Agri-Fem Growth Project
Preparing young women led agricultural businesses in Eastern Uganda for investment through practical business training, individualized coaching, technical mentorship and financial support.
About the Project
Agri-Fem Growth Project is a eight-month program implemented by StartHub Africa in collaboration with aBi Development, Café Africa Uganda and IWCA Uganda.
The programme aims to strengthen the investment readiness in women led businesses in Eastern Uganda, primarily within the coffee value chain and complementary agricultural sectors including poultry, apiary and horticulture.
Who Can Apply?
A typical applicant is a young woman aged 18 to 35 operating a business within the coffee value chain or complementary agricultural sectors such as poultry, apiary or horticulture in any part of Eastern Uganda. Businesses may be starting out or already generating revenue and should demonstrate commitment to participating in practical training, mentorship and business development activities.
Women entrepreneurs with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Business Diagnostics
Selected entrepreneurs will undergo business diagnostics with focus on strengthening business models, financial management, operations, investment readiness, and identify growth opportunities, followed by an intensive residential bootcamp facilitated by experienced business trainers.
Individualized Coaching
Participants will receive personalized coaching to address specific business challenges, improve financial performance, strengthen operations and identify opportunities for revenue growth. Each business will receive tailored support based on its diagnostic findings and business development priorities.
Technical Mentorship
Participating businesses will benefit from five days of practical mentorship with sector experts in coffee, poultry or apiary. Entrepreneurs will also have opportunities to access financial services, grants and awards to strengthen operations, support revenue generating activities and accelerate business growth.
What are we looking for?
Young women led businesses that demonstrate potential for growth, job creation and increased participation in agricultural value chains. The programme particularly targets enterprises involved in coffee and complementary agricultural sectors, including:
- Coffee Aggregation and Trading: Businesses involved in sourcing, collecting, grading and coordinating the supply of coffee from farmers to markets.
- Coffee Processing and Value Addition: Enterprises engaged in coffee roasting, grinding, packaging, branding and developing market ready coffee products.
- Coffee Input Supply and Nurseries: Businesses supplying coffee seedlings, agricultural inputs and related services that support coffee production and productivity.
- Apiary and Poultry Enterprises: Businesses involved in beekeeping, honey processing, poultry production, aggregation, packaging and marketing of related products.
- Horticulture and Agricultural Retail: Enterprises engaged in horticultural production, value addition, agricultural product retail, quality assurance and market coordination.
Participation Eligibility
- Woman led businesses, with the lead entrepreneur aged between 18 and 35 years.
- Operating in Jinja, Mbale, Iganga or Soroti within the Busoga, Teso or Bugisu regions of Eastern Uganda.
- Operate within the coffee value chain or complementary agricultural sectors including poultry, apiary or horticulture.
- Be involved in agricultural business activities such as aggregation, processing, quality assurance, branding, retail, input supply or market coordination.
- Be available and committed to participating in the residential business bootcamp, individualized coaching, technical mentorship and programme monitoring activities.
*To submit an application, you will be required to create an account on Mbegu, a StartHub platform.
*To submit an application, you will be required to create an account on Mbegu, a StartHub platform.
Ask Questions
For more information, get in touch: s.nagaba@starthubafrica.org
Phone: 0781370860
