Kosmos Energy on Monday launched the fifth edition of the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) AgriTech Challenge.

From over 675 applications from young men and women across the country, 161 have been selected to join the program.

Those selected were chosen because of their commitment, drive and passion to become successful entrepreneurs, creating jobs and economic growth for Ghana.

The new cohort of AgriTechies will now be trained and mentored to spot new business opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

Over 10 months, participants will learn key business skills and build their understanding of how to use technology and innovation to solve some of the toughest challenges in Ghana’s largest industry.

Joe Mensah, Vice President, Ghana Business Unit, Kosmos Energy said: “It’s a great pleasure to continue supporting innovation and job creation in Ghana’s agriculture industry.

“I look forward to welcoming this year’s cohort of AgriTechies, in particular the increased number of young women, who make up almost 40% of this year’s cohort.”

This year, the KIC in Ghana held its first Women’s Bootcamp for three days in December to support and encourage young Ghanaian women to become entrepreneurs and to join the AgriTech Challenge.

The results show there were more than double the number of female applicants, and more than triple the number of women selected to join the Challenge. 

During the ten-month AgriTech Challenge, AgriTechies will take part in a series of business pitch events, with the most promising teams awarded seed funding and incubation support to develop their idea into a real, sustainable business.

Last year Kosmos opened the KIC Incubator, a Centre of Excellence to provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to businesses beyond the length of the AgriTech Challenge programme.

The KIC is Kosmos Energy’s flagship social investment initiative, first launched in Ghana in 2016, and now running in four countries across Western Africa.

The AgriTech Challenge has found, trained, and supported over 500 young people in Ghana, and nurtured 14 of the most promising youth-led agribusiness start-ups, such as TROTRO Tractor, Kwidex, TechShelta and ProFish.