The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) recently held the First Pitch of its 2025 AgriTech Challenge Pro from March 12 to 14.

This significant milestone marks the initial stage of the competition as participating startups showcased their innovative business ideas aimed at transforming agriculture in Ghana and beyond.

The AgriTech Challenge Pro, a flagship program of KIC, is renowned for fostering entrepreneurial talent and driving innovation in agriculture.

During this round, startups pitched their business models to a panel of judges, presenting compelling solutions that address critical challenges within the agricultural sector.

The 16 academic institutions participating in the competition include Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Development Studies (UDS), University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Ho Technical University (HTU).

Others are Koforidua Technical University (KTU), SD Dombo University of Business &  Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC) and Ejura Agricultural College and Mechanisation Center ( EACMC),

The rest are Ohawu Agricultural College (OAC), Damongo Agricultural College (DAC), CKT University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMSTED).

The 61 start-up ideas range from food innovation, nutrition and food security, climate technology, circular economies, climate action, as well as, agric technology to add value from production, post-harvest, processing, marketing, and distribution

The First Pitch served as a platform to evaluate the potential of these startups and their readiness to scale. Based on the judges’ assessments, selected teams will advance to the final pitch in May 2025.

Forty-four startups were chosen at the end of the First pitch to make it to the Final Pitch event.

At the final event, the competing teams will vie for prize money designed to propel their businesses forward and enhance their capacity to make a meaningful impact on the agricultural value chain.

This year’s cohort demonstrated creativity and commitment, offering a glimpse of the future of agribusiness and technology integration.

The AgriTech Challenge Pro continues to solidify KIC’s role in empowering youth entrepreneurs and catalyzing sustainable growth in the agribusiness sector.

The stage is now set for the May finale, where innovation and dedication will be celebrated, and the most promising ideas will receive the support needed to flourish.

Speaking about KIC’s commitment to youth empowerment, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director for KIC said: “At KIC, we are committed to transforming young entrepreneurs and their businesses by providing them with capacity building, mentorship and coaching.

"Every year, start-ups that are trained through the program continue to show innovative drive and resilience to provide solutions to improve the agricultural and agri-adjacent sectors”.

KIC’s AgriTech Challenge Pro is being organised in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the Initiative for Youth In Agricultural Transformation (IYAT) Program, which seeks to provide young people with employment and work opportunities through entrepreneurship within the agricultural sector.