Citizen Zero’s Post

Excited to Share! I had the incredible privilege of speaking at this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 under the theme "Inclusive Growth and Innovation." As we gathered to celebrate entrepreneurship and technology's transformative potential, I shared insights on a critical topic: The Role of Agritech in Food Security. Agritech is not just about farming—it's about empowerment and inclusion. Through affordable feature phones, tools like USSD and IVR can be harnessed to connect Africa’s smallholder farmers to markets, weather updates, and vital agricultural resources. This technology transforms lives, making farming smarter, more sustainable, and more profitable particularly for marginalized smallholder farmers across Africa. Did you know that Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet struggles with hunger? Agritech can be the game-changer to bridge this gap—ensuring more farmers become agri-preneurs and food producers for their communities and economies. But here’s the key takeaway: Food security is a collaborative effort. Governments, private enterprises, and innovators must come together to scale inclusive, sustainable solutions. Together, we can double global food production by 2050, using fewer resources through precision farming, AI-driven insights, and sustainable practices. Let’s innovate boldly and inclusively to empower communities and feed the world. To my network across South Africa, Namibia, Rwanda, India, Australia, the UK, and the USA—this is the time to engage, partner, and shape the future. Your collaboration and investment can amplify these efforts globally. Let’s connect and explore how we can make a difference together! 💬 #Agritech #FoodSecurity #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek2024 #InclusiveGrowth #SustainableDevelopment #TechnologyForGood #Brastorne #KabeloMoroka

Is there a business case for investment in circular business models that improve efficiency and reduce waste? There seem to be an ever-increasing number of programs popping up in East Africa and beyond attempting to test what the role of entrepreneurship can be towards circular food systems transformation. In my latest blog, I explore some recent initiatives in the circular food systems space with entrepreneurs at the core of their mission (including the Circular Food Systems for Rwanda project that Resonance supports in Rwanda!) and our vision towards scaling these efforts through collective impact. Let me know what you think, and if I missed any great East African initiatives in this blog!! https://lnkd.in/e_FX8DBB #Resonance #circularity #entrepreneurship #foodsystems

🤝 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱,Boniviri | Certified B Corporation™! 🌱 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗶 aims to create value through food and connects the worlds of those who consume and those who produce following the principles of quality and sustainability. A 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 and 𝗕 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱, Boniviri was founded in 𝗦𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗹𝘆 in 2020 by 3 under 30s who wanted to find a solution to the challenges of those who do agriculture and an answer to the needs of those who seek excellent and sustainable food. With this aim, Boniviri creates a network of small farms, producing with them food of excellence with a high social and environmental value for the entire supply chain. 👨🌾 Over the years, it has built a network of 14 agricultural entrepreneurs who work in a way that respects the environment and people, producing food such as organic extra virgin olive oil, almonds, honey, herbs, wine and much more. The mission guiding the project is to create an eco-friendly, healthy and excellent food pantry that values the history, work and dignity of those who work in the countryside. Thanks to this commitment, Boniviri has created the 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗶𝗹 and is among the most influential global food initiatives led by under-35s mentioned in the 50Next list. 💡 “ There has been a strong affinity between 20Fund and Boniviri from the very first moments: at a meeting during the 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 organised by UniCredit, we immediately felt united by the intention to promote social impact entrepreneurship and create positive change through food and innovation. Today, walking a common path with 20Fund is a source of pride for us and a great opportunity to broaden the horizons of the company we founded and which we believe can contribute to a better society through good food and the valorisation of the work of excellent farmers ". Boniviri | Certified B Corporation™ Alessandra Tranchina Corrado Paternò Castello Sergio Sallicano Read more about our investments: https://lnkd.in/dcUU9Gr9 #20Fund #boniviri #EatWellDoingGood #FoodMadeGood #startup #investment #investitor #investinginwomen #investinginsustainability #investinginitaly 

