AFRICA – Generation Africa initiative aimed to inspire and support youth agripreneurship in Africa has crowned Moses Katala co-founder and CEO of Magofarm Limited of Rwanda and Daniella Kwayu co-founder and CEO of Phema Agri of Tanzania as the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize winners for 2020.
The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with industry leaders in the global and African agriculture sectors i.e. Yara International, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Corteva Agriscience, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.
The winners of the 2020 edition were awarded the grand prize of the US$100,000 GoGettaz, alongside the prestigious Africa Food Prize.
Each winner will receive US$50,000 to support and expand their agribusiness operations.
“Our Top 12 young finalists this year are already driving forces for growth and transformation in their own communities. Their agribusinesses are each so different, but they are all steering Africa to become a continental superpower in agriculture.”
Dickson Naftali – Head of the Generation Africa initiative
Phema Agri is a digital agriculture platform connecting investors looking to grow their money with smallholder farmers looking for working capital solutions.
While, Magofarm Limited aims to solve the problem of rising costs of animal feeds and the increasing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly and nutrient rich protein ingredients.
“Throughout all the COVID challenges of 2020, the GoGettaz agripreneurs remained focused and driven, caring not only for their businesses and employees but their countries and fellow citizens as well.
“In the face of the global crisis, they adapted their business models to new demands and challenges,” said Dickson Naftali, Head of the Generation Africa initiative.
Top-12 finalist ventures and entrepreneurs this year hail from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Four entrepreneurs were also named to receive a US$2,500 Impact Award i.e. Elizabeth Gikebe, founder and CEO of Mhogo Foods (Kenya), Millicent Agidipo, co-founder and production manager of Achiever Foods (Ghana), Dysmus Kisulu, co-founder and CEO of Solar Freeze (Kenya) and Paul Matovu, founder and CEO of Vertical Farm and Micro-Gardening (Uganda).
These entrepreneurs were selected by the judges for the notable environmental or social impact of their businesses, each striving to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and benefit their communities.
All 12 top finalists will receive mentorship, program linkages and other guidance to continue their entrepreneurial journeys.
“Our Top 12 young finalists this year are already driving forces for growth and transformation in their own communities. Their agribusinesses are each so different, but they are all steering Africa to become a continental superpower in agriculture,” said Dickson.
The second annual 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize competition began in April and closed in June of this year.
Over 3,000 applicants between the ages of 18 and 35, from 29 African countries, registered to compete.
Although their diverse ventures spanned the entire agrifood value chain from primary production to innovative digital technologies, all six young men and six young women entrepreneurs from nine African countries who made it to the Top-12 shared at least one thing in common: they saw problems and made bold plans to solve them by launching new companies in the agrifood sector across Africa.
Top-12 finalist ventures and entrepreneurs this year hail from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
This year the eight judges evaluated both the business founder and the venture based on five criteria: Innovation, business model, social & environmental Impact, market potential and traction and team management.
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