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The World Bank and Nest have announced applications have opened for the Agritech Challenge 2017, which aims to connect Kenyan promising startups and innovators with one of the region’s leading agribusiness corporates.

The challenge, for which applications are open until July 25, aims to spur collaborative innovation in Kenya, and forms part of a programme to test open innovation mechanisms in the country for a potential future scaleup by the Kenyan government.

Starting in August, high-calibre teams of innovators and entrepreneurs will work closely with agribusiness industry veterans to conceptualise and co-develop solutions around some of the most pressing challenges in the local value chains.

The selected startups will have the opportunity to plug into the expertise and resources of the corporate partner, and subsequently explore piloting and commercialising the solutions developed. Nest will facilitate the programme with oversight from the World Bank team.

Applications will be vetted on a rolling basis, with shortlisted applicants to be invited for interactions and exploratory site visits with the corporate partner ahead of a pitch day at the end of July to select the final cohort for the programme.

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