A farm or food business in Ghana could win up to $5,000 in the BRIDGE-in Agriculture Pitch Competition 2026. Applications close on Monday 9 November at 23:59 GMT, so there is almost no time left.
The competition has a prize pool of $10,000, shared among three businesses: $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. It is open to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 who run a business in Ghana that already earns revenue from farming or a related sector. The money can go on working capital, equipment or growth.
The competition is part of the BRIDGE-in Agriculture initiative, which is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and delivered with CrossBoundary Advisory and ASH Africa. Its aim is to support farm businesses, create jobs and widen opportunity for young entrepreneurs. It pays particular attention to young women and people with disabilities. Here is what you need to know before you apply.
| Detail | What the call says |
|---|---|
| Who. | Young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35. |
| Where. | Businesses in Ghana. |
| Stage. | Must already have a revenue model. |
| Sector. | Ghana’s farming value chain, or a related sector. |
| Plan. | A clear plan for measurable impact. |
| Prizes. | $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000. |
| Use of funds. | Working capital, equipment or expansion. |
| Deadline. | 9 November 2026, 23:59 GMT. |
The words “agricultural value chain” cover more than growing crops. Examples include crop and livestock farming, food processing, agtech, farm inputs and equipment, and storage or distribution. Those examples come from one listing, so check the official rules to see what counts.
To apply, register on the programme’s platform at bridgeinagric.com. The call gives two phone numbers for questions: 030 700 0111 and 054 828 8182. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted, and the call does not set out the judging stages. Have your ID and business details ready in case the form asks for them.
With only three prizes, your pitch has to be sharp. Start with your numbers: what you sell, to whom and how much you earn. Then explain exactly what the grant would buy, such as a cold room, a processing machine or stock for the next season. Finish with the impact: how many jobs, how many farmers and what changes for them. Judges can only back what they can picture.
Why it matters: Young farm entrepreneurs often struggle to find small, flexible money. Banks may ask for security they do not have, and many grants are too slow or too large. A prize of up to $5,000 can pay for the one machine or the one season of stock that lifts a business. The competition also shows what funders want: businesses that already earn, create jobs and can say clearly what they will do with the money. For this call, the doors close on Monday.
What to watch next: who the three winners are and what they spend the money on. Watch whether the organisers publish the number of applicants and the judging criteria. Watch whether the programme opens a new round with more winners or a larger pool. And watch whether more of these calls reach beyond Ghana.
Sources: MSME Africa Online on the BRIDGE-in Agriculture Pitch Competition 2026; AfroCareers on BRIDGE-in Agriculture Pitch Competition 2026; BRIDGE-in Agriculture platform.
A note for startup founders: Don’t practice on investors. Practice on AI first. RaiseReady by Index Prima is an AI fundraising simulator for African founders: upload your pitch deck, get a readiness score and face a tough AI investor before the real meeting. Find this post, and every post we publish, at raiseready.indexprima.com.
