The World Bank AgriTech Challenge, powered by Nest, is the region’s first open innovation programme focused on agribusiness. Facilitated by the World Bank and Nest, selected teams will work closely with one of the region’s leading agribusiness companies to conceptualise, co-develop and prototype a product to alleviate acute challenges in the Kenyan agribusiness value chain.
NEST challenge, for which applications are open until July 25, aims to spur collaborative innovation in Kenya and forms part of a programme to test open innovation mechanisms in the country for a potential future scale-up by the Kenyan government.
Starting in August, 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 the expertise and resources of the corporate partner, and subsequently explore piloting and commercialising the solutions developed. Nest will facilitate the programme with oversight from the World Bank team.
Applications will be vetted on a rolling basis, with shortlisted applicants to be invited for interactions and exploratory site visits with the corporate partner ahead of a pitch day at the end of July to select the final cohort for the programme.
