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Application Deadline: October 23rd, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2027 Halcyon’s Africa Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security Program. Halcyon’s Africa Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security Program supports early-stage, impact-driven ventures across Sub-Saharan Africa that are strengthening agriculture and food systems through market-based solutions.
Halcyon is seeking founders building solutions that improve the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers, strengthen food security, and help communities adapt to climate-related challenges. Ventures should be post-revenue/pre-profit, working full-time on their venture.
Program Details
- Selected entrepreneurs will participate in a hybrid program featuring virtual programming, a residency in Accra, Ghana, and a second residency in Nairobi, Kenya.
Eligibility
- Location: Must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Stage:
- Must have a working Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and a realistic potential to scale.
- Must be at the paid-pilot or post-revenue stage.
- Must demonstrate early commercial traction and market validation through paid pilots, revenue, customer contracts, or similar indicators of market demand.
- Should demonstrate early evidence of impact on smallholder farmers, low-income or vulnerable communities, or food systems.
- Team:
- Applicant must be the CEO or hold primary decision-making power.
- May apply with up to one Co-Founder.
- Must be working full time.
- Must be fluent in English (programming will be in English).
- Must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program.
- Program Engagement: Applicant(s) must commit to participating in all residencies, program activities, events, and in-person and virtual sessions.
- Impact:
- Must be developing a product and venture that contributes toward one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Must use a market-based approach to strengthen agriculture and food systems.
- Should prioritize improving the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers and low-income or vulnerable communities.
Benefits
- Access to Halcyon’s global community of 650+ founders
- $10K AWS credits
- $10K equity-free stipend per venture
- Professional advisors
- Workshops with experts in leadership development, capital strategy and product market fit
- Networking with investors and varied stakeholders
- Continued benefits after your program
Program Structure & Timeline
- Initial Deadline for Consideration: October 23rd, 2026
- Invitational Deadline: October 30th, 2026
- Pitch Days: December 7th & December 8th , 2026
- Selected Notified: December 18th , 2026
- Virtual Kickoff: February 9th , 2027
- Residency 1: Accra, Ghana , March 11th – March 19th , 2027
- Virtual Meetings: April 9th, April 23rd, May 7th, 2027
- Residency 2: Nairobi, Kenya , May 28th – June 4th , 2027
For More Information: