Four young innovators in agricultural technology were recently named winners of the AYuTe NextGen 2025 competition after an intensive three-day event in Kampala, Uganda.

Organized by Heifer International, the initiative focuses on empowering African youth to lead the transformation of agriculture through tech-driven solutions.

This year’s gathering brought together a mix of young minds, investors, policymakers, and development partners from across the continent.

Their common goal: to elevate youth-led ideas that are reimagining small-scale farming, especially for the benefit of smallholder farmers.

The event was themed “AgTech Generation Rising”, reflecting the energy and urgency around reshaping Africa’s food systems.

Out of more than 100 applicants from 10 countries, 11 finalists were selected to present their innovations live before a panel of judges drawn from sectors such as agriculture, finance, climate innovation, and telecommunications.

The entries were evaluated for their impact on smallholder farmers, technical reliability, data protection, potential for growth, team strength, and business sustainability.

Finalists were grouped into two categories: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Access to Finance and Markets.

In the climate-focused category, the top spot went to Carolyn Mwangi, founder and CEO of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries from Kenya.

Her enterprise uses data to supply smallholder farmers with vegetable, fruit, and tree seedlings that are resilient to climate stress.

Carolyn shared that the recognition means a great deal to her team, affirming their belief that change can begin with something as simple and powerful as the right seedling.

The runner-up was Maryanne Gichanga, also from Kenya, who leads Agritechs Analytics.

Her startup has developed solar-powered sensors that alert farmers about pests, monitor soil health, and allow remote management of farms through mobile technology.

In the finance and markets category, Nana Opoku, CEO of Ghana’s Grow For Me, emerged as the winner.

His platform connects everyday investors with experienced farmers, allowing them to co-invest in crops and share profits after harvest.

Nana emphasized that this recognition brings momentum to their work and gives hope to farmers seeking financial security and protection from risks.

The second place in this category went to Richies Attai, co-founder of Nigeria’s Winich Farms.

His company offers an end-to-end digital system that links farmers directly with processing factories and wraps in services like credit and insurance to make the supply chain more reliable and fairer.

Beyond the competition, the event hosted raw and meaningful conversations driven by youth.

These sessions covered topics such as how to grow high-impact agribusinesses, how African solutions must reflect African contexts, and how youth should be seen not just as founders but as system-builders in the agricultural space.

One panel, provocatively titled “Who Is Shaping Africa’s Food Story?”, pushed for bold moves from governments, funders, and institutions to match the pace of innovation on the ground.

Participants came from countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Senegal. As the event wrapped up, there was a strong sense of unity and purpose.

The message was clear: Africa’s agricultural future depends on supporting young people with the capital, policies, infrastructure, and mentorship they need to keep driving meaningful change especially for smallholder farmers who remain the backbone of the continent’s food systems.