IKEA Foundation O-Farms Accelerator Program 2021 for Kenyan agricultural companies
When is the application deadline:
October 10, 2021
Tell me about the IKEA Foundation O-Farms Accelerator program:
O-Farms is an African SME accelerator fully focused on circular agribusiness with the aim of making circularity a mainstream approach for better livelihoods and sustainability in rural areas. It is an initiative funded by the IKEA Foundation to help scale circular agricultural innovations in East Africa.
O-Farms, led by Bopinc and Village Capital, focuses on accelerating the next generation of innovative circular agriculture businesses in Ethiopia and Kenya. Agricircularity creates a more sustainable food system that stimulates innovation by developing innovative business models that reduce agricultural losses and thus create new economic opportunities and jobs in the region. In this regard, Kenya is able to sustainably feed its growing population, without depleting its natural resources. In addition, O-Farms will build an innovation-supporting infrastructure that enables circular agribusiness to grow and develop.
In Kenya, E4Impact Accelerator will implement the O-Farm’s Accelerator program, targeting SMEs within the circular economy of agribusiness, which aims to support SMEs to refine their innovations, strengthen their business models, access financing opportunities and community that advocates better adoption of a circular economy and supportive policies and legislation.
Agricircularity creates a more sustainable food system that stimulates innovation by developing innovative business models that reduce agricultural losses and thus create new economic opportunities and jobs in the region. In this regard, Kenya is able to sustainably feed its growing population, without depleting its natural resources. In addition, O-Farms will build an innovation-supporting infrastructure that enables circular agribusiness to grow and develop.
What kind of scholarship is this?
Entrepreneurship
Who is eligible?
Be an enterprise in the agricultural sector Have an innovative or disruptive solution/business model that reduces food losses, or recycles the by-products generated in food production or processing, back into the food system for human food or feed, or into biodegradable packaging materials for the food industry, or in compost/organic fertilizers or in bioenergy. Be a growth stage company with an existing customer base (after revenue) Be a Kenya registered company with at least one of the founding team members being Kenyan
Which countries are eligible?
Kenya
How many scholarships are given?
12
What is the benefit of the IKEA Foundation O-Farms Accelerator program?
For the first cohort, a maximum of 12 companies will be selected to participate in the program. The companies can expect the following benefits:
Customized training program on agro-circularity activities Technical assistance to embed circularity principles in the business model, including strengthening the systems and processes. Coaching and mentorship – personalized and group coaching to unpack training for business implementation Links to financial and investment opportunities Networking and peer learning to drive innovations strengthen and build a community of best practices in agro-circularity. Competitive peer-to-peer seed grants awarded up to €50,000 (for 2 cohort selected companies) Networking opportunities to promote your solution and meet investors and other stakeholders .
How to Apply for an IKEA Foundation O-Farms Accelerator Program:
Only online applications will be reviewed and accepted.
To ask? Then send an email to [email protected]
Visit the IKEA Foundation O-Farms Accelerator Program webpage for more information