The FoodTech 500 2023 results are out and having been chosen from an impressive pool of over 1,500 entries from 77 countries, including 4 publicly traded companies and 2 unicorns, makes my day!  I am thrilled to see Farmy No. 1 in Switzerland, No. 6 in Europe and No. 17 in the world! But also eight other Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley partners made it to this year's ranking ! Here are the Swiss shining stars: - Authena - Agrinorm - AgroSustain SA - Fruitful AI - planetary - QualityChain - SERA - UMAMI But that's not all! Many other Swiss ecosystem actors, including yamo, Mootral, Farmy, SwissDeCode, Essento Insect Food • Making insects delicious, and Koa Switzerland & Ghana, have also secured their spot on the list. As the Chairman of Farmy, I'm particularly proud and humbled that we've made it onto this global list of FoodTech shining stars and inspiring entrepreneurial projects, ranking at an impressive 17th place and thus being the only Swiss company among the top 20! A heartfelt shoutout to our amazing local producers, loyal customers, rockstar employees, the two co-founders Tobias Schubert and Roman Hartmann, and last but not least our supportive investors for their unwavering support and dedication! A massive round of applause to all finalists! I extend my heartfelt thanks the entire Forward Fooding team for showcasing the abundance of global entrepreneurial talent at the nexus of food, technology, and sustainability! Curious to explore the full list? Download it here: https://lnkd.in/e8aeq8F9 #foodtech500 #foodinnovation #sustainability #entrepreneurship #congratulations #foodtech #agritech #food #startup #recognition #greatful #switzerland #passion #thankyou

Today, I am thrilled to introduce something dear to me - supporting emerging food businesses. NextGen Purpose: Driving Food Creativity Established in 2018, NextGen Purpose signifies a significant change from NextGenChef, now advocating for a shift in food perception. Our Objective: Advocating for sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly practices, and nutritious food access for all. Empowering entrepreneurs with tools to lead a movement towards healthier food decisions. Breaking it Down: The NextGen Purpose Community Digital Platform: An online space for exchanging knowledge and connecting food lovers globally. Support Center: A resource arsenal for entrepreneurs in the food sector. Guidance: Providing expertise to guide the new generation of visionaries. Significance: NextGen Purpose is a catalyst, mentor, and supporter for innovative startups in the food industry. Join the Movement: Uniting to enhance the future of food by empowering dreamers and achievers. Let's create a healthier, more sustainable food sector together. — Hi, I’m Justine Reichman,  your friendly neighborhood Founder and CEO of NextGen Purpose Host and Executive Producer of the Essential Ingredients Podcast  Our mission is to boost driven, forward-thinking folks & and initiatives in the regenerative food scene. Follow along for more. #FoodInnovation #RegenerativeFood #SustainableEats

Today I learned that in addition to the US$100,000 grand prize money on offer at this year's GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize [that we co-founded in 2019], an additional US$60,000 will be awarded to impact-driven African entrepreneurs whose businesses and social enterprises are making a difference in communities and the environment across Africa. Application deadline is midnight 10 June 2024. You can find out more here: https://lnkd.in/e84ieY46 Over the past several weeks since I first told you here about the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize, I understand that hundreds of applications have been received. Now there's only a week left! For those of you who waited to the last minute or lost a bit of courage thinking maybe your venture isn't quite ready... Why not give it a try. "There's never a perfect time..." Here's a hint in case you haven't been following the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize for the past five years: Grand prize judges will again be looking at your hashtag #Business Model, hashtag #Leadership and Management Team, hashtag #Market Potential and Traction, and hashtag #Innovations across the agrifood value chain. They'll also be looking at your hashtag #Impact. Is it a hashtag #Scalable venture? Can it help hashtag #Africa be more hashtag #FoodSecure? and eventually even a hashtag #FoodExporter? Does it celebrate indigenous hashtag #Foods grown in your community? Does your venture have hashtag #Potential to create good and interesting jobs, especially for hashtag #Youth? GoGettaz Africa finalists in the past have included food scientists, primary growers (farmers), innovative agritechnologists, inventors focusing on post harvest and post slaughter loss, creative local food processors, renewable packaging innovators, and app developers supporting Africa's agrifood sector in various ways, to name just a few. Please repost this or share it with hashtag #Impactful young entrepreneurs, and also with their support networks and everyone with a shared hashtag #Impactful mission in Africa's agrifood sector to: # Create new hashtag #Jobs that give hashtag #Youth a purpose. # Help hashtag #Rural communities make a better living. # Improve access to hashtag #NutritiousFood and promote hashtag #Healthy eating. # Innovate for hashtag #Climate resilience to ensure hashtag #FoodSecurity in any circumstance. # Strengthen hashtag #FoodProduction and hashtag #Local hashtag #AgrifoodProcessing with advanced hashtag #Agrifood technologies. # Empower hashtag #Women and promote gender equality in the Agrifood sector. # Ensure that no natural resources are wasted or harmed by the food system. I hope to see some of you here, or your colleagues and entrepreneurial friends, amongst the Top 12 who will get to travel to Kigali and pitch live on stage at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) in Kigali in early September. hashtag #GrowEntrepreneurs hashtag #TransformFood

