With cash prizes, mentorship, and potential access to international markets up for grabs, the AgriHero Challenges 2026 competition is searching for Africa’s most promising agricultural innovators and entrepreneurs.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Zen Consortium CEO Jovi Chen, who came up with the concept of the competition, said that it is supported by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) in Japan.
He explained that the competition aims to identify and assist agricultural start-ups to move beyond good ideas into sustainable businesses.
Looking for real solutions
According to Chen, unlike many start-up competitions that focus heavily on presentations and business plans, AgriHero Challenges is looking for people who are solving real-world problems.
“The programme targets innovators working across the agricultural value chain, including climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence in farming, food science, sustainable packaging, smart farming technologies, and circular economy projects,” he said.
At its core, the competition is designed to create practical opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“We’re not just looking for the best pitch deck. We’re looking for the person solving a real problem in their community, and we want to give them the resources and the stage to scale it up,” Chen added.
Building links between Africa and Asia
Chen noted that one of the competition’s biggest strengths is its focus on connecting African entrepreneurs with opportunities in Asia.
He said that through various business initiatives aimed at bringing Japanese businesses to South Africa, his organisation had discovered huge potential for a South African–Japanese agricultural crossover.
“For a long time, Africa and Asia have been developing in parallel, but there is still enormous, untapped opportunity between the two continents. Africa has the talent, resources, and entrepreneurial drive, while Asia has built strong ecosystems around technology, manufacturing, and scale.”
The initiative forms part of the broader Africa–Asia Platform, a public-private partnership led by the AfDB, UTokyo, and UP, and funded by the Japanese government, to promote technology exchange between Africa and Asia, skills development, and youth entrepreneurship.
Chen added that successful participants will gain access to networks, partnerships, and resources that may help them introduce products and services into markets such as Japan.
He explained that several South African entrepreneurs are already receiving support through similar programmes and have travelled to Japan to explore export and other business opportunities there.
Professor Wanda Markotter, interim director of Future Africa, UP’s pan-African research platform, said that addressing Africa’s food security and other agricultural challenges requires strong partnerships and collaboration between experts, organisations, and countries.
“That is precisely what Future Africa was built to enable, and it is why we are honoured to be part of this initiative, where we serve as the implementing agency for the Africa–Asia Platform project, leading on-the-ground mentorship and operationalisation alongside UTokyo and UCT,” she said.
More than just prize money
While cash prizes will be awarded, Chen said he believes the long-term value lies in what happens after the competition.
The overall winner will have the opportunity to enter an incubation and acceleration phase, where business development support, mentorship, and international networking become available.
“Depending on the quality of entries received, we may also award second- and third-place cash prizes,” he added.
Dr Keiko Takei, chief education analyst at the AfDB and task manager of the Africa–Asia Platform, said the programme supports job creation, food security, and agricultural industrialisation.
“The initiative creates practical pathways for scaling solutions across borders. It also supports youth and women entrepreneurs to participate more actively in emerging agricultural value chains, ensuring that growth is both inclusive and sustainable,” she explained.
Entry requirements
Regarding whom the competition is aimed at, Chen said that while the focus is on South African agricultural entrepreneurs, applications from elsewhere in Africa and beyond are also being considered.
They have already received entries from outside South Africa, including Taiwan, he added, with applicants not restricted to a specific format when submitting their ideas.
“Entrants can email a pitch deck or share a cloud-based folder containing supporting material, videos, presentations, or other creative content that showcases their innovation.
“The only requirement is that applicants clearly demonstrate how their idea or business addresses a challenge within the agriculture space.
“Importantly, there is no entry fee and no product being sold. AgriHero Challenges 2026 is a public-interest initiative focused solely on identifying and supporting the next generation of agricultural innovators,” he explained.
The top 10 finalists will be invited to participate in a five-minute pitch presentation as part of the competition process, and from there, the winners will be chosen.
Applications are now open and will close on 30 June 2026, with the top 10 finalists announced on 7 July.
The virtual ‘pitch battle’ will take place on 15 July, and the top five start-ups will begin a mentorship programme on 31 July. The grand final will be held on 11 August in Gauteng and will be streamed online.
Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected].
