The D4Ag Training Program, an initiative of Digital4Agriculture is offering a capacity development for AgTech Start-ups. This opportunity is for African agricultural tech start-ups who are keen on integrating their product or service onto a digital platform.
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Reason For The D4Ag Training Program
- With platforms, you can expand your user base fast and cost-effectively.
- Platforms allow you to integrate your product or service with data and services from other providers to enhance your value proposition
- Providing your service via a digital platform could open new revenue streams for your product?
So, if you are an African start-up with a digital solution in the agricultural sector, this training is for you. The D4Ag training program will show you the benefits of integrating, bundling, and supplementing your product or service with complementary data and solutions from other providers.
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Training Program
The D4Ag training program will empower entrepreneurs with all the skills required for integrating their D4Ag solution with data and services from other providers via digital platforms. The training will focus on these three technical areas relevant for platform integration:
Value Proposition & Business Modeling
This module will focus on creating a joint value proposition and a mutually beneficial business model resulting from the integration of the individual D4Ag solution onto a digital platform. You will learn how to define the value proposition of both parties and how to adapt your business model within the platform setting.
Technical Interoperability
This module will focus on the use and design of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) as key for interoperability between systems. The module will be taught in three consecutive levels; The basic class focuses on the fundamentals of APIs. In the intermediate class, you will use some APIs firsthand. Then, the masterclass will discuss how you can integrate APIs in your product and will also provide you with an introduction into Graph QL and data streaming solutions.
Data Analytics & Visualization
This module will introduce essential skills in data analytics and visualization. The module will also be taught in three consecutive levels; The basic class covers fundamental aspects of data structure and data storage. In the intermediary class, you will learn analytic skills and some of the most widely used statistical methods (e.g. correlations) as well as how to use data for predictions. The masterclass focuses on data visualization and how to build visual dashboards.
During the training, you will use weather and earth observation data in Africa and get ‘hands-on’ experience on how to apply your skills in practice.
Also, as part of the training, you will gain free access to both accurate weather and high-resolution earth observation data in Africa. This will help you to enhance your product with weather-based and satellite-based insights. You will not only receive access to data, but access will be provided with accompanying meteorological and technical support during the trial phase.
Similarly, data access to weather data will be provided by The Weather Company, an IBM business, for a period of 5 months. UP42, a geospatial developer platform, will provide access to Earth observation data and analytics with a volume of 10,000 free credits, valid for 12 months.
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Who Can Apply For The D4Ag Training Program
The training is open to up to 40 selected start-ups with digital products or services relevant to the agricultural sector. If you are an African start-up in the AgTech sector, have a digital product or service on the market, and are generating revenue, then, you can apply.
Selection Criteria
Impact on Smallholder Farmers
D4Ag training program aims to maximize the impact on smallholder farmers through digital solutions. It will accept digital products and services that increase the productivity and income of smallholder farmers. Also, products and services that improve resilience to climate change, expand financial inclusion, or contribute to food security.
Innovation of D4Ag solution
It aims to solve the problems of smallholder farmers through diverse and innovative D4Ag solutions. It will select innovators that provide distinctive and innovative D4Ag solutions or deliver D4Ag solutions in a distinct, innovative way that sets them apart.
Potential for data or service integration
D4Ag Training Program aims to create value for smallholder farmers through bundling products and services. It will select innovators with the highest potential or most specific use case of integration with data or services from other providers.
Female Entrepreneurs
Also, D4Ag strongly encourages female entrepreneurship. It will be considered an advantage if your founding team includes one or more female entrepreneurs.
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What To Expect
At the end of the application period, D4Ag will select 40 eligible start-ups for the training program and will inform the selected ones latest by July 31st. Thereafter, the start-ups will get access to the timetable of the training and access to another pre-online course for self-assessment regarding digital tools as a preparation for the capacity development training.
Program Information
The training will take place virtually for 5 days. So, you should reserve approximately 4 hours each day to participate in the training. The training will be offered at two different dates – either from the 10.08.2020 – 14.08.2020 or 24.08.2020 – 28.08.2020, according to your choice.
The deadline for the application for the program is 20 July 2020. If you have any questions regarding the D4Ag training program or your application, contact the D4Ag team under make-it@giz.de. You can also read more and apply using this link; https://make-it-initiative.org/africa/d4ag/
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