🍃 'When drinking water, think of its source.' What if the food we eat could not only nourish us but also combat global health issues? Dr. Jeff Lim, a visionary entrepreneur, has taken a bold step with iBioStim to do just that. Why is it important? - Nutrient-dense, contaminant-free crops are essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving public health. - iBioStim's biotech innovation enhances nutrient uptake, boosting yields and sustainability without harming the environment. - Reducing synthetic chemicals in farming minimizes harmful residues in food, promoting safer, healthier consumption. Dive into his inspiring journey and see how merging science with business can lead to a healthier world. Read more on NewInAsia.com 👉 https://lnkd.in/gMkCp4NG #SustainableAgriculture #BiotechInnovation #FoodSafety #GlobalHealth #Entrepreneurship #NewInAsia

A series of health disturbances in our family led me to become an entrepreneur. Our journey began with personal experiences that deeply moved us to seek better alternatives in food sources. What we found was alarming—vulnerable farmers, a fractured supply chain, and an overwhelming struggle to find sustainable solutions. This revelation set the wheels in motion for us to make a difference. Our mission is simple: we believe everyone deserves a fair share in the food system. At Diserv, we're committed to: Partnering with farmers to provide the resources and education they need to succeed with fair, sustainable practices. Empowering FPOs to connect with buyers who value and fairly compensate their hard work. Promoting sustainable manufacturing through collaborations that ensure high-quality, affordable products produced responsibly. Educating consumers to make informed decisions that support a more sustainable future. Together, we aim to create an equitable and resilient food system for all. #Day2 #entrepreneurship

🔥 Ready to co-found your regenerative food system business? ❤️ Passionate about #RegenerativeAgriculture and food ? 🌱 Eager to change the #FoodSystem? ➡️ ➡️ Apply now to join Rootical and build your food system shaking business with us! Join our pre-idea, pre-team agri-food business building journey kicking off in February 2025. Rootical is your home: 🚀 To start & own an impactful regenerative agri-food business  ⛏️ Supported with expertise, tools and a systemic venture building process 💰 Access a startup capital of UGX 30M and potential investors ➡️ ➡️ Apply now! via our website https://lnkd.in/dmsPs8Wq 🚺 Rootical encourages female talent to participate and is committed to actively decrease the gender gap in funding, the workforce and our founder teams. Let’s breakdown barriers together – reach out to us for more information. 📢 We accept people on a rolling basis, it's best to secure your spot asap. Is Rootical's offering a good fit for you? Take our self-scan by hitting "Apply Now" on our website to enter the first round. 🧑🏽💻 Doubts or questions? Take a look at our FAQ or feel free to contact us. 🔭 Please refer a friend and/or tag them below in the comments. 🙏🏿 #innovation #opportunity #building #venturebuilding #systemsthinking #stewardship #foodsystem #entrepreneurship #founders #fresh #thinkinginsolutions #systemchange #partnership #globalgoals #agroecology #organic

Seafood Economy 🔄 Bioeconomy. Let’s take a moment mid #SeafoodMonth to highlight the growing connection between Maine’s seafood economy and the bioeconomy. There are so many exciting ways to add value to marine living resources that have long been at the heart of our food system. Take Marin Skincare, for example—they’re turning lobster processing waste (yes, lobster!) into an innovative skincare product that helps soothe dry and damaged skin. Who knew that lobster, in addition to being delicious and pinchy, could be moisturizing? This is what happens when forward-thinking food system partners team up with bioscience entrepreneurs! Here at NEOC, we’re grateful to collaborate with organizations like FocusMaine and Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, helping startups dive into these kinds of opportunities. It’s an exciting time for innovation, and we’re excited to keep riding the wave! #Foodeconomy #Bioeconomy #SeafoodToSkincare #OceanInnovation