Kenyan youth agritech startups win over $40,000 in push to scale farm innovations
By Zablon Oyugi
Eight agritech startups founded by young Kenyans have secured a combined $41,088 in funding under the 2025-26 AYuTe Africa (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) Challenge Kenya, a competition that supports young people developing practical technology solutions for smallholder farmers.
The winners emerged from a competitive process that attracted 486 applicants nationwide, reflecting growing interest among young entrepreneurs in tackling agricultural inefficiencies, from post-harvest losses to limited market access.
Mukurweini Oil Enterprises Limited took the largest share in the growth-stage category, winning $11,628 for its model of processing off-grade avocados into oil and other products, an approach designed to reduce waste while creating new income streams for farmers.
Other top performers in the growth-stage category included Bellfeeds, which placed second with $10,078, and Jolly Mushroom Enterprises, which took third place with $3,876. Zuphifarm finished fourth with $1,939.
In the early-stage category, Dairy Sense won $6,202, followed by DroFarmer Ltd at $3,101, Soil Doctors Limited placed third with $2,326, while Chrisfa Poultry finished fourth with $1,938.
“We are creating a market where none existed before,” said Mukurweini Oil Enterprises Limited co-founder Patrick Mutahi. “This support allows us to scale and reach more farmers.”
DroFarmer CEO Ken Mbuki said the recognition would help accelerate partnerships. “Validation like this opens doors. It moves you from idea to implementation much faster,” he said.
The competition, run by Heifer International, focuses on identifying and backing young innovators whose solutions can improve productivity, resilience, and incomes in Kenya’s agriculture sector, which employs a majority of the population.
Sector leaders say such initiatives are critical as the country looks to modernize agriculture and make it more attractive to young people. “We are seeing young people build practical solutions to real agricultural problems,” said Country Director Wairimu Munyinyi-Wahome. “The focus now is helping these businesses grow and reach farmers at scale.”
Heifer International Kenya Board Chairperson Florence Kimata said the programme is structured to support viable enterprises, not just ideas.
“This is about building businesses that create value across the agricultural economy,” she said. “AYuTe is more than a funding opportunity. It is a deliberate investment in young innovators who are solving real problems in productivity, climate resilience, market access, and enterprise growth. The real value will be seen in how many of these enterprises scale, how many farmers benefit, and how many of these solutions are adopted more widely.”
The 18 finalists in this year’s competition showcased solutions across climate-smart agriculture, digital advisory services, livestock systems, and post-harvest management, areas seen as key to improving food security and farmer incomes.
Kenya National Innovation Agency CEO Dr Tonny Omwansa said innovation alone is not enough.
“It has to be supported by the right ecosystem, financing, infrastructure, and partnerships, to reach the market,” he said.
The 2025-2026 edition, delivered in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Kenya through the Kenya Livestock Market Systems Project (KLMP) and the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC), reflects a growing shift toward commercially viable solutions, as noted by Joseph Murabula, CEO of KCIC “We are encouraged by the quality and ambition of the enterprises we have seen through this process,” he said. “What stands out is that these are not just ideas, but businesses that are responding to real farmer needs and showing the potential to scale. Through our work with Heifer International, we have seen how structured support, mentorship, and technical assistance can help young innovators move from concept to market readiness, and that is where real transformation begins.”