The World Bank Agritech Challenge 2017 in association with Nest is the first open innovation program of its kind in Kenya. Its aim is to connect promising startups and innovators with one of the region’s leading agribusiness corporates.
The challenge, which is sponsored by the World Bank, aims to spur collaborative innovation in Kenya. It forms part of a program to test open innovation mechanisms in the country for a potential future scale up by the Government of Kenya.
Starting August 2017, high-calibre teams of innovators and entrepreneurs will work closely with agribusiness industry veterans to conceptualise and co-develop solutions around some of the most pressing challenges in the local value chains. The selected startups will have the opportunity to plug into a wealth of expertise and resources of the corporate partner, and subsequently explore piloting and commercializing the solutions developed. Nest will facilitate the program with oversight from the World Bank team.
Applications are open until July 25, 2017, and will be vetted on a rolling basis. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interactions and exploratory site visits with the corporate partner ahead of a pitch day in end-July to select the final cohort for the programme. Applications can be submitted here.
