Zimbabwean billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa, has once again placed African agripreneurs in the spotlight by preparing to award African farmers, celebrating innovation and transformative thinking in the food sector.
The awards are part of the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize, launched by Masiyiwa in 2019 in partnership with AGRA and Yara. The competition seeks to promote young African food entrepreneurs who are reshaping the continent’s agricultural landscape by transforming raw produce into modern food products for urban and global markets.
This year’s contest has attracted thousands of applications, with the Top 13 finalists now announced. They will travel later this month to Dakar, Senegal, where they will pitch live at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) for a share of 160,000 US dollars in grant prize money to grow their businesses.
The finalists represent a diverse array of innovative enterprises across the continent: Guaro Farms, Kidist Amedie (Ethiopia), ReNile, Hazem Eit Awab (Egypt), PROPOLINA, Amira Affaf Bellil (Algeria), Jodoor, Amine Derj (Morocco), Rada 360 Limited, Musa Mishamo (Tanzania), P-Vita, Naglaa Mohammad (Egypt), Freshpack Technologies, Editha Mshiu (Tanzania), Dasec SARL, Daniel Wa Mukina (DR Congo), PureLube, Fareeda Mustapha (Ghana), R Farms Nigeria Limited, Ajibike Olawale (Nigeria), Faso Elevage, Faïçal Abdoul Wakil Palenfo (Burkina Faso), Karpolax, Muyita Samuel (Uganda), and Bio Green Technology, Niza Aritha Zulu (Zambia).
Entrants were judged on innovation, market traction and potential, business model, social and environmental impact, and leadership and management.
Masiyiwa noted that Africa’s rapidly urbanising population presents vast opportunities for entrepreneurs who can transform crops into convenient and nutritious food products. He pointed to global examples such as cornflakes and palm oil, urging African innovators to reimagine local crops and unlock their untapped potential.
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