Over 40 young AgriTech entrepreneurial teams have converged in Kumasi to pitch their innovative business ideas at the AgriTech Challenge Pro 2025 Final, aiming to secure funding for their ventures.
The two-day programme organised by the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, focused on supporting already existing agricultural technological businesses in Ghana.
The teams pitched their business ideas to a 10-member-ideation team after going through a series of processes for a year to secure funds to invest in their businesses.
Almost all the businesses needed funds to purchase machinery to upscale their production to meet the market demands of their products.
Among the businesses were the Big Foot Solemate from the Koforidua Technical University, who used coconut husk to produce foot beds, and the Mushplus Agrifoods from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, who used mushrooms and soybeans to produce noodles and powdered milk.
Others included Cogam Stainless Charcoal, who converted coconut husk into charcoal, Besia Elegance, who used plantain and coconut pods to produce hair extensions and the Solartech Incubators among others.
These businesses manufactured products by using agricultural products and by-products to solve both market and environmental problems in the country.
Mr Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director of the KIC, said since the inception of the Agritech Challenge in 2016, over 70 businesses have been established.
He noted that businesses that would receive funding from this year’s challenge would progress to the KIC Business Incubator Programme.
Mr Gyan-Kesse explained that the incubator programme was an accelerator programme to provide specialised coaching and mentorship, and networking for the businesses.
Additionally, the businesses would be provided with physical infrastructure, access to technical expertise and a continuous learning environment.
Mr Gyan-Kesse said the idea behind the AgriTech Challenge was to give hope to young people with innovative ideas in agriculture to create jobs for themselves and others.
This initiative would solve the high unemployed graduate issue while promoting agriculture and innovation in the country.
He encouraged the businesses that might not receive any funds to continue to persevere and put the knowledge gained from KIC into good use to attract the attention of other investors.
Ms. Regina Pecku, Financial Officer, Big Foot Solemate Company, said the KIC AgriTech Challenge dared the businesses to improve upon their products.
“The journey has not been easy, but I am proud that my team made it this far. We have made a finished product which we are wearing today,” she said.
Ms. Pecku noted that her team have been able to sell 113 feet beds for a total sum of Gh¢3,782 and were determined to produce more to meet market demands.
She thanked KIC for giving young people with great vision the opportunity to make their dream a reality through their AgriTech Challenge programme.
By Naa Shormei Odonkor
