This is a unique research concept supporting Kenya’s entrepreneurs to actively engage in profitable agri-businesses. It is designed to identify and field test innovative business models for taking innovations to scale. The research uses the Metro AgriFood Living Lab model to guide current and aspiring youth entrepreneurs in developing profitable agri-business enterprises in the agri-business sector.
The Metro AgriFood Living Lab model brings together a unique set of activities and services that create the needed synergy to support not only learning, but also innovation, business development and the creation of new knowledge. The Living Lab is the intersection of the following three components: Capacity Building & Training, Business Support & Innovation and Action Research.

What are the Benefits?

• Improved experiential learning of youth agri-food entrepreneurs.
• Provision of a platform for education, marketing, management, as well as industry, NGO and government linkages.
• By the end of the project life, entrepreneurs (youth and especially women) drawn from all over Kenya will have been trained to adopt and actualize the project activities in the field.

Duration

There will be an intensive 2 weeks classroom learning, and 12 months business coaching and counselling for further assistance with development of individualized business plans and presentation to potential funders.

Selection

With support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Australian International Food Security Research Centre (ACIAR), the GAME Center’s Metro AgriFood Living Lab at United States International University-Africa in Nairobi will be looking for 1200 young people who have agricultural or food business that they want to scale up their businesses.

We target 1200 young people of between 18 and 35 years who would like to expand their agribusiness enterprise in Kenya.

There will be an invitation to a one-day workshop to present your business concept for selection. If your business concept meets certain criteria, you will be selected for further assistance from the Metro AgriFood Living Lab, including business plan development, marketing research, and access to implementation resources.

Selection Criteria

• Kenyan nationals/citizens residing in Kenya
• Strong business acumen
• Age of between 18 to 35 years
• Literacy in English (spoken and written)
• Possession of a business (more than six months old)
• Potential to develop entrepreneurial ability
• Passion to grow the business as well as sub-contract other entrepreneurs as suppliers.

NB: 1200 youth drawn from Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kiambu, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kericho & Baringo will be trained. Women are encouraged to apply.