[Tamale, May 7, 2024] – The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), in collaboration with the USAID’s Feed the Future Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity, proudly announces the successful culmination of the Final Pitch Competition, Investor Day, and Market Day Celebrations for the Agri-Biz Build-Up and Sprint programs.
The event, held at Modern City Hotel, brought together key stakeholders, industry experts, investors, and dynamic individuals from across northern Ghana.
Since 2023, as part of a consortium, KIC has been actively involved in implementing the Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity across sixteen Zones of Influence in Northern Ghana. Through capacity building, investor preparedness coaching, and mentorship, the MSR Program has empowered 27 Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) and 36 teams of young individuals, including women, with economically viable business solutions. These initiatives aim to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among Ghanaian youth while addressing critical challenges within the agricultural value chain.
Participants showcased their innovative business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, consisting of industry experts, investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs. The competition provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to transform their agricultural aspirations into tangible ventures, contributing to the sustainable development of northern Ghana’s agricultural sector.
The Executive Director of Kosmos Innovation Center, Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director praised the dedication and hard work of all participants, coaches, and ideation teams, reaffirming KIC’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders and change-makers.
Mr. Cecil Osei, Deputy Chief of Party at MSR, encouraged young people to seize the opportunities provided by the program, emphasizing MSR’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and market linkages for youth, women, and marginalized groups.
The MSR project aims to enhance commercial relationships between actors, strengthen the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem, expand agribusiness services availability, and improve local economic governance through targeted policy initiatives. Winners of the Pitch Competition will be awarded as well as gain access to KIC’s extensive network of partners and collaborators.
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About Kosmos Innovation Center: KIC invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow. The KIC was established in Ghana in 2016 with programs focused on inspiring and empowering young entrepreneurs to drive change in their own country. Since its inception, the KIC has focused on innovation in agriculture – the country’s most important sector and largest employer. More than 1300 aspiring entrepreneurs have participated in KIC Ghana programs, resulting in the creation of promising startups that have gone on to secure seed funding, additional business training, and capital investment.
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About Feed the Future :Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s initiative to end global hunger. Led by USAID and driven by collaborative partnerships across public and private sectors, including 11 U.S. Government agencies, Feed the Future addresses the root causes of poverty and hunger by promoting inclusive agriculture-led economic growth, resilience, and nutrition in countries with great need and opportunity for improvement.
