Capricorn Foundation launches Agri-Challenge
The Capricorn Foundation and its partners have launched the Agripreneurial Innovation Challenge, a national initiative designed to support job-creating, climate-smart innovation across Namibia's agriculture value chain.
The launch took place on Monday, 13 April 2026, at CcHub in Windhoek, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, development partners, and private sector stakeholders committed to strengthening food systems and local value chains.
The four-month challenge is implemented in partnership with Basecamp Business Incubator, the Network for Global Innovation (NGIN), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). It offers mentorship, learning opportunities, and hands-on support for early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs developing practical solutions to unemployment, food security, and sustainability.
The initiative builds on the Capricorn Foundation's previous open innovation platforms, including Food Waste Challenges in 2023 and 2024 and a Water and Energy Efficiency Challenge in 2025.
Tarina Biewenga, Head of Marketing and Communication at Capricorn Asset Management and member of the Capricorn Foundation's management committee, said the challenge was about creating access and opportunity.
"We believe strongly in the potential that exists within our communities. Through platforms like the Agripreneurial Innovation Challenge, we are opening doors for innovators to turn ideas into practical, job-creating solutions that strengthen food systems and support inclusive economic growth," she said.
Rikus Grobler, Innovation Manager at Capricorn Group, said the initiative reflected the kind of innovation Namibia needed.
"Innovation only matters when it is implemented and creates real impact. By focusing on practical solutions across the agricultural value chain, we are not only addressing food security but also unlocking economic opportunities and supporting a more resilient and inclusive future — purposeful, scalable, and rooted in real change," he said.
Fred Walti, CEO of the Network for Global Innovation, said the initiative demonstrated what strong partnerships could achieve.
"Working alongside the Capricorn Foundation, UNIDO, Basecamp, and other key stakeholders, we are creating a platform that connects local entrepreneurial talent with the support, networks, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses. Namibia has immense potential, and through this collaboration, we aim to translate innovation into real impact," he said.
Applications are now open, with entrepreneurs from the idea stage through to growth-stage enterprises encouraged to apply. Selected participants will gain access to expert support, networks, and development opportunities designed to help translate innovation into sustainable businesses.
