Accra, Oct. 27, GNA – Kumasi-based AgriCentric Ventures Limited has been adjudged the winner of 2025 GreenTech Innovation Challenge, an initiative by Fidelity Bank Ghana in partnership with the Innohub Foundation to promote sustainable, technology-driven agribusinesses.
AgriCentric, which transforms agricultural residues into high-value organic products such as bio-char, bio-fertiliser, livestock and fish dietary supplements, and bio-pesticides, outperformed six other finalists to claim the top prize of GH¢200,000.
The final event in Accra also saw PeelInnova Ltd and Danny Machinery emerge first and second runners-up, receiving GH¢100,000 and GH¢70,000 respectively. Thirteen other startups each received GH¢50,000 in seed funding.
Receiving the award, Mr. Gideon Ohenepon No Ba Nyamesen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AgriCentric Ventures, said the company was committed to promoting a circular economy that benefits smallholder farmers.
“By paying farmers for residues and selling back low-cost organic inputs, we are embedding a circular economy loop that strengthens climate resilience and rural incomes,” he said.
Mr. Maxwell Dawson, Head of Youth Programmes and Sustainability at Fidelity Bank, explained that the challenge was introduced to help young innovators move from ideas to viable businesses.
“The GreenTech Innovation Challenge was initiated to support green, technology-driven innovations in the agricultural sector,” he said. “We noticed that a lot of brilliant projects from universities were sitting on shelves, so we created this platform to help young people transition those ideas into businesses.”
He said the programme, which started in 2024, had already shown tangible results.
“Last year, we supported 17 entrepreneurs with GH¢1.3 million, and out of 10 idea-stage businesses, nine have become fully fledged enterprises. Collectively, they generated about GH¢13 million in revenue, raised over GH¢500,000 in new funding, and created 45 jobs,” he said.
Mr. Dawson added that Fidelity Bank had made GH¢1 million available this year for 16 entrepreneurs, drawn from institutions including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Wa Technical University.
“We are funding everything about the programme and remain open to partnerships that can help us scale this impact nationwide,” he said.
Mr. King David Amo, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Innohub, said the challenge had become one of Ghana’s foremost innovation platforms supporting sustainable youth-led businesses.
“This year, we received over 300 applications, shortlisted 25, and selected 16 for funding. Beyond the financial prizes, we will incubate and mentor them, helping refine their models and connect them to follow-on capital,” he said.
The GreenTech Innovation Challenge aims to nurture scalable green enterprises capable of contributing to climate resilience, job creation, and sustainable development within Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
GNA