KAMPALA, Uganda — Four dynamic young entrepreneurs from across Africa have been announced as the winners of the AYuTe NextGen 2025 competition, Africa’s premier platform for youth-led innovation in agricultural technology (AgriTech). The announcement follows three days of live pitches, engaging dialogue, and bold new ideas shared at the AYuTe NextGen Conference held in Kampala, Uganda.
Hosted by Heifer International, AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) NextGen is dedicated to empowering youth to drive transformative solutions for Africa’s food systems. The 2025 event, themed “AgTech Generation Rising”, convened emerging agri-tech leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners from across the continent, all united in the mission to accelerate smallholder farmer productivity and resilience through innovation.
This year’s winners emerged from a competitive pool of over 100 applicants representing 10 African countries. Eleven finalists advanced to the final stage, where they presented their innovations before a panel of judges comprising investors, policymakers, and agricultural experts.
Finalists competed in two core categories—Climate-Smart Agriculture and Access to Finance and Markets.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Overall Winner: Carolyn Mwangi, Founder & CEO of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries (Kenya) – Recognized for her enterprise’s data-driven supply of climate-resilient vegetable, fruit, and tree seedlings tailored to smallholder farmers.
First Runner-Up: Maryanne Gichanga, CEO of Agritechs Analytics (Kenya) – Honored for her solar-powered sensors that provide pest alerts, monitor soil health, and allow for remote farm management via mobile technology.
Access to Finance and Markets
Overall Winner: Nana Opoku, CEO of Grow For Me (Ghana) – Celebrated for his innovative platform that enables individuals to invest in crops cultivated by experienced farmers, sharing post-harvest profits.
First Runner-Up: Richies Attai, Co-Founder & CEO of Winich Farms (Nigeria) – Recognized for a comprehensive platform that connects farmers directly to factories, offering bundled credit and insurance services.
While officiating the award ceremony, Uganda’s State Minister for ICT, Hon. Godfrey Kabyanga, applauded Heifer International for its leadership in advancing youth innovation in agriculture.
“I urge the private sector—particularly those with the means—to step up and fund these young innovators. The government is committed to supporting agricultural innovation because it is vital to addressing youth unemployment,” he said.
Minister further highlighted Uganda’s commitment to enabling youth-led innovation through infrastructure, policy and partnerships. He urged young people to keep pushing boundaries, building homegrown ICT solutions, and to never see agriculture as a fallback.
He said, “Young people keep pushing boundaries – you do not need permission. Look for opportunities. If you keep pushing, you will succeed. Keep disrupting, building and scaling agriculture technology. The future belongs to those who dare to build it. The time is now – you can make it
Insights from Heifer International Leadership
During the press briefing, Heifer International’s leadership emphasized their long-term commitment to scaling youth-led agricultural innovations:
Surita Sandosham, President & CEO, Heifer International said; “Heifer International brings over 80 years of global experience—and more than 50 in Africa—supporting smallholder farmers. AYuTe NextGen reflects our vision to build an innovation ecosystem where youth-led ideas can thrive. This transformation requires not just funding, but partnerships across sectors and borders.”
Adesuwa Ifedi, SVP Africa Programs stated; “AYuTe NextGen is not just about technology; it’s about changing the narrative around agriculture. We are positioning agriculture as a tech-enabled, profitable career path for Africa’s youth. These innovators are creating scalable solutions to climate and market challenges.”
William Matovu, Country Director, Heifer Uganda emphasized that; “Uganda is proud to host this year’s AYuTe NextGen conference. We’re not just showcasing innovation; we’re building a regional ecosystem where African youth can collaborate and co-create solutions that work across borders.”
Dayo Aduroja, Youth & Innovation Lead, Africa said; “AYuTe NextGen is more than a pitch contest. It’s a launchpad for long-term growth. These finalists are just the beginning—our broader platform will continue to support them through funding access, investor connections, mentorship, and regional scaling.”
About AYuTe NextGen
AYuTe NextGen is an initiative of Heifer International designed to support African youth-led innovations that transform food systems. Through a combination of technical support, catalytic funding, and strategic partnerships, AYuTe accelerates the growth of young agri-tech entrepreneurs solving real problems faced by smallholder farmers.
The 2025 event in Kampala marks a milestone in the initiative’s expansion, following successful engagements in Rwanda and other countries. Heifer International remains committed to building a future where youth are at the heart of agricultural transformation across Africa
