Six startups have been selected for the final of the FCMB Agritech EPIC Pitch 2020.
The startups are:
- Farmz2U: Farmz2U is helping farmers farm better with tailored agricultural expertise using data and market access via system integrations.
- Beat Drone: Beat Drone implements drone input on the farm production process such as spraying precise chemicals, crop health assessment and farmland mapping.
- ColdHubs: ColdHubs Ltd. is a social enterprise that designs, installs, commissions and operates 100% solar-powered walk-in cold rooms branded as “ColdHubs”, in markets and farm clusters. The Hubs are used by smallholder farmers, retailers and wholesalers, to store and preserve fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods 24/7, extending their shelf life from 2 days to 21 days.
- Tradebuza: Tradebuza digitizes commodities sourcing and trade for large agribusinesses who run out-grower schemes. We digitize their last-mile operations, including digitization of their smallholder and farmland profiles, farm activities and post-harvest ops tracking.
- Farmspeak Technology: Farmspeak Technology focuses on manufacturing IoT-powered hardware devices that work with a web and mobile application using Artificial Intelligence(AI) to diagnose poultry diseases, monitor and regulate the poultry environment to help smallholder poultry farmer in Nigeria improve their farm management, reduce wastage and mortality, thereby increasing profitability in poultry farming.
- AgroHive: AgroHive, Africa’s first Agricultural HR startup, is deploying ICT in assisting over 1,000 agribusinesses tackle 1of their biggest challenges, which is to have easy access to a consistent supply of skilled agricultural staff that will increase agribusiness productivity and profitability.
They were selected after a semifinal pitch that spanned two days and saw 10 startups – ColdHubs, Pricepally, Beat Drone, Solaristique Nigeria, Ecotutu, eVet Africa, Farmz2U, Tradebuza, AgroHive and Farmspeak Technology – pitch to a different set of judges.
Demo Day will take place online on August 28th by 10 am. All 6 finalists will pitch to Kudzai Gumunyu – Divisional Head, Agric Business at FCMB; Kola Masha – Managing Director at Babban Gona; Yemi Keri – Co-founder at Rising Tide Africa; and Rishi Raithatha – Insights Manager, AgriTech Programme at GSMA for a chance to emerge winner and receive an equity-free grant of ₦1 million. The 1st runner up wins ₦500,000. All the finalists will enjoy the following benefits:
- 1 Month free access to Hub One, a coworking space and innovation owned by FCMB and managed by Leadspace
- Access to market, investors and mentorship.
Also part of the program is a conference. Themed “Redefining and repositioning Agricultural value chains during and post the COVID-19 era”, it will bring together global experts to discuss and share insights on Agricultural value chains. Confirmed speakers are:
- Rufus Idris, Deputy Chief of Party at USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity
- Kemi Arosanyin – Director, Africa Trade Expansion Program, World Trade Center, Miami
- Mike Ogbalu – CEO, Verve International
- Olushola Obikanye – Head, Agric Business and Structured Trade & Commodity at FCMB
Everyone in the tech ecosystem is invited to attend on August 27th. The registration link can be found at https://passionincubator.ng/fcmb/