By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Over 40 youths have begun pitching their innovative ideas before a five-member jury as the second edition of the Agritech Innovation Challenge moves toward its final stage. The pitching ceremony that ended on March 28 in Yaoundé, gave young entrepreneurs the opportunity to present projects that could be among the final 12 selected for the competition.
Candidates defended their proposals behind closed doors, each presenting in two phases. In the first phase, contestants were allotted 10 minutes to outline their ideas and explain why they should advance to the next round. The second phase was more interactive, with jury members requesting explanations and clarifications on specific aspects of each pitch.
Speaking shortly after presenting his idea, Bindzi Brice, an agricultural engineer who pitched a project called “Agrohub,” described it as a stock market for agricultural commodities in Cameroon that promises to transform the sector.
“Our platform enables farmers to sell their harvests before production begins to buyers across Cameroon and internationally. It facilitates product discovery, purchase, payment and delivery nationwide,” Bindzi said.
He expressed optimism about reaching the finals and said the team intends to raise awareness of the platform among target users so it will be available to producers across the country.
Tchame Kerine, another contestant, presented “AUDECAM Connect,” a digital platform designed to survey bee farmers, manage apiculture farms, and secure payments through a complementary solution called AUDECAM Finance.
She said the initiative already supports over 3,600 producers and that she hopes to win financial support to expand the platform. “My main expectation is that AUDECAM Connect convinces the jury and that we are selected for the final,” Tchame said.
Kamdem Noubissi, who is also seeking a place in the final round, presented FORPET, a solution aimed at digitizing aquaculture farms, particularly those that produce fish food. “My session with the jury went well. The exchanges were objective. I explained the solution I’m offering and how it can impact society, stimulate business development and drive sectoral progress,” Kamdem said.
The Agritech Innovation Challenge is technically coordinated by the Digital Acceleration and Transformation Project (PATNUC) under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL) and is financially supported by the World Bank.
This edition aims to identify, promote and support innovative digital solutions that sustainably transform Cameroon’s agropastoral sector. The 12 best digital solutions across areas such as fisheries, livestock, fintech, agriculture and climate change will be rewarded.
Winners will receive technical coaching and financial support of up to FCFA 40 million for the leading digital solutions in agriculture and livestock. Through regional heats, a bootcamp and a national grand finale held alongside B2B trade fairs, the Agritech Innovation Challenge positions itself as a strategic platform for visibility, partnerships and impact for agritech startups, young entrepreneurs and women-led initiatives.
