How to Apply for the “Who Wants to be an Agripreneur?” Competition – Categories II & III

Are you an innovative thinker with a green circular project idea that could transform Cameroon’s agricultural and environmental landscape?

The “Who Wants to be an Agripreneur?” competition is your platform to bring that idea to life! Here’s how you can participate in Categories II & III.

Our aim is to rebrand Cameroon, reshape the mindset of our youths and
position our schools as institutions that produce graduates inclined towards job creation
rather than job seeking.

CYRIL H.F. AKONTEH

About the Competition

The competition aims to select 20 innovative green circular projects from across Cameroon. These projects can be in areas such as:

• 1. Waste transformation and biogas energy.
• 2. Recycling of liquid, solid, food, and agro-waste.
• 3. Nutrient recycling
• 4.Carbon farming
• 5.Upscaling small-scale Agricultural
• 6. Water Management (AWM) technologies
• 7. Micro innovative agricultural projects

The selected projects will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas, and ten of them will receive small grants of two (02) million francs each, along with mentorship and market linkage support.

Who Can Apply? (Category II)

This category is open to students from universities and professional schools across Cameroon. The competition encourages students, especially those in strategic departments like agriculture, environmental science, and waste management, to devise projects that can positively impact their school, community, and the nation.

Application Process (Category II)

1. Invitation to Participate: Universities and professional schools across Cameroon are invited to take part in the competition.
2. Project Submission: Students with the best innovative projects must register through their universities.
3. Initial Selection: A panel consisting of AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON and university staff will select the top 10 projects from each university.
4. Video Pitch Submission: Selected contestants will record a 5-minute video pitch. The pitch should include:
   • The applicant’s name, department, and university.
   • A presentation of the project.
   • The statement: “This project is sponsored by the NGO EDAH, SPLASH NETWORK, and AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON.”
5. Social Media Voting:
   • The videos will be uploaded on the social media pages of the partnering organizations (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube).
   • The top five projects will be selected based on the number of shares, likes, and comments.
6. Final Selection: The best five projects from each university will be chosen through public voting to represent their region in Yaoundé or Douala for the final pitch on national television.

Rewards for Category II Participants

• Technical Assistance: Coaching and hands-on training from NGO EDAH, SPLASH NETWORKS, AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON, and other partners.
• Mini Grants: Each of the 20 best projects will receive a mini grant of one million francs to pilot their project.
• Market Linkage: Participants will receive market linkage support through SPLASH NETWORKS and AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON’s digital marketing platform.

Who Can Apply? (Category III)

This category is open to individual entrepreneurs across Cameroon who have innovative green circular economic projects.

Application Process (Category III)

1. Application Submission:
   • Fill out the application form and submit it via WhatsApp, email, or through the online form available on our Facebook page or website.
2. Video Pitch Submission:
   • Record a 5-minute video pitch including:
     • The applicant’s name and region of origin.
     • A presentation of the project.
     • The statement: “This competition is sponsored by NGO EDAH, SPLASH NETWORKS, and AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON.”
3. Social Media Voting:
   • The videos will be uploaded on the social media pages of participating partners (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube).
   • The top 100 projects will be selected by a panel based on the number of likes, shares, and comments.
4. Regional Selection:
   • 10 entrepreneurs from each of the 10 regions of Cameroon will be selected. The public will then vote for the best five projects from each region.
5. Final Pitch:
   • The best 50 projects will converge in Yaoundé or Douala for a final pitch on national television, where the top 20 projects will be chosen.

Rewards for Category III Participants

• Technical Assistance: Coaching and hands-on training from NGO EDAH, SPLASH NETWORKS, and AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON.
• Mini Grants: Each of the 20 best projects will receive a grant of two (02) million francs.
• Market Linkage: Market linkage support will be provided through SPLASH NETWORKS and AGRIPRENEUR CAMEROON’s digital marketing platform.

Final Notes

This competition is a unique opportunity for university students, professionals, and individual entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative solutions to local challenges in agriculture, environmental management, and beyond. By participating, you could gain invaluable mentorship, financial support, and the chance to make a lasting impact on your community and Cameroon as a whole.