Rwandan youth to receive support as AYuTe Africa Challenge returns
RWANDA – Young agritech innovators in Rwanda have another chance to grow their ideas and win substantial cash prizes as the AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda 2025 makes its return.
Organized by Heifer International Rwanda, this initiative offers financial support and expert guidance to youth-led startups addressing challenges in the agricultural sector.
This year’s competition, part of the broader AYuTe Africa NextGen initiative, promises Rwf50 million in cash prizes for the top three winners.
Alongside funding, participants will gain access to mentorship and business development resources designed to help their ventures thrive.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge is open to Rwandans aged 18 to 35 with innovative, scalable technological solutions for smallholder farmers.
Applicants must reside in Rwanda and meet the eligibility requirements outlined by Heifer International. Interested participants can apply online at ayute.africa/rwanda, with applications open from January 23 to February 20.
Verena Ruzibuka, Interim Country Director of Heifer International Rwanda, emphasized the program’s goals: “Through this challenge, we aim to accelerate the growth of youth-led agritech initiatives by offering financial support alongside crucial business development support.”
“Our goal is to transform the passion and ideas of young innovators into tangible, sustainable benefits for communities in Rwanda and beyond.”
With agriculture employing over 60 percent of Rwanda’s workforce, the sector is critical to the country’s economy.
However, youth involvement remains low. The competition seeks to shift perceptions by demonstrating how technology and innovation can create opportunities in agriculture.
Past winners of the AYuTe Africa Challenge have seen their businesses flourish, benefiting not just themselves but also their communities.
Israel Niyonshuti, the founder of Tech Adopter and last year’s top winner, shared how the competition changed his life. “Winning the AYuTe Challenge changed my life. The cash prize gave me the resources and confidence to expand my business. Our production has grown from two to five machines per month, and we now serve 2,400 farmers, doubling our monthly sales to 10 million Rwandan Francs,” he said.
Niyonshuti encouraged others to participate: “This is your chance to turn your dreams into reality and contribute to Rwanda’s agricultural transformation.”
Another success story is Norman Mugisha, CEO of Afri-Farmers Market, who won USD 6,000 as the second runner-up.
His platform connects smallholder farmers to stable markets and now supports over 10,000 farmers. “The cash prize allowed us to expand our operations and reach more customers,” Mugisha said.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge is not just limited to Rwanda. In Kenya, the competition has received over 400 applications and awarded USD 40,000 in prizes. Similarly, in Nigeria, innovative agritech businesses are competing for a share of USD 40,000.
Rwandan youth to receive support as AYuTe Africa Challenge returns
RWANDA – Young agritech innovators in Rwanda have another chance to grow their ideas and win substantial cash prizes as the AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda 2025 makes its return.
Organized by Heifer International Rwanda, this initiative offers financial support and expert guidance to youth-led startups addressing challenges in the agricultural sector.
This year’s competition, part of the broader AYuTe Africa NextGen initiative, promises Rwf50 million in cash prizes for the top three winners.
Alongside funding, participants will gain access to mentorship and business development resources designed to help their ventures thrive.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge is open to Rwandans aged 18 to 35 with innovative, scalable technological solutions for smallholder farmers.
Applicants must reside in Rwanda and meet the eligibility requirements outlined by Heifer International. Interested participants can apply online at ayute.africa/rwanda, with applications open from January 23 to February 20.
Verena Ruzibuka, Interim Country Director of Heifer International Rwanda, emphasized the program’s goals: “Through this challenge, we aim to accelerate the growth of youth-led agritech initiatives by offering financial support alongside crucial business development support.”
“Our goal is to transform the passion and ideas of young innovators into tangible, sustainable benefits for communities in Rwanda and beyond.”
With agriculture employing over 60 percent of Rwanda’s workforce, the sector is critical to the country’s economy.
However, youth involvement remains low. The competition seeks to shift perceptions by demonstrating how technology and innovation can create opportunities in agriculture.
Past winners of the AYuTe Africa Challenge have seen their businesses flourish, benefiting not just themselves but also their communities.
Israel Niyonshuti, the founder of Tech Adopter and last year’s top winner, shared how the competition changed his life. “Winning the AYuTe Challenge changed my life. The cash prize gave me the resources and confidence to expand my business. Our production has grown from two to five machines per month, and we now serve 2,400 farmers, doubling our monthly sales to 10 million Rwandan Francs,” he said.
Niyonshuti encouraged others to participate: “This is your chance to turn your dreams into reality and contribute to Rwanda’s agricultural transformation.”
Another success story is Norman Mugisha, CEO of Afri-Farmers Market, who won USD 6,000 as the second runner-up.
His platform connects smallholder farmers to stable markets and now supports over 10,000 farmers. “The cash prize allowed us to expand our operations and reach more customers,” Mugisha said.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge is not just limited to Rwanda. In Kenya, the competition has received over 400 applications and awarded USD 40,000 in prizes. Similarly, in Nigeria, innovative agritech businesses are competing for a share of USD 40,000.