Halcyon Africa Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security Accelerator 2027

Who can apply

• Early-stage impact-driven ventures based in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Agriculture and food-system startups using market-based solutions
• Ventures with a working Minimum Viable Product
• Ventures at paid-pilot or post-revenue stage
• Ventures demonstrating early commercial traction
• Ventures demonstrating market validation through revenue, paid pilots, customer contracts or similar evidence
• Founders who are the CEO or hold primary decision-making authority
• Founders working full-time on the venture
• Applicants aged at least 21 by the start of the programme
• Applicants able to participate fully in English
• Applicants able to commit to all virtual and in-person programme activities

Focus areas

• Climate-smart and resilient agriculture
• Regenerative agriculture
• Soil health
• Drought-resistant crops and inputs
• Farm productivity
• Precision agriculture
• Farm management tools
• Remote sensing
• Mechanisation
• Water and irrigation technologies
• Water efficiency
• Solar-powered irrigation
• Drought resilience
• Agricultural data
• Climate intelligence
• Digital extension services
• Agronomic advisory
• Weather and climate information
• Early-warning systems
• Market access
• Farmer aggregation
• Agricultural marketplaces
• Cooperatives
• Off-take solutions
• Agri-fintech
• Farmer credit
• Input financing
• Agricultural payments
• Agricultural insurance
• Supply chains
• Agricultural logistics
• Cold-chain solutions
• Post-harvest loss reduction
• Storage and cooling
• Food processing
• Drying and packaging
• Food security
• Nutrition
• Affordable food access
• Traceability
• Quality grading
• Price transparency
• Certification
• Resilient agricultural value chains

Requirements

• The venture must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The venture must have a working Minimum Viable Product.
• The venture must demonstrate realistic potential to scale.
• The venture must be at paid-pilot or post-revenue stage.
• The venture must demonstrate early commercial traction and market validation.
• The venture should show early evidence of impact on smallholder farmers, low-income or vulnerable communities, or food systems.
• The applicant must be the CEO or hold primary decision-making authority.
• The applicant may apply with up to one co-founder.
• The applicant must be working full-time on the venture.
• The applicant must be fluent in English.
• The applicant must be at least 21 years old by the start of the programme.
• The applicant must commit to participating in all virtual and in-person programme activities.
• The venture must contribute to at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.
• The venture must use a market-based approach to strengthen agriculture or food systems.
• The venture should improve livelihoods, resilience, food security or climate adaptation for farmers or vulnerable communities.
• Applications are assessed on impact, scalability, innovation and founder talent.

Application steps

• Review the official Halcyon Africa Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security Accelerator 2027 page.
• Confirm that the venture is based in Sub-Saharan Africa and meets the programme stage requirements.
• Confirm that the venture has a working MVP and evidence of commercial traction or market validation.
• Prepare clear information on the venture, target market, customers, revenue or paid pilots, impact and scale potential.
• Open the official Halcyon eligibility application form.
• Complete the initial eligibility form by 23 October 2026.
• If invited, complete the second-round invitational application by 30 October 2026.
• Shortlisted ventures may be invited to pitch on 7 or 8 December 2026.
• Selected ventures are expected to be notified by 18 December 2026.
• Successful founders must participate in the virtual kickoff on 9 February 2027.
• Selected founders must attend the Accra residency from 11–19 March 2027.
• Selected founders must attend the Nairobi residency from 28 May–4 June 2027.