Awards for five innovative agritech projects in Kenya

Five agritech startups have been received awards in Nairobi after taking part in the third Kenya Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program (KAEP), an entrepreneurial initiative led by Eni Natural Energies (ENE) Kenya and Joule, in partnership with the E4Impact foundation.

At the closing event, the ten finalists showcased their solutions to a panel of investors, mentors and stakeholders from the agritech sector. The five most promising projects were chosen and awarded prize money equivalent to €10,000.

Daniela Morra, Managing Director of ENE Kenya, remarked: “Through this initiative, we’ve seen the skill and resolve of young entrepreneurs capable of not just innovating, but of truly changing the region. By backing their ventures, we’re making a real difference in the sustainable growth of the nation’s farming industry. This has a knock-on effect on the social and economic structure and strengthens Eni’s entire agribusiness supply chain, forging a beneficial link between startups and established companies.”

Mario Molteni, CEO of E4Impact, stressed the importance “of the collaboration with Eni in Kenya. Together we have cultivated an entrepreneurial ecosystem in which innovation and sustainability lay the foundations for truly shaping the future. By supporting companies operating in regenerative agriculture and the circular economy and contributing to the development of value chains in agritech, we are making a contribution to inclusive and environmentally friendly economic growth. Partnerships like the one between Eni and E4Impact make it possible to pursue important objectives in terms of the economy and social justice.”

• IVIANI FARM partners with local farmers in the fruit and vegetable sector, utilising waste-to-energy methods to boost villages’ output and prolong product freshness.
• AGRIBORA is an agri-fintech firm that combines digital tools, financial services and market access to support small-scale farmers and rural traders.
• MAGGY’S KIENYEJI LTD is a startup that reduces post-harvest waste through the drying and eco-friendly packaging of indigenous vegetables, for both local and global markets.
• BEE HAPPY ENTERPRISES specialises in producing honey and honey-derived products, using IoT systems for precision beekeeping via remote monitoring and management.
• DROFARMER SERVICES is a startup that blends AI with drone tech to aid small-scale farmers, bringing together agricultural technology, financial instruments and sustainable methods to offer data-driven support.

Since its inception in 2023, the incubation and acceleration programme has broadened its reach, guiding various businesses right through to the contract phase with Eni. To date, the programme has seen over 300 innovative projects presented across three editions, with 30 startups accelerated. This has yielded a social return on investment (SROI) of 1.3, signifying that every euro invested has generated 1.3 euros of value for local communities.

Eni has operated in Kenya since 2012, launching projects to foster sustainable transport, integrate the country into the biofuel sector, and enhance community access to water and healthcare.