Good news for agritech startups in Ethiopia. OCP Africa and Morocco-based Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) have entered into a strategic partnership to start impulse start-up acceleration program to build linkages between corporations and startups using Agritech solutions in Ethiopia.
“Following the success of the Impulse program in Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, OCP Africa is making a last stop in Ethiopia, to convene with key stakeholders from the agriculture, entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems,” OCP Africa announced in a statement.
Here Is All You Need To Know
- The Impulse program is a 12-week acceleration program dedicated to innovative startups in the fields of Agritech, Biotech, Mining tech and Materials Science & Nano Engineering.
- Working in partnership with OCP Group, UM6P, Mass Challenge and their ecosystems, Impulse uses an impact-focused model to help entrepreneurs take their startups to the next level.
“The agricultural transformation in Ethiopia represents a unique opportunity for Agritech start-ups,” said Mr. Mehdi Filani, OCP Ethiopia Country Director. “We believe the Impulse start-up acceleration program can add value to develop Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, through innovative technologies,” he said.
Who The Programme Is Targeting
- The Impulse program targets start-ups operating in fields related to the value chain of OCP Group and UM6P’s research agenda to help Africa’s agriculture sector increase its productivity in a sustainable manner.
- The Impulse program will aim to offer opportunities for startups to accelerate their development including mentoring and coaching, access to potential business opportunities, study trips to the ecosystems of Boston and Lausanne, and a $250,000 cash prize to be shared between winning start-ups on the demo day.
Mr. Adnane Alaoui Soulimani, Impulse Program Director, expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity to present the Impulse Accelerator to Ethiopian entrepreneurs.
“Impulse can play a significant role in the acceleration of innovative technologies that are transforming agri-businesses and smallholder farming techniques in Ethiopia, a country where over eighty percent of the population is engaged in agriculture,” he said.
What OCP Group Does
OCP Africa is a subsidiary of OCP Group is a leading global provider of phosphate and its derivatives with almost 100 years of experience. Based in Morocco, OCP Africa, was created to work hand-in-hand with farmers to contribute to unlocking Africa’s vast agricultural potential, in 2016.
OCP noted in the statement that it produces fertilizer solutions customized to local conditions and crop needs, and works with partners in many different African governments, non-profits and private enterprises to connect farmers to agricultural services, knowledge and resources they need in order to prosper.
With a presence across the continent, OCP further noted that it understands the diversity and complex needs of Africa’s soils, and is committed to offering the right fertilizer products at the right time, in the right place, at the right price.
OCP Group claims in the statement it is working with the Ethiopian government to jointly develop a USD 3.7 billion fertilizer platform in the country. OCP is currently supplying 100% of Ethiopia’s demand of phosphate fertilizers; granting timely access to high quality and customized fertilizers for Ethiopian farmers.
Beyond the supply of fertilizers, OCP states it is contributing to the transformation of the Ethiopia’s agricultural sector through several programs such as the development of cash crops, horticulture, livestock and blending units.
How to Apply
Interested startups can visit Impulse Start-up Accelerator’s website.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world