Heifer International Rwanda has increased funding for the AYuTE Challenge Rwanda, raising the total prize fund to Rwf 65 million in a move aimed at accelerating youth-led, technology-driven agribusiness innovation across the country.
The funding that increased from Rwf 50 million awarded in 2025, will be complemented by structured mentorship and business development support to help young agripreneurs scale viable agricultural enterprises, improve productivity and create jobs.
AYuTE (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) Challenge Rwanda targets youth-owned agribusinesses that apply technology to address bottlenecks in agricultural production, processing and market access, while delivering measurable benefits to smallholder farmers and the wider economy.
According to Heifer International Rwanda, previous editions of the challenge have delivered tangible results, with supported enterprises expanding operations, accessing new markets, increasing output and generating employment opportunities—particularly for youth and women.
Tresor Gashonga, the most recent winner of the competition and founder of Incuti Foods, a chilli-processing company, said the AYuTE grant played a critical role in scaling his business.
“The Rwf 25 million support from AYuTE transformed our operations,” Gashonga said. “We increased monthly production from 5,000 to 30,000 bottles, expanded our presence in major retail outlets from 70 to 100, doubled our partnerships with smallholder farmers from 50 to 100, and created 18 new jobs, mainly for young people.”
Mugeni Niyidukunda, the first runner-up and founder of Avocare Ltd, which processes avocado oil and related products, said the support enabled rapid expansion of processing capacity and market reach.
“The AYuTE support was a turning point for Avocare Ltd,” she said. “It allowed us to increase avocado intake from two tonnes per day to between six and ten tonnes, establish a modern processing facility with a five-tonne daily capacity, create over 30 jobs for youth and women, and work with more than 300 avocado farmers nationwide.”
Speaking on the launch of AYuTE Challenge Rwanda 2026, Heifer International Rwanda country director Verena Ruzibuka said the competition continues to demonstrate the potential of youth-led agribusinesses to drive inclusive agricultural transformation.
“The growth journeys of entrepreneurs like Mugeni and Tresor clearly show the impact of AYuTE Challenge in boosting productivity, creating jobs, strengthening linkages with smallholder farmers and building resilient agribusinesses,” Ruzibuka said.
“Raising the prize fund to Rwf 65 million this year sets a higher ambition for young agripreneurs and reflects our commitment to supporting scalable, technology-enabled agricultural solutions.”
AYuTE Challenge Rwanda 2026 is open to youth aged 18 to 35 running technology-enabled agribusiness ventures operating in Rwanda.
Applications are now open through the official platform, with the submission deadline set for February 27, 2026.
