Two start-ups from Kenya win global “youth ecopreneur” pitch contest
(Geneva/New York) – AgriTech Analytics Limited and Rethread Africa of Kenya win the top prizes in a young entrepreneurs pitch contest held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week, after pitching before a panel of international judges.
The announcement of the winners of the Youth Ecopreneur Awards – which recognizes outstanding youth-led start-ups dedicated to sustainability from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America – came on 21 September at the event organized by two United Nations agencies, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Maryanne Gichanga of AgriTech Analytics, which uses AI-powered tools for smallholder farmers to combat soil degradation and increase yields, won for best land restoration initiative.
Charles Oyamo of Rethread Africa, which creates biodegradable polyester from sugarcane waste, took the top prize in the green business solutions category.
The winners were selected from eight finalists, who were chosen from 850 young entrepreneurs across over 100 countries. Each winner will receive $10,000 in cash, as well as services and support to scale up their businesses from the World Intellectual Property Organization, Sidley Austin LLP, and Google Startups for Sustainable Development.
The finalists who pitched on stage were Ceres Seeding, Brazil; AgriTech Analytics Limited, Kenya; SOS Carbon, Dominican Republic; Global Cerah Sdn Bhd, Malaysia; Sustainable Farming Solutions, Malawi; TrashCoin, Nigeria; Rethread Africa, Kenya; and BioMec Prosthetics, Mozambique.
Partnering to promote sustainability
The event, supported by the Government of Madagascar and the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth, was hosted by ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton and the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Madagascar and former Youth Ecopreneur finalist, Max Andonirina Fontaine.
To learn more about the winners and their initiatives, visit the ITC Youth Ecopreneur Programme webpage.
About the International Trade Centre - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
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About the Ye! Community – The ITC Ye! Community powered by the Youth and Trade Programme is aimed at helping youth entrepreneurs to build scalable and sustainable businesses. The Ye! Community provides access to a global network of youth, mentors and ecosystem enablers, as well as free access to start-up trainings, resources, events and business opportunities.
Media contacts
Susanna Pak
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
E: pak [at] intracen.org
T: +41 22 730 0651
Milena Niehaus
YECO and Ye! Community Manager
Youth and Trade Team
E: mniehaus [at] intracen.org (mniehaus[at]intracen[dot]org)