Four youth-led agritech innovations have been named winners of the AYuTe NextGen 2025 competition, an initiative by Heifer International designed to harness the power of youth and technology to drive Africa’s agricultural transformation. Held in Kampala, Uganda, the event attracted innovators, investors, policymakers, and development leaders from across the continent under the theme: “AgTech Generation Rising.”
A Platform for Scalable Impact
AYuTe NextGen is Africa’s foremost platform for youth-led agricultural technology (AgriTech). It empowers young entrepreneurs building bold, tech-enabled solutions that strengthen smallholder farming, improve access to markets and finance, and address the escalating challenges of climate change.
After evaluating over 100 entries from 10 countries, 11 finalists pitched their innovations before a high-level panel of judges. The jury considered technological strength, social impact, scalability, data security, and potential for transforming the lives of smallholder farmers.
Meet the Agritech Champions of 2025
Climate-Smart Agriculture Category:
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- Winner: Carolyn Mwangi, CEO of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries (Kenya) – Her data-driven platform provides climate-resilient vegetable, fruit, and tree seedlings tailored for smallholder farmers.
- Runner-Up: Maryanne Gichanga, CEO of Agritechs Analytics (Kenya) – Recognised for her solar-powered sensor systems enabling pest alerts, soil health tracking, and mobile-based farm monitoring.
Access to Finance and Markets Category:
- Winner: Nana Opoku, CEO of Grow For Me (Ghana) – A digital investment platform that enables users to co-finance crops managed by trained farmers, with shared post-harvest profits.
- Runner-Up: Richies Attai, CEO of Winich Farms (Nigeria) – Offers farmers direct links to factories, bundled credit, and insurance solutions via an end-to-end digital marketplace.
Youth Power Meets Tech Power
Carolyn Mwangi emphasized the strategic value of the award:
“This recognition validates our belief that innovation and resilience for smallholders start with quality inputs. AYuTe helps amplify that impact.”
Similarly, Nana Opoku shared:
“This win marks a turning point for Ghana’s farmers. We’re unlocking new financial pathways and security through digital innovation.”
Beyond the Awards: A Movement for Systemic Change
AYuTe NextGen 2025 wasn’t just a contest—it was a catalyst for collaboration. Across panel discussions, young thought leaders explored how agritech can power inclusive growth, build climate resilience, and redefine Africa’s food story.
Key sessions included:
- Growing a Unicorn in Agriculture
- Same Soil, Many Paths: Africa for Africa
- Not Just Founders: Youth as Architects of the Agri-Future
- Who Is Shaping Africa’s Food Story?
The Call to Action
The event concluded with a united call to:
- Investors – Provide catalytic capital for youth-led agritech startups.
- Governments – Create enabling policies and innovation hubs.
- Private Sector – Build infrastructure and distribution networks.
- Mentors and Institutions – Offer access to markets, data, and global exposure.
Heifer International continues its long-standing commitment to building sustainable food systems that support smallholder farmers—this time by backing the next generation of agritech innovators.