Global AgriFood

TechPreneur Programme

Global AgriFood

TechPreneur

We support young graduates to address food system challenges in their countries

The Global AgriFood TechPreneur programme is a food system sustainability business development programme designed to last for 12 months.

The Global AgriFood TechPreneur programme is focused on supporting young graduates to engage in addressing key food sustainability challenges in their countries to improve food production and distribution, end hunger, end obesity and malnutrition while preventing food waste.

Our priority is to empower sustainable local food production and distribution that ensures more people have access to good food; improving our health and restoring our environment. 

How does it work?

Each year, young graduates are invited to submit an application about a food system challenge in the country they reside and their solution to addressing it.  All qualified proposals submitted for the Global AgriFood TechPreneur programme will be promoted in March as we celebrate World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development. All qualified Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will have access to the Food System Sustainability Programme (FSSP) Master Classes, Food Industry Sustainability Index Tool and  be enrolled in a 6 week interactive course on Entrepreneurship, Tech and Sustainability in the Food System supported by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) via Business Builder platform. We are also working with world class business schools across the globe to ensure that the course case studies are very informative and impactful.

Where relevant, the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will adjust their proposals based on the knowledge they have acquired through the Food System Sustainability Masterclasses, Food Industry Sustainability Index Tool, RBS Business Builder Platform and the 6 week interactive course on Entrepreneurship, Tech and Sustainability in the Food System. The updated proposal will be shared with the expert panel for evaluation and recommendation for support. All supports made available to the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will be dependent on the quality of their proposal, their participation in the prgramme and the supports that our partners can provide to them. The top 10 Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will present their businesses during the webinar on Financing a Sustainable Food System as we recognise Word Soil Day and International Day of Banks on in the first week in December; providing more visibility for the AgriFood TechPreneurs.

All Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will have access to the World Food Tracker for free to plan their farm set up and sell their AgriFood Produce. We are pleased to provide this amazing support to the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs while providing them with additional benefits such as sourcing sustainable nutrient, seeds, fry/fingerlings, chicks, piglets, etc. as well as sustainable farm machineries on the World Food Tracker – www.worldfoodtracker.com.

Through our partnership with Financial Institutions, we will support the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs to apply for finance to start or scale up their solution by improving their business plan based on the learning from the programme. Where a small scale trial is feasible, we will encourage the Global AgriFood TechPreneur sto explore it as it will boost their business plan.

1. Each year, young graduates are invited to submit an application about a food system challenge in the country they reside and their solution to addressing it.  All qualified proposals submitted for the Global AgriFood TechPreneur programme will be promoted in March as we celebrate World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development. All qualified Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will have access to the Food System Sustainability Programme (FSSP) Master Classes, Food Industry Sustainability Index Tool and  be enrolled in a 6 week interactive course on Entrepreneurship, Tech and Sustainability in the Food System supported by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) via Business Builder platform. We are also working with world class business schools across the globe to ensure that the course case studies are very informative and impactful.

2. Where relevant, the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will adjust their proposals based on the knowledge they have acquired through the Food System Sustainability Masterclasses, Food Industry Sustainability Index Tool, RBS Business Builder Platform and the 6 week interactive course on Entrepreneurship, Tech and Sustainability in the Food System. The updated proposal will be shared with the expert panel for evaluation and recommendation for support. All supports made available to the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will be dependent on the quality of their proposal, their participation in the prgramme and the supports that our partners can provide to them. The top 10 Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will present their businesses during the webinar on Financing a Sustainable Food System as we recognise Word Soil Day and International Day of Banks on in the first week in December; providing more visibility for the AgriFood TechPreneurs.

3. Through our partnership with Financial Institutions, we will support the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs to apply for finance to start or scale up their solution by improving their business plan based on the learning from the programme. Where a small scale trial is feasible, we will encourage the Global AgriFood TechPreneur sto explore it as it will boost their business plan.

4. All Global AgriFood TechPreneurs will have access to the World Food Tracker for free to plan their farm set up and sell their AgriFood Produce. We are pleased to provide this amazing support to the Global AgriFood TechPreneurs while providing them with additional benefits such as sourcing sustainable nutrient, seeds, fry/fingerlings, chicks, piglets, etc. as well as sustainable farm machineries on the World Food Tracker – www.worldfoodtracker.com.

*Please note that we do not take equity from the business that the AgriFood TechPreneur will set up.

*For clarity, the decision to provide scale-up finance lies with the financial institution, however, we will do our best to ensure that the AgriFood TechPreneurs are well prepared and positioned to get  approval for scale up funding.

Panel of reviewers

Christiani Buani

Christiani Buani

World Food Programme (CERFAM)

Stephanie Gallatova

Stephanie Gallatova

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Evelyn McDonald

Evelyn McDonald

Scottish EDGE

Prof Sonal Choudhary

Prof Sonal Choudhary

STFC Food Network+

Mollie Brennan

Mollie Brennan

United Nations Food Systems Summit

Dr. Mulugheta Solomon

Dr. Mulugheta Solomon

Omdena

Key Delivery Partners

STFC Food Network is partnering with us where 3 qualified AgriFood TechPreneurs receive training by STFC on a specific deep tech within STFC that will enhance food system sustainability.

Royal Bank of Scotland Business Builder is a digital tool designed to give you the right support, at the right time for you and your business. Whether you are looking to validate an idea, find new customers, or explore the funding options available to you, there is support available online 24/7, including; Digital Modules. Learn more here.

We look forward to supporting the IntelliDigest team at the Global AgriFood TechPreneur Programme by offering the most outstanding Scottish participant a place in the final of the next Young EDGE competition.

Partner with us

Internship

We are pleased to partner with businesses across these sectors within the food system to provide internship opportunities to the participants of the Global AgriFood TechPeneur Programme.

1. Farms (Horticulture, Aquaculture, Livestock, AgroForestry, Insects)

2. Equipment/Machinery/ Tools suppliers

3. Material Suppliers ( Seed, Nutrients, chicks, etc.)

4. Restaurants

5. Catering facilities ( Schools, Hospitals, Offices)

6. Food processors/manufacturers

7. Consultants (Agronomists, Vet, Nutritionist, etc. )

Benefits 

1. Global recognition for forward thinking and commitment to supporting young people to transform the food system.

2. Access to highly qualified and committed skill

Want to partner with us? Please, complete this form.

Funding

Over the years, our financial institutions have continuously adapted to the ever changing market dynamics and technology advancement to ensure that we carry out financial monetary transactions efficiently and conveniently. More importantly, as we transition to a more sustainable food system, the financial institutions have very significant role to play in making this possible.

To provide financial support for participants in the Global AgriFood TechPreneur Programme, we are partnering with:

1. Regional development banks.

2. Commercial banks.

3. Forward thinking/sustainability focused investors.

Benefits

1. Global recognition for sustainable initiatives

2. Access to a pool of AgriFood businesses led by committed and trained young graduates with a passion to lead the food system transformation

3. Good return on fund. We have developed an online platform to ensure accountability and transparency, thereby safeguarding your fund and delivering impact across the food system.

Want to partner with us? Please, complete this form

Deadline

20th February 11:59pm GMT

Training Period

6 weeks starting from beginning of July

Review Period

October – November 

We will open application on December 5 2024 during the webinar on Financing a Sustainable Food System as we recognise International Day of Banks and World Soil Day for the Global AgriFood TechPreneur Programme 2025 cohort.