Richies Attai, Nigerian entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Winich Farms, has been named first runner-up in the Access to Finance and Markets category of the prestigious 2025 AYuTe NextGen competition — a youth-focused agricultural technology initiative by Heifer International.
Attai’s recognition came at the close of a dynamic three-day conference in Kampala, Uganda, where agritech innovators, investors, and development leaders gathered to spotlight scalable solutions transforming Africa’s agricultural sector.
His company, Winich Farms, delivers end-to-end digital infrastructure that connects farmers directly with processing factories, while also integrating access to credit and insurance solutions. The platform has proven effective in addressing systemic inefficiencies within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and empowering smallholder farmers nationwide.
“This opportunity validates our work,” said Nana Opoku, Founder of Ghana’s Grow For Me and the category’s top winner. “It will go a long way in unlocking financial opportunities and providing protection against crop losses.”
Showcasing Nigeria’s Agritech Momentum
Attai’s achievement shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s expanding agritech ecosystem and its role in driving inclusive growth in the agricultural sector. Winich Farms’ model bridges critical gaps in market access, risk mitigation, and financial inclusion — elements crucial to advancing food security and rural prosperity.
The AYuTe NextGen competition attracted over 100 applications from startups in 10 African countries, with 11 finalists selected to pitch their innovations before a high-level panel comprising experts in finance, climate resilience, and digital agriculture. Finalists were judged on technological innovation, scalability, impact on smallholder farmers, and relevance to climate-smart practices.
Spotlight on Climate Innovation
In the Climate-Smart Agriculture category, Carolyn Mwangi of Kenya’s Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries won the top prize for her work in providing high-quality seedlings to enhance farm productivity. Maryanne Gichanga, also from Kenya, emerged first runner-up with her solar-powered farm sensor technology designed to optimize irrigation and resource use.
“This recognition means so much, not just to me, but to our entire team,” said Mwangi. “We believe building resilience for smallholder farmers starts with something as simple, yet powerful, as the right seedlings.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Agripreneurs
Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs at Heifer International, commended the finalists for pioneering innovations that address Africa’s most urgent agricultural challenges.
“These young agripreneurs are unlocking opportunities at every stage of the agricultural value chain,” she noted. “We are here to help connect the dots in this powerful movement.”
Attendees at the Kampala event emphasized the need for early-stage capital, policy reform, and mentorship programs to nurture emerging agricultural innovators and scale transformative solutions across the continent.
About AYuTe NextGen
The AYuTe NextGen initiative is part of Heifer International’s broader mission to support youth-led innovation in agriculture. The competition seeks to identify, invest in, and scale up tech-driven solutions that empower smallholder farmers, build climate resilience, and unlock new opportunities in African agriculture.
With young visionaries like Richies Attai leading the charge, the future of African agritech looks more promising than ever.
