_{By Bernard Buteera & Carol Kasujja Adii}

Moses Eteku, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni at Makerere University and the co-founder of a Kampala-based youth Fintech start-up Farmpawa, has been selected among the finalists for a prestigious global award for the project.

Farmpawa is a crowd-farming platform that connects investors with tangible farming assets, empowering farmers and driving sustainable agricultural growth.

The start-up had an opportunity to showcase its strategic plan, which, once realized, could benefit many young people from the region.

The contest, which sought to identify the most viable youth project with an economic impact on the community, attracted over 300 teams from 30 countries in Africa and the rest of the world.

Moses Eteku, 27, founded Farmpawa with two partners, Medard Mutatina and Osborn Gumoshabe, in 2023. The project was selected as one of the ten semi-finalists in the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech.

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is designed to expand small businesses’ access to capital and financial services in emerging and frontier markets.

According to research, in 70% of emerging markets, SMEs are the primary source of formal employment, accounting for 70% of jobs.

Moses described the win as a miracle and an eye-opener, saying other participants presented world-class proposals.

“Most of my competitors were far advanced. I could not imagine I would be selected,” he said with a smile during the interview.

With this fund, Moses and his partners, Medard and Osborn, envision a future where agriculture bridges the gap, reduces inequality, and transforms the lives of farmers and individuals across Uganda and beyond.

Semi-finalists will participate in an Innovation Showcase at the Milken Institute’s Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on December 5 to 6, 2024.

Each semi-finalist team receives $100,000 in funding. Three teams will be selected to move on to the final round, where they will compete for the $1 million Grand Prize.

Who is Moses Eteku

Eteku, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni from Makerere University, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.

His passion for changing the community has led him to start several projects, including giving the youth a chance to showcase their talents and connect them with relevant organizations and companies.

While at the University, he developed an interest in managing software. He repaired his classmates’ laptops and earned some money. In his third year, he decided to learn another skill. He teamed up with other members and built business solutions. He developed applications that improved the operations of organisations such as Makerere University Hospital, where he worked on the MakRTI mobile application.

One of his significant achievements was developing the MakRTI App, an Android-based mobile application designed to promote reproductive health awareness and improve access to treatment for students at Makerere University. The app provided critical information about reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and facilitated access to healthcare services through appointments and direct communication with specialists.

He also developed an app for students to access the Uganda Museum. Instead of going to the museum and waiting in line to pay, Students would book online, which eases access. At the same time, students can remotely access study materials like archives while at home.

Even when he completed University, he continued using various projects to educate youth on emerging issues.

Among his most impactful initiatives is Kauntabook, a financial record-keeping app targeting SMEs and individuals. The app simplifies financial management by offering tools to track income, expenses, and other bookkeeping functions. With over 800 users, Kauntabook continues to evolve based on user feedback, reflecting Eteku’s commitment to creating user-centric solutions.

Starting Farmpawa

Farmpawa was born from a shared vision among Moses, Medard and Osborn: to empower smallholder farmers in Uganda. Medard, then a Makerere University Business School student, Suggested to Moses and interested him in an idea he had seen in South Africa.

“I researched about it, and we decided to team up and pursue the idea,” Eteku said.

Together, they created a platform that connects farmers with investors, unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth in rural communities.

They aim to make agricultural investment accessible to all, enabling local economies to develop and foster shared prosperity.

“Since the launch of Farmpawa, we have established strong connections between investors and farmers that have directly led to job creation, community development, and wealth generation,” Eteku asserted. They started the business with friends and family who trusted and invested.

Benefits

Initially needing more solid information technology skills, Moses Eteku is now an IT expert.

His opportunities to interact with the Company’s Chief Executive Officers have helped him to improve his entrepreneurship skills.

Farmpawa offers key benefits by empowering smallholder farmers with access to capital, enabling them to expand their operations and improve their livelihoods. It provides investors with easy and transparent access to agricultural investments, promoting job creation, community development, and sustainable agriculture while contributing to economic growth and food security.

How Farmpawa works

Farmpawa enables users to invest in real farming assets while empowering smallholder farmers. Users begin by creating an account and funding their wallet through mobile money or bank transfers. With funds in their wallet, they can explore and select farming projects or assets, such as livestock, and purchase portions as shares added to their investment portfolio.

The platform has a dashboard where users can receive regular updates on project progress and asset performance, track deposit history, and receive tailored financial advice through a knowledge section. It ensures a transparent and efficient investment process while providing valuable farming insights.

Bernard Buteera and Carol Kasujja Adii form the Communications and Public Relations Team at Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University.

Background

The Artificial Intelligence in Health Incubation Grant Program is an initiative led by STI Pathogen Labs, focused on advancing AI-driven health innovations in Uganda. In collaboration with the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat (STI), Marconi Lab, and AI Lab Makerere, this program supports the commercialization of AI-based health technologies.

