The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level. Read More
The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level. At a global level, the SBN acts as a focal point for engaging multinational businesses in nutrition activities such as making workplace nutrition commitments.Read More
The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level.Read More
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The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Pitch Competition, organised by the SUN Business Network, harnesses innovative solutions for improved nutrition by connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets with technical assistance and investment opportunities. The Global SUN Pitch Competition 2020 took place as a virtual event on 30th July 2020, showcasing the top 21 entrepreneurs shortlisted from National SUN Pitch Competitions in 2019. Read More
SMEs are critical in shaping the nutritional outcomes of local food systems; 64% of food consumed in Africa is handled by millions of SMEs along agri-food value chains as input suppliers, off-takers, processors, distributors, or otherwise. They constitute a pull factor, aggregating smallholder farmers into the value chain and upgrading the quality and efficiency of farming, leading to a more sustainable food system. Read More
The success of the SUN Pitch Competition is thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners, without whom the competition would not be possible. Our sponsors and partners offer a variety of in-kind and financial contributions to support the national and global pitch competitions, provide mentorship to finalists and increase the visibility of the competition Read More
The Global SUN Pitch Competition brought together 21 innovative SMEs from national pitch competitions in Africa and Asia to pitch their nutrition solution to a panel of high-level judges and an audience of investors for a chance to win cash and technical assistance prizes. Read More
National SUN Pitch Competitions are run by SUN Business Networks in partnership with a local accelerator. All shortlisted applicants selected through National SUN Pitch Competitions compete in an in-person bootcamp focused on nutrition awareness, strategy for scale and soft skills training, culminating in a national pitching event. National SUN Pitch Competitions were held in the following countries throughout 2019:
The SUN Pitch Competition launched in 2018, showcasing investment opportunities presented by SMEs working to improve access to nutritious food across Africa. More than 450 outstanding SMEs applied to national pitch competitions held in Tanzania, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia (as well as a standalone national pitch competition in Indonesia). The 21 shortlisted finalists competed in the SUN Pitch Competition final which took place during the Nutrition Africa Investor Forum in October 2018 in Nairobi. During the final, each entrepreneur pitched their innovative nutrition investment opportunity to a panel of influential judges to compete for the title of SBN Nutrition Champion, along with a range of cash and technical assistance prizes donated by partners. The winner of the Indonesia pitch competition, Felix Bram of Rumah Kelor, also presented his business during the Nutrition Africa Investor Forum.
Ope Olanrewaju of Kennie-O Logistics was crowned the winner of the 2018 SUN Pitch Competition. Kennie-O Logistics was established in 2014 to provide dedicated and reliable cold chain solutions for the Nigerian food industry, thereby contributing to the reduction of post-harvest losses, promotion of fresh food intake, and strengthening of local nutritional outcomes. Ope received a technical assistance and mentorship package worth USD 15,000 sponsored by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and SBN. Through the prize, Ope received an extensive week-long business development training and an investor engagement tour in the Netherlands provided by BoP Innovation Center (BoP Inc). Looking ahead, Ope will access further mentorship and training opportunities in China and Nigeria. As a result of the training and mentorship delivered to date, Ope is set to receive investment from local and international investors.
Oluwatoyin Onigbanjo of August Secrets was awarded the Graca Machel Trust Award. August Secrets is a Nigerian food company that aims to reduce the rate of micronutrient deficiencies in children under 5 years by producing and distributing uniquely-formulated complementary foods made from locally available fortified ingredients. Through the Graca Machel Trust Award, Oluwatoyin has drawn from a Graca Machel Trust Gender Lens Investing Technical Assistance Package worth approximately USD 10,000 which focuses on: (i) finance planning & strategy formulation, (ii) nutrition advice, (iii) gender lens assessment, (iv) assistance with enhancing product/service and business visibility and (v) network building.
Neema Lugangira of Healthy Maisha was awarded the BoP Innovation Center (BoP Inc) Award. Healthy Maisha is an award winning nutrition-sensitive business in Tanzania focused on improving urban nutrition by bridging the diet gap through its flagship healthy cold pressed juices and ice candy/popsicles. Through the BoP Inc Award, Neema was able to access a mentorship and technical assistance package worth EUR 2,500. The BoP Inc team traveled to Tanzania to work with Neema and her team to improve the company’s marketing and distribution as well as to provide technical expertise on general business modelling.
Denis Marangu of Kulamawe Poultry Industries Ltd received the Growth Africa Prize. Kulamawe Poultry Industries Ltd, incorporated in 2016, operates the first poultry processing facility in Northern Kenya. The business provides safe and affordable chicken meat to low income consumers by distributing chicken in smaller pre-packaged pieces. Through the Growth Africa award, Denis is participating in a 6-month incubator program which is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs to leverage further investment.
Abdul Cauio of Miruku Agro-Industria won the DSM Nutritional Products Innovation Award. Miruku Agro-Industria produces and widely distributes unique fortified Corn Soy Blend (CSB) products including instant porridge in especially fragile areas of Mozambique. Through the DSM award, Abdul was able to receive specialised technical assistance focused on product reformulation as well as a cash prize of USD 1,000.
Felix Bram of Rumah Kelor was crowned the winner of the 2018 Indonesia Pitch Competition, organised by Indofood and BLOCK71 Jakarta. Rumah Kelor is an organic moringa farm, with 3 hectares of land producing 1 ton of moringa powder per month. They produce a range of moringa based products, a natural superfood containing 92 nutrients which reduces childhood obesity, under-5 stunting and anaemia. As the winner of the Indonesia Pitch Competition, Felix received mentoring from Axton Salim, Director of Indofood and Co-Chair of the SBN Advisory Group. This included training on R&D, marketing and regulatory affairs. In addition, Felix participated in the Nutrition Africa Investor Forum in Nairobi, presenting his business to an audience of investors.
Binga Serviços is a Mozambican company, established in 2015 in the city of Chimoio, Manica province. The company’s main activity is the processing of enriched peanut biscuits which are high quality and nutritious (containing carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals and vitamins). The company aims to provide processed and nutritious foods produced with locally sourced raw materials. The product is aimed at low-income populations in rural and urban areas, and is sold at local markets and in school canteens.
BeNu Foods is a startup biscuit company based in Ethiopia. They produce nutritional biscuits for children and adults. The biscuits are made from peanuts and other whole grains without any artificial emulsifiers or other chemicals. All the raw materials needed to make the biscuits are sourced from local farmers. The biscuits provide a child with about half their calorie needs per day. They have a unique business model, working in partnership with NGOs and feeding programmes, wherein for each product a consumer buys, a second identical product is donated to children under 12 years old in the public school system to provide them with the nutrients needed to sustain their education.
Since AFCO Investment Co. Ltd. was established in August 2015, the company has been a pioneer in the supply of nutritious foods for selected target groups in the community. AFCO currently processes, packages and markets cereal and biofortified food products, including pro vitamin A maize, iron beans and orange flesh sweet potato flour.
A Casa do Peixe was founded in 2008 in the city of Beira, Sofala province. A Casa do Peixe operates in the acquisition, processing, packaging, storage, sales and distribution of fresh and frozen seafood in different provinces across Mozambique. Seafood is a rich source of high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and iodine.
