FEATURED: Top 10 young agritech innovators begin Heifer’s AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda boot camp

The second edition of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda 2025 has selected its top 10 young agritech innovators, who are kicking off a four-day boot camp in Kigali from Monday, March 24 to Thursday, March 27. The challenge offers young Rwandan innovators a chance to improve Rwanda’s agriculture and win significant cash grants and business support. ALSO READ: Rwandan youth to win cash prizes as AYuTe agriculture competition returns The second edition of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda 2025 has shortlisted its top 10 young agritech innovators, who are kicking off a four-day boot camp in Kigali from Monday, March 24 to Thursday, March 27. The challenge offers young Rwandan innovators a chance to improve Rwanda’s agriculture and win significant cash grants and business support. Launched in 2023 as part of Heifer International’s AYuTe Africa NextGen initiative, the challenge identifies and supports promising agritech innovators who are creating scalable solutions for smallholder farmers. This year, the competition will award Rwf50 million in cash prizes while also providing expert mentorship, business development training, networking opportunities, and a chance to compete at the regional level—equipping the next generation of agritech leaders with the tools to scale their ventures. From over 500 entries, the top 10 finalists are now attending an exclusive boot camp in Kigali—one of the challenge’s key highlights. This platform allows them to collaborate with leading experts, refine their ideas, and strengthen their solutions. Kayitare Gisa Patrick, from Eco Green House and one of the shortlisted top 10, said, “I’m here at Bootcamp because I want to grow this big idea so we can have an impact across the country and reach more farmers. Our goal is to expand from a small to a medium-sized business and eventually become a key player in the sector.” Sabina Mari Rose, from Green Energy Technology and also among the final 10 candidates, said, “During this boot camp I hope to learn more from the mentors and coaches to help refine the idea and meet with other entrepreneurs for discussions.” Verena Ruzibuka, Heifer Rwanda Country Director, emphasised, “At Heifer Rwanda, we believe that young innovators can play a key role in transforming the agriculture sector in Rwanda. The AYuTe Africa Challenge provides a platform for these bright minds to develop and scale agritech solutions that directly impact smallholder farmers.” She added, “This boot camp is not just about competition—it’s about equipping the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to drive meaningful change in the sector. We are excited to see the innovative ideas that will emerge and how they will contribute to a more resilient and prosperous agricultural future for Rwanda.” By empowering young agritech innovators to turn their ideas into impactful solutions for smallholder farmers, Heifer supports the winners to scale their businesses for both their benefit and that of local farming communities. Agriculture remains the backbone of Rwanda’s economy, employing over 60% of the workforce. However, youth engagement in the sector is still limited. The challenge seeks to inspire the next generation to view agriculture as a pathway to prosperity. A core element of the challenge is fostering innovation in agritech and social enterprises, particularly among the youth who might not otherwise explore opportunities in agriculture.

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FEATURED: Top 10 young agritech innovators begin Heifer’s AYuTe Africa Challenge Rwanda boot camp