Serving as an early-stage business incubator, the program aims to transform AI health-tech innovations, products, and processes into viable, scalable businesses capable of significantly impacting the health sector.

One selected innovator will receive exclusive support, including grant funding, specialized training, technical assistance, and investor-readiness coaching. This initiative empowers entrepreneurs to develop sustainable, impactful ventures in health technology.

Program Overview

The program will incubate one innovative project with a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) through a structured one-year incubation process. It will offer business development support and seed funding to facilitate product development and market expansion for the chosen solution.

The program will offer a comprehensive support package that includes:

• One-Year Incubation:  Access to workspace, mentorship, and resources to develop your innovative solution towards commercialization.
• Initial Capital (Pre-seed):  Funding to conduct market research, product launch and market validation
• Expert Mentorship:  Guidance from industry experts and experts in AI and healthcare.
• Networking Opportunities:  Connect with investors, healthcare professionals, and potential partners.
• Workshops and Training:  Participate in workshops and training sessions to enhance your business and technical skills.

We have a total of UGX 100M to 250M in funding available.

Who is eligible to apply?

We invite startup companies and innovative teams to apply for our grant program, designed to support projects that leverage Artificial Intelligence to address critical healthcare challenges.

Startups/Innovators should possess the following attributes:

• Stage: Innovations with a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
• Focus Area: Projects that leverage Artificial Intelligence to address healthcare challenges.
• Team: A team with diverse skills, including technical, business, and domain expertise.
• Commitment: Willingness to commit to the one-year incubation program and actively participate in all activities.

If you are part of a startup or you are an innovator with a project that aligns with these goals, we encourage you to apply and be part of advancing AI-driven solutions for a healthier future.

NB: This grant is restricted to Ugandan startups/innovators

Application Deadline: Monday 23^rd September 2024

View Details/Apply Now

Scope

The Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President (STI-OP) has a Goal of Growing the Contribution of Knowledge-Based Goods and Services to the National Economy by Increasing Domestic Productivity, Import Substitution and Export of Products resulting from Science, Technology and Innovation. Toward this goal, STI-OP calls for applications from individuals/institutions targeting Grant awards for R&D and innovations (process, products, technology or business models) in the following Thematic Areas:

a) Pathogen Economy
■ Therapeutics
■ Vaccines
■ Diagnostics
■ Biomedical Technologies

b) Mobility
■ Localization of Supply Chain for Automotive Parts, Systems and Components
■ Local manufacturing of vehicles, 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and wheelchairs
■ E-Mobility Solutions
■ Sustainable Mass Transit Solutions
■ Road Safety

c) Infrastructure Innovations
■ Packaging technologies
■ Mineral resources and materials
■ Waste management
■ Transport infrastructure technologies
■ Sustainable energy technologies and applications

d) Industry 4.0+
■ Local design and manufacture of electronics
■ Climate Technologies
■ Deep Technologies
■ Automation Technologies
■ Cloud Computing Technologies
■ E-Government solutions

e) Aeronautics and Space
■ Aerospace systems, subsystems and components
■ Earth Observation Technologies

f) Productivity Acceleration
■ Productivity acceleration/value addition technologies and tools for crops, animals, and
fish products.

g) STI Support Services
■ Innovative Platforms for Public Uptake of STI
■ R&D into Product Market Fit for Local Innovations
■ Innovative Technologies and Initiatives for STI Human Capital Development
■ Market access channels and technologies

Grant Amount

Grant applications will be evaluated based on the merit of the scope of work and funding need. In consultation with the applicants, STI-OP may review the scope of work for selected proposals based on funding available.

Eligibility

■ The call is open to Ugandan individuals and institutions (industries, research institutions, Government MDAs etc)
■ A person must not be a lead applicant on more than one application.
■ Staff of STI-OP are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

1. Complete the online Application form by September 18th, 2024, at 11:59pm EAT. Ensure that all mandatory attachments are submitted. The Application form is available at https://grants.sti.go.ug/.
2. Alternatively, deliver hardcopies of the completed application form together with all attachments to STI-OP Office, Plot 106 Katalima Road, Naguru, by September 18th, 2024, at 6.00pm EAT.

Timeline

• Application Deadline September 18^th, 2024, 11:59pm EAT
• Feedback to Applicants September 25^th, 2024

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Disclaimer

Submitted applications will undergo a rigorous evaluation process. Therefore, the application does not guarantee funding.

The information provided to STI-OP is strictly confidential and remains the property of the applicants unless otherwise spelled out in the Grant Agreement for funded proposals.

For inquiries, contact: grants@sti.go.ug