Ugandan startup wins at Harvard Business School

An Ugandan entrepreneur, Ogwal Joseph, leading the Agro Supply team, has emerged winner at the New Venture Start-up Competition, held recently at Harvard Business School. The announcement of Agro Supply’s victory took place during the 26th Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference. The conference, themed “Africa Forward: Competing in a Global Era”, provided a platform for innovative ventures to showcase their potential impact on the continent.

Hosted by the Africa Business Club as part of the conference, the New Venture Competition (NVC) is aimed at highlighting the diversity of entrepreneurs contributing to Africa’s growth. Selected startups for the NVC focuses on serving the African continent, offering participants invaluable coaching from HBS students, networking opportunities with investors dedicated to Africa, and a chance to compete for a substantial prize pool exceeding US$50,000. Out of numerous applications, 10 semi-finalists, including Talstack, Tuma, Pharmarun, SHEMACH, EcoRich, Athena, ZUPUTO, Legal trunk, Catalyz U, and Agro Supply, were invited to pitch their business ideas in front of an audience exceeding 1,000 attendees. The presentations provided the competitors, an opportunity to receive feedback from a distinguished panel of experienced judges.

Ogwal Joseph at Harvard Business School.

Agro Supply Ltd, an Uganda-based organisation, which has existed for over seven years, has its mission centered on alleviating poverty among small holder farmers in Africa through the strategic implementation of technology. The startup aims to establish a vast network of sustainable and profitable farmers, showcasing its commitment to driving positive change in the agricultural landscape. At the end of the conference, the victorious Agro Supply secured a substantial cash prize of US$30,000, affirming its dedication to impactful innovation. The first and second runners-up received prizes of US$15,000 and US$10,000, respectively, further reinforcing the commitment of the Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference to nurturing and rewarding entrepreneurial excellence in Africa.