Pinnacle of the Generation Food Accelerator Project
The Generation Food Accelerator Demo Day
There is joy and pressure that comes with Demo Day.
30 teams from the 5 southern highlands regions in Tanzania, were all lined up for the marketplace exhibition that was held in Mbeya at the modern highlands hotel on the 4th of February. This event was the pinnacle of the entire Generation Food Accelerator project.
Let’s pause for a moment! How did we get to the Demo Day?
The entire journey of the project and how it commenced is well articulated here.
Now, press play where we paused!
In this read, I will take you through the details of the demo day and how much work the teams invested into the point where 12 among the beneficiaries were able to leave with 9 Million Tanzanian Shillings, and 6 were able to walk away with 6 Million shillings.
The Demo Day, the avenue for the 30 businesses to meet potential investors and for the Judge to select the best teams for Proof of concept funding.
On this day we were honored to have Mbeya District Commissioner, Mr. Rashid Mohammed Chuwachuwa who was representing the Mbeya Regional Commissioner. He also visited the exhibition booth of the 30 businesses that went through the GFA acceleration phase.
The following paragraphs outlays the 26 teams that pitched on the Demo Day;
So we had Sweetbert David who came up with Leoleo Smart Gulio, Augmented data analysis platforms that connect farmers to the market for fast selling with profit. There was Ponicks led by Lugendo Goda they do an Integrated Farming System that uses the waste produced by fish to supply nutrients to plants grown without the use of soil. Eliza Sanga came up with Genge kiganjani, a digital system that connects a vegetable and fruit farmer with consumers to sell and buy products. Nivushe spice herbs and seedlings under Jackson Nziku, produce quality and abundant vanilla seedlings to meet demand, they also educate farmers and assess their environment before planting vanilla and connecting farmers to the market.
Some innovations aren’t Rocket science, Eliabu Mwilongo with Kalenga Agri solutions came up with wooden crates that are durable, convertible, and re-usable. The crates allow air circulation and can be packaged in a way that doesn’t cause mechanical damage. We had Wandugu Group led by Ally Mathew, A business-centered group dedicated to the production of tomatoes and cabbages using organic manure and compost. Anna Zala & Adam Mwinyikayoka came up with Fasta Fasta, a grocery ordering and delivery service via website and app in a way that maximizes both local farmers’ and customers’ convenience. Shinza group, an entrepreneurial group led by a vibrant lady named Martha Mwashambwa. They sell organically farmed vegetables and fruits and pack them with quality. As part of their marketing strategy, they supply and deliver to the doorsteps in uniforms.
Sweet tooth people were also covered by R’S Yummy Yummy founded by a sweet lady Ronah Ernest, they produce Nutritious treats from Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts. They bake Fruit and Nut cakes, Fruits and Nut Bread, Biscuits and Cookies, Smooth and Juices. This is everything sweet but healthy kind of sweet. Henry Micheal founded Chendry Matunda, They provide basic education on proper eating intake and the amount of fruit needed. They also sell balanced fruits salad and fresh juices with no additives. Agrispace under Ntuli Malabeja, they came up with a digital platform that provides good agronomic practices guidance to farmers through WhatsApp texts, SMS, and a Call center upon farmers’ inquiries by adaptation of Artificial Intelligence technology. We had Shamba Hub, Fadhil Nsyengullah, and his team, provide information, resources, and a market for horticulturists. They operate through a radio show, Bulk SMSs, Shamba Hub Forum, Online TV, and Social Media platforms.
All those are just the tip of an iceberg, Have you ever seen Mango Crips? Interesting, right? Joe Organics Farm products under Joseph Lomayani came up with not just mango crisps but mango powder, mango pickle, and Mango candy. Their products contribute a 10% reduction of post-harvest loss of Mangoes. Daniel Mbilinyi came up with Suluhu Organic Fertilizer, quality organic fertilizers with all the nutrients needed for the plant and packs in a sellable volume. They also do Soil testing services, train farmers, and provide instruction manuals on how to use fertilizer. Natural Agri Inputs selling organic fertilizer and manure, Herbal tea for plants, and natural pesticides. The startup is led by Judith Joseph. Two interesting youth, Benny Sanga and Fabian Josiah came up with Greenia Services, which went all out to create a portable digital device that detects pesticide chemicals that remain in vegetables and fruits.
The team met different kinds of people while implementing this project and some stood out. One of them was a mind-blowing, Vibrant and bold lady, Sintike Siphael founded Fast and Fresh with a tag line “Mtue mama tenga kichwani”. The startup aims at connecting women vegetable sellers(mama mbogamboga) and customers by registering them in their digital system in a way that maximizes both women who supply vegetables and customers’ convenience. Israel Magugudi, a confident youth came up with Magugudi Food Products producing nutritional flours from Vegetables and Fruits. They provide training services as part of his marketing strategy. A focused and determined lady Bertha Mwaipopo came up with Lintu Food Processing with the focus on adding value to garlic. She has over 20 products under Lintu Food processing.
As we are still in the spirit of people who have vision and are determined, let’s talk about Samson Abel. He saw the challenge of getting quality tomatoes due to the environmental and climatic factors in Busekelo, so he came up with Nyanya Bora. This startup does Tomato farming using Greenhouse technology and opened up Nyanya bora shops and Nyanya bora Genge for the supply of quality tomatoes. Felly Rabbit, another interesting startup founded by Felician Nyange, The do sells organic manure and compost produced by rabbits. They also sell rabbit meat, provide organic farming education, and do Rabbit Breeding Training.
Kiu Biashara, the business group led by an attentive youth Nicodemus Mwampamba, aims at helping a farmer in every possible way to get into commercial agriculture. They assist farmers in planting, spraying, maintaining the farm, and connecting them to markets easily according to the need of the buyer.
Elite Wine, relax! This is not your normal wine! Angella Sylvester, the lady behind it all makes wine out of tomatoes, isn’t this innovative enough? Okay, we have Theopista Changwa with Theosylver Enterprise they produce avocado oil using a special heat-free press (Cold-pressed) with additional nutrients ie. Acidic folic. Naloli Company Limited, a Horticulture consultant company led by Keneth Mulungu. They divided their services into packages, they have Sokoni Pack, Shambani Pack, and Umoja Pack. JEP Embe Juice, the next big thing. This startup produces delicious and refreshing mango juice and packs them with quality. It’s definitely something for everyone to love.
The 26 teams pitched in front of 8 judges, investors, partners and every other stakeholder attended the demo day and 18 teams won the Proof of concept funding.
12 teams, 2 from each region won 9 Million Tanzanian shillings and 6 teams overall won 6 Million Tanzanian shillings.
People’s lives were changed this day, not just financially but the experience they got, opened their eyes and made them believe everything is possible
