Tag Archives: TECH CONTEST

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL AGRIINNO CHALLENGE

Application Deadline: 7 June, 2025

LOCATION: China

Join a global movement of youth innovators and agri-tech entrepreneurs driving change in food and farming. Submit your agrifood systems innovation online. The winners will have an opportunity to pitch their innovations at the Science and Innovation Forum in Rome in October 2025.

Theme: Harnessing emerging technologies and Digital Public Infrastructure for sustainable agrifood systems: Advancing climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to youth innovators (aged 18-35) and startup teams

Women-led teams and entrepreneurs from diverse background

Anyone with a tech-driven idea that can revolutionize food and farming

Innovation: Solutions should demonstrate strong alignment with the challenge theme, offer original use of emerging technologies, and be accessible and inclusive to smallholder farmers and marginalized groups.

Market Potential & Economic Value: Projects will be assessed on their potential for market entry, scalability, profitability, and ability to generate economic opportunities such as employment or investment.

Social, Environmental Impact & Sustainability: Ideas must show how they will improve livelihoods, promote sustainability, reduce food loss or pollution, and contribute to climate resilience and social inclusion.

Project Team: Teams will be evaluated on their operational capacity, relevant experience, technical skills, and commitment to diversity and gender equity.

BENEFIT:

Mentorship: 48-hour co-creation boot camp with global mentors and Expert coaching from UN agencies, investors, and private sector leaders

Seed Funding: Up to 30k dollars Seed funding for winning teams and a Chance to showcase your solution on a global stage

Recognition: Chance to showcase your solution on a global stage and All travel, visa, lodging, and meals covered for finalists attending in China.

Networking: Access to the Global AgriInno Challenge alumni network and Build relationships with agencies, venture capitalists, industry leaders, and fellow innovators

APPLY

STERLING BANK GREEN INNOVATION CHALLENGE FOR STARTUPS AND MSMES

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024, at 2pm.

LOCATION: Nigeria

Welcome to Green Innovation Challenge (GIC) 2024 – Empowering Innovation through access to funding. GIC is dedicated to providing access to funding for startups, MSMEs, SMEs, cooperatives, and social enterprises that are driving innovation and positive environmental change.

ELIGIBILITY:

It is open to applicants in agriculture, clean tech and social enterprise, and is designed to connect you with the resources you need to bring your ideas to life, scale operations, and make a lasting impact.

Whether you’re launching a groundbreaking startup, growing an established SME, or leading a cooperative or social enterprise with a mission for good, we invite you to apply for funding to fuel your journey.

FOR CLEAN TECH APPLICANTS

Applicant must be between ages 20 to 45 years.

Solutions should cut across any of the following focus areas:
Battery recycling
EV digital technology application
Conversion of ICE tricycles to EV

Solution/innovation must be in the prototype or demonstration phase.

Applicant must have a clear plan for scale and viable prototypes.

Applicant for on-lending finance must have a minimum of 30% equity.

Successful applicants of the cleantech category in the Sterling Green Innovation Challenge stand a chance to win sponsored grants and access to lending financing from the Bank, however, the selection committee has the sole responsibility of, and discretion in selecting winners, and the decisions are final. The value of these prizes is to be at the sole discretion of the organizers.

Successful applicant must use funds for the proposed solution approved by the selection committee.

Applicants who are awarded a grant shall be obliged to sign a grant /use of funds agreement with
Sterling Bank detailing how they intend to use the grant funds, including a disbursement schedule
where applicable.

The selection committee and/or organizers shall have the right to withdraw any award/grant prize
from a participant who fails or refuses to comply with the obligation in this clause.

Grant recipients and applicants accessing finance will be expected to complete a documentation
process with the bank before disbursement of funds.

FOR AGRIC APPLICANTS

Applicant must be between age 18 and 35 years.

Application must be technology driven, proving productivity and profitability across value chain, and
focus climate smart initiatives.

Solution must be able to leverage on other sources of energy to save cost.

Solution must focus on value chain linkages and solve post-harvest losses.

Applicant solution must be on a specific value-chain, crop and livestock production, processing, sales, and distribution.

The selection committee and/or organizers shall have the right to withdraw any award/grant prize from a participant who fails or refuses to comply with the obligations in this clause.

All Sterling Bank terms and conditions apply.

FOR WOMEN-LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Applicant must be a female between 18 and 45 years.

Applicant innovation should align with ESG principles and must be around renewable energy, climate education, agriculture, and climate action.

The selection committee and/or organizers shall have the right to withdraw any award/grant prize from an applicant who fails or refuses to comply with the obligations attached to this grant.

The selection committee has the sole responsibility of, and discretion in selecting winners, and the decisions are final. The value of the prize is to be at the sole discretion of the organizers. Successful applicants must use funds for the proposed solution approved by the selection committee.

All Sterling Bank terms and conditions apply.

BENEFIT:

FOR CLEAN TECH APPLICANTS: Applicant can access on-lending financing up to 1 billion Naira.

Minimum financing request for on-lending is 10 million Naira.

FOR AGRIC APPLICANTS: Applicant can access a single digit facility up to 20 million Naira.

FOR WOMEN-LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: Applicant can access a grant up to 2 million Naira.

APPLY