Young agri-tech entrepreneurs from across Africa are set to converge in Kampala, Uganda for the AYuTe NextGen 2025 conference—Heifer International’s flagship youth-focused innovation platform aimed at transforming agriculture through technology. The event will spotlight Africa’s most promising agri-tech startups and push for stronger youth participation in reshaping the continent’s food systems.
AYuTe, which stands for Agriculture, Youth, and Technology, was initiated by Heifer International as part of its mission to end hunger and poverty while sustaining the environment. With the theme “AgTech Generation Rising,” this year’s conference is designed by youth and for youth, placing young innovators, not on the sidelines, but at the helm of discussions and solutions.
Africa is home to the world’s fastest-growing youth population, yet young people often remain excluded from agriculture due to limited access to capital, mentorship, and viable markets. AYuTe NextGen reframes the sector as modern and profitable, encouraging youth to take charge of the agricultural future using technology as a powerful tool for disruption and growth.
More than 100 applicants from 10 African countries participated in a rigorous selection process leading up to the conference. Eleven finalists, with solutions ranging from drone tech to AI-powered analytics, emerged following regional assessments in Lagos and Nairobi. These finalists will pitch their innovations live to a panel of investors, policymakers, and development partners for a chance to receive seed funding, mentorship, and inclusion in Heifer’s agri-tech ecosystem.
Heifer International’s Africa Youth and Innovation Lead, Dayo Aduroja, described this year’s competition as rich in bold, creative ideas. “The conference creates a space where innovation meets opportunity and where promising solutions receive the support they need to scale,” he said.
Unlike typical development forums, AYuTe NextGen gives young people full leadership—from designing the event to moderating its panels. Sessions will feature interactive dialogues, fireside chats, and investor forums—all led by youth tackling themes such as climate resilience, policy reform, and digital disruption.
The significance of the conference cuts across stakeholders. For young innovators, it’s a platform to showcase their vision and connect with backers. For investors, it offers access to pipeline-ready startups shaping Africa’s future food economy. For policymakers, it presents a front-row seat to youth-led solutions and a call to strengthen support through inclusive policies.
Now in its fourth year, AYuTe NextGen has helped scale innovations that have impacted over 650,000 direct and 1.2 million indirect beneficiaries across Africa. Previous winners like Thrive Agric in Nigeria, Thur Biotech in Ethiopia, and Digicow in Kenya are examples of what’s possible when innovation meets investment.
Uganda’s 2024 winner, Assumpta Nakalema, who developed a solar-powered egg incubator to reduce post-harvest loss and energy costs for poultry farmers, described the conference as “a launchpad for lasting impact.”
Heifer’s Senior Vice President, Adesuwa Ifedi, applauded existing partners and called for broader collaboration among governments, funders, and investors to support youth-led transformation in agriculture. “To Africa’s young innovators, your time is now. And to those with the power to invest and support, be part of this movement,” she said. “Africa’s agricultural future is tech-driven, youth-led, and happening now.”
AYuTe NextGen 2025 is more than a conference , it is a movement driving inclusive innovation, entrepreneurial growth, and a bold new vision for agriculture in Africa.
