The finalists were shortlisted from a pool of more than 500 applicants and will be competing for a share of 50 million Rwanda Francs in grants, along with mentorship and business development opportunities.
Launched in 2023 as part of Heifer International's AYuTe Africa NextGen initiative, the challenge identifies and supports young Rwandan agritech entrepreneurs developing scalable solutions to benefit smallholder farmers.
This year's competition seeks to empower the next generation of agritech leaders by equipping them with financial support and expert guidance.
The Bootcamp serves as a critical stage in the competition, allowing the ten finalists to refine their ideas and engage with industry experts.
Participants are eager to leverage the platform to expand their businesses and increase their impact on Rwanda's agricultural sector.
'I'm here at Bootcamp because I want to see how we can scale our idea to have a bigger impact across the country. We aim to grow our business from a small to a major player in the sector,' said Kayitare Gisa Patrick of Eco Green House.
Another finalist, Sabina Mari Rose from Green Energy Technology, expressed enthusiasm about the mentorship opportunities: 'During this Bootcamp, I hope to learn from the mentors and coaches, refine my idea, and network with fellow entrepreneurs.'
Beyond the financial grants, AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda provides participants with business development training, networking opportunities, and a pathway to compete at the regional level. This holistic support framework ensures that young innovators can transform their ideas into sustainable ventures.
Verena Ruzibuka, Country Director of Heifer Rwanda, emphasized the challenge's importance in agricultural transformation.
'At Heifer Rwanda, we believe that young innovators can play a key role in transforming the agriculture sector in Rwanda.. This Bootcamp is not just a competition; it is about equipping the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and support to drive meaningful change,' she said.
We are excited to see the innovative ideas that will emerge and how they will contribute to a more resilient and prosperous agricultural future for Rwanda,' she added.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge aligns with national efforts to encourage youth participation in agriculture. While the sector employs over 60% of Rwanda's workforce, young people's engagement remains limited. By providing a platform for agritech and social enterprise development, the competition inspires more young Rwandans to explore agriculture as a viable career path.
With the competition heating up, all eyes are on the top ten agripreneurs as they refine their innovations and prepare to compete for the top prizes. The winners will not only receive financial backing but also critical support to scale their businesses, ultimately benefiting smallholder farmers and strengthening Rwanda's agricultural sector.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
