Startups Offering Agritech Solutions, This Is Your Chance To Get $50 000

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is calling upon interested parties to apply for the Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation program. There is one advantage or disadvantage depending on where you stand: under USAID’s program, only female entrepreneurs can apply for the support.

The program will help SME(Small-Medium Enterprises) led by women in smallholder markets. The initiative is part of the Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs Prize 2018 (AWE). Two companies will be awarded $50 000 packages for their efforts.

The deadline for the application is 25 April. Applications are open to women in the sub-Saharan African countries that USAID works in (fortunately Zimbabwe is a part of the list).

What exactly should you be doing?

To be considered for the prize money your business must specialise in agricultural services for smallholder farmers, including:

• Agricultural inputs
• Tech solutions
• Financial and risk management services

Let’s talk Prizes

The winners will be awarded an assistance package worth $50 000. This package will also include investment readiness assessment and co-development of a five-year business strategy.

USAID will also link winners with potential investors

Prize winners will also get matchmaking support between June and July. The USAID will try and identify investors who would be interested

For those interested in signing up you can do so here.