Innovate47 Launches Global Food & Agri Accelerator to Back Climate-Smart Startups

 Innovate47, the global venture builder and entrepreneur support organisation, has launched a new Food & Agri Accelerator to help founders reshape food systems and build resilience in the face of climate change.

The eight-week programme will back high-potential startups across Africa and the Global South, offering them tailored mentorship, investor connections, and pathways to scale. With applications now open, early-stage entrepreneurs tackling challenges from regenerative agriculture to agri-fintech and food security are encouraged to apply.

Africa’s Agri-Tech Moment

Agriculture remains one of Africa’s most important economic drivers, contributing close to 23% of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP. Yet climate disruption, supply chain inefficiencies, and food insecurity pose critical risks.

Agri-tech startups have stepped in to close this gap – with African ventures in the space attracting more than $640 million in funding in 2022, according to industry trackers. Innovate47’s accelerator aims to build on this momentum by connecting founders with the resources they need to scale.

A Platform for Global South Founders

With an active network of entrepreneurs in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Pakistan, Innovate47 has positioned itself as a bridge for innovation across emerging markets. The new accelerator underscores its mission to identify bold founders and prepare them for global markets.

“Food systems are at the frontlines of the climate crisis. Farmers, consumers, and communities worldwide are already experiencing the effects,” said Umair Sheikh, Founder of Innovate47. “Through this programme, we aim to identify bold entrepreneurs with scalable solutions and give them the tools, networks, and capital pathways to make a real impact.”

What Founders Can Expect

The accelerator will run virtually over eight weeks, combining group sessions with one-on-one mentorship from industry experts, sector leaders, and investors. The model is designed to accommodate busy founders while still providing the depth needed to refine business models and prepare for scale.

Startups building in the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:

• Regenerative agriculture

• Agri-fintech solutions

• Supply chain innovation

• Food security technologies

• Climate-smart farming

Applications are now open on Innovate47’s website.

Why It Matters

For African founders, this accelerator represents more than mentorship – it’s an entry point into a global community of innovators tackling systemic challenges. Food security, sustainable farming, and climate resilience are increasingly venture-backable categories, and programmes like Innovate47’s help spotlight founders ready to lead.

As Sheikh notes, the programme isn’t just about capital but about building ecosystems: “We want to ensure that entrepreneurs in the Global South don’t just survive but thrive in solving the most pressing challenges of our time.”