2019 (GIAS) on August 7 at the Hyatt Regency hotel. The GIAS is a nationwide agricultural business competition that aims to find innovative solutions to critical challenges of the agricultural sector.
The competition supports Ethiopian agricultural entrepreneurs and is awarding 10 innovative and bright entrepreneurs or businesses, with over 1,000,000 Birr shared prize among winners. The winners will also receive extensive business development support; expert advice; mentorship; and an opportunity to travel to Germany for an exposure visit (for first prize winners only) in the field of their business idea. The business competition specifically encourages youth and women owned or co-owned companies to apply.
“Disseminating agricultural innovations is essential to increase productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. By strengthening the private sector, up- and downstream enterprises, and promoting entrepreneurship directed towards challenges of the agricultural sector, the service provision for smallholder farmers can be improved” Laura de Guevara, GIZ supported Green Innovation Centres – Ethiopia
The nationwide business competition features 5 categories: nutrition & consumer market, agri-inputs & equipment, environmental protection & sustainability, idea stage digital businesses and post-revenue agri-tech startups. Applications from all over the country will go through rigorous selection process to identify and award the final 10 winners at a grand award ceremony on November 14, 2019. The grand event will have a conference on digital agriculture in Ethiopia on November 15th, 2019.
“Digital technologies have the potential to transform the agricultural sector. CTA is confident that a focus on digital solutions among youth in this regard will help to boost Ethiopia’s future food security and create jobs across the agricultural value chain,” Ken Lohento, CTA
The innovations and ideas are expected to bring solutions to critical challenges of the wheat, legumes and honey value chains and digital needs of agricultural stakeholders in Ethiopia. These are believed to eventually contribute to job creation of youth and women entrepreneurs.
“Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Ethiopian economy although lack of technology or fresh ideas has partly affected its full success. More than ever, iceaddis recognizes the need to bring innovation by young Ethiopians to the agriculture scene. It is time we support our smallholder farmers better with innovation and technology.” Markos Lemma, iceaddis
The Green Innovation & Agritech Slam welcomes individuals, private businesses, higher learning institutes and governmental and non-governmental organizations with innovative ideas and businesses in the selected value chains, as well as young digital innovators offering digital services to the entire agricultural sector.
The competition is organized in collaboration with the FDRE Ministry of Agriculture and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA).
About the Competition
The competition categories of this year’s Green Innovation & Agritech Slam 2019 are as follows:
| The Value Chain ChallengeApplication Deadline: October 1st, 2019 Do you run a business or have an idea to upscale your business in the food and agriculture value chains of wheat, legumes or honey?Nutrition & Consumer Market:We are looking for businesses that want to enter the market with new/ improved products or innovations in the food processing sector that aim at food security or healthy eating Agri-Inputs & Equipment:Does your business idea address challenges in the agri-input systems or proposes innovative products to increase productivity, ease maintenance or substitute imports? Environmental Protection & Sustainability Apply here, if you have an innovative idea on how to protect the environment or promote sustainability in the selected value chains | Pitch AgriHack Challenge Are you young entrepreneurs (aged between 18 to 35 years old) and do you have innovative digital solutions for the entire agriculture sector? Then apply in these categories Pre-revenue digital startups:We are looking for early stage digital solutions that can solve agricultural problems and support agricultural sector. However, you must have an existing prototype Post-revenue digital startups: Do you run a post-revenue digital business focusing on agriculture? Your solution must be already generating revenues, even if it is not yet profitable. |
Criteria
- Young and driven entrepreneurs
- Resident in Ethiopia
- Submit the application by the deadlines. For the Value Chain Challenge this is October 1st, 2019, and for Pitch AgriHack Challenge, September 10th, 2019.
Mode of Application
Applications can be submitted through www.innovation-slam.com or submitted in printed format at selected regional institutions and partners. For more information about the competition and submissions, applicants can contact iceaddis via competition@iceaddis.com or using the following phone numbers +251 11 667 4804 | +251 93 325 0206. .
Selection Process
The selection of winners is determined by an independent jury composed of the private sector, government ministries, development agencies and business consultants.
The Green Innovation Centres for the Food and Agriculture Sector (GIC) programme in Ethiopia co-organizes the competition. GIC is a project implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) co-organizes the competition through its AgriHack Talent Programme.
Iceaddis is an innovation hub and co-creation space which facilitates technological innovations, creative projects, and startups support. Iceaddis provides young entrepreneurs, local and visiting creatives with professional support and consultancy. iceaddis implements the competition.