Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, founder and CEO of ColdHubs and Jehiel Oliver, founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, have been selected as the winners of the inaugural US$1.5mn Heifer International AYuTe Africa Challenge
The winners of the Heifer International AYuTe Africa Challenge were announced today at the 2021 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit. ColdHubs is a Nigerian business that provides solar-powered, walk-in coolers for smallholder vegetable farmers and Hello Tractor is a Kenyan company that helps farmers connect with local tractor owners.
Adesuwa Ifedi, senior vice-president of Africa Programs at Heifer International, said, “We want to do our bit to help companies like Hello Tractor and ColdHubs as they provide Africa’s smallholder farmers with much-needed products and services to develop sustainable, profitable business.”
As winners of the AYuTe Africa Challenge, the companies will receive a monetary investment – a total of US$1.5mn in grants – along with support from a team of expert advisers to help them turn their funding into a successful expansion strategy. This is part of Heifer International’s efforts to support young entrepreneurs developing affordable tech innovations to scale their businesses.
“Our ambition is for Hello Tractor to be available across Africa and winning the challenge will help us realise that dream,” said Jehiel Oliver.
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu added, “Many African farmers do not get the income they deserve because they don’t have the means to keep their produce fresh, forcing them to sell it soon after harvest. ColdHubs offers an affordable, pay-as-you go refrigeration option, available right in the middle of local markets.”
