Finalists for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017 Announced
Out of the 51 projects from around Africa, Six innovative projects from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania have been nominated as finalists for the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) Entrepreneurship Award 2017, supported by the Rabobank Foundation. The jury has selected these innovative projects for their social, economic and ecological impact, and their potential for growth and job creation nationally and regionally.
The AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017 aims to provide African-based innovative SMEs with support to grow their businesses. The six finalists will receive a free accreditation to join the AFIF 2017 full programme.
The overall winner will be announced during the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) 2017, which will be held in Nairobi from February 13th to 16th, 2016, and will receive cash prize and one year of national and international media promotion.[related-posts]
Finalists for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017:
Aybar Engineering from Ethiopia
The company has developed the “Aybar BBM”, a technology that prevents excess water from suffocating crops and stores it for later use. There is no other similar technology in the market.
R n G Company limited from Kenya
The company sells packaged Rhizo-fix (groundnut inoculum), a biofertilizer that ensures a more efficient groundnut production. It also collects the groundnuts from local farmers to produce affordable cooking oil.
EuroFresh Exotics from Kenya
The company produces and exports fresh fruits and vegetables using innovative farming techniques. They also organise capacity building trainings for smallholder farmers.
First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics from Nigeria
This company has developed the “Zenvus”, an intelligent solution to collect soil data using a system of electronic sensors. Its mission is improve farming productivity.
Kimolo Super rice from Tanzania
The company is specialized in processing and marketing branded rice and sunflower oil. The project is environmentally friendly since smallholder farmers produce paddy using water run-off from nearby hills.
Eco Act from Tanzania
The company was established to address the challenges of urban waste management, plastic pollution, deforestation and climate change. They recycle and transform post-consumer waste plastic into durable and environmentally friendly plastic lumber.
“The innovation and creativity of African-based SMEs makes our job more difficult every year. We look forward to welcoming more entrepreneurs at the AFIF 2017 in Nairobi” says Ines Bastos, EMRC Senior Project Manager.
AFIF Event:
The new edition of the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) will be held for the first time in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by the Strathmore University.
In line with growing international trends, the AFIF will focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and access to finance in key sectors such as energy, water, ICT, health and agriculture.
AFIF Recap Uganda:
Uganda has been participating in the AFIF competitions and Project Incubator Awards since 2009, emerging three time as grand winners. The three winners included; Derek Kwesiga with his innovation project he called Derekorp, gave him the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award in 2009, Maria Odido from BEE NATURAL UGANDA; won the EMRC-RABOBANK Project Incubator Award in 2010, and finally Lovin Kobusingye who represented KATI FARMS; won the EMRC-RABOBANK Project Incubator Award in 2012
