InfoDev’s Mobile Innovation program, in partnership with Sweden,the mAgri Challenge. The mAgri Challenge seeks to showcase the diversity of mobile apps across the agribusiness value chain and..
InfoDev’s Mobile Innovation program, in partnership with Sweden,the mAgri Challenge. The mAgri Challenge seeks to showcase the diversity of mobile apps across the agribusiness value chain and to identify business models with high-growth potential across Africa. This an opportunity to identify creative ideas, test concepts, and pursue collaborations that can result in growth of mAgri app businesses across countries, regions and the African continent. Entreprenuers and business-minded people are invited to apply. Deadline of submission is on July 31, 2013.
How to apply:
Step 1: Submit concept to zlu1@worldbank.org.
Step 2 – COMPETE by entering your business plan into the mAgri challenge for a chance to pitch before investors in November 2013. All submissions must be received by July 31st, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
Step 3 – PITCH Select finalists will be chosen to pitch their products before a panel of industry experts in November 2013.
The World Bank and other organizations have gathered information on many agricultural mobile applications and produced detailed case studies on such apps in select countries. Perhaps best known for providing market and extension information and increasing purchasing power of farmers, mobile agri apps can also improve agricultural supply chain integration, increasing access to extension services, and facilitate global market links.
Mobile innovation in the agricultural sector faces at least two major challenges:
1) While there is a proliferation of market information mobile apps, few of these have been adopted widely across the African continent, making it difficult to achieve scale and profitability.
2) Despite proven benefits of mobile agri apps, the mobile entrepreneurship community and the agribusiness community often suffer from a lack of obvious linkages and ways to collaborate.
mAgri is an opportunity to identify creative ideas, test concepts, and pursue collaborations that can result in growth of mAgri app businesses across countries, regions and the African continent.
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government, with the mission to reduce poverty in the world. Through their work and in cooperation with others, they contribute to implementing Sweden’s Policy for Global Development (PGU).
For more information, visit http://www.infodev.org/mAgriChallenge and check out the mAgri Challenge flyer: http://www.infodev.org/infodev-files/magri_challenger_flyer.pdf