KIC to organise First Pitch Competition for the 2026 AgriTech Challenge Pro Teams

The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) will host the First Pitch Competition of the AgriTech Challenge Pro from 26 to 27 August 2026, marking an important milestone in the entrepreneurial journey of participating teams.

The two-day competition will provide an opportunity for the teams to present their business ideas and solutions, demonstrate their progress and receive feedback from experienced judges and industry experts.

From Training to the Pitch

The First Pitch comes after an intensive period of training, coaching and mentorship designed to strengthen the capabilities of participating entrepreneurs. Since their recruitment and orientation, the teams have participated in practical sessions covering areas including Investor Readiness, Design Thinking, Product Development and Prototyping, Legal Agreements, Certifications and Regulatory Compliance, Market Access and Financial Management, among others.

These trainings have been designed to help participants move beyond ideas and develop the knowledge, skills and business capabilities required to build viable and sustainable start-ups. Through coaching and mentorship, participants have also had opportunities to test their assumptions, refine their business models, strengthen their solutions and respond to challenges encountered along their entrepreneurial journey.

A platform to demonstrate progress

The First Pitch will provide the teams with an opportunity to bring together the knowledge and insights gained throughout the programme and demonstrate how their ventures have evolved.

Participants will be expected to articulate the problem they are addressing, present their solutions, demonstrate their understanding of the market and communicate the potential of their businesses to create value.

The competition will also provide an important learning opportunity, as teams receive feedback that can help them identify areas for improvement and strengthen their ventures as they progress through the programme.

Supporting the Growth of AgriTech Start-ups

The AgriTech Challenge Pro is designed to support young entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to challenges across Ghana’s agricultural value chain. KIC recognises that building successful start-ups requires more than a good idea. Entrepreneurs need access to knowledge, coaching, networks, market opportunities and the right tools to develop and grow their businesses.

The First Pitch is therefore an important part of a broader capacity-building journey that seeks to equip participants with the capabilities and confidence required to navigate the realities of entrepreneurship. It represents a significant step for the participating teams, but it is not the destination. The feedback and experience gained from the competition will help inform the next phase of their development as they continue refining their businesses and preparing for subsequent stages of the AgriTech Challenge Pro.

As KIC continues to invest in young innovators and entrepreneurs, the competition reflects its commitment to powering innovation, transforming communities and impacting lives through opportunities that enable young people to develop solutions with the potential to contribute to the future of agriculture.

The AgriTech Challenge Pro is part of the implementation of the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural Transformation (IYAT), a partnership between KIC and the Mastercard Foundation.