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Global SUN Pitch Competition

As the largest providers of food in Africa and Asia, small- and medium-sized enterprises are critical in shaping local food systems and bringing nutrtition to the market. SMEs occupy critical positions along agri-food value chains as input suppliers, off-takers, processors, distributors, or otherwise – not only supplying the vast majority of food consumed, but also acting as key drivers of job creation and regional economic growth. But the growth of these SMEs is highly constrained by lack of access to finance, and as such agri-food SMEs remain largely untapped for developing and scaling market-based solutions that can improve the consumption of safe and nutritious food.

The Global SUN Pitch competition, organised by the SUN Business Network, aims to fill this gap by showcasing SMEs working to improve access to nutririous food along the agri-food value chain, establishing the commercial viability of nutrition-sensitive businesses, and positioning entrepreneurs for growth and scale.

Specifically, the SUN Pitch Competition harnesses innovative solutions for improved nutrition by connecting SMEs in emerging markets with technical assistance and investment opportunities. Through the competition, SBN aims to showcase nutrition-related investments from SMEs that can catalyse innovation in local food systems and improve the affordability and accessibility of nutritious and safe foods for low-income consumers in Africa and Asia.

The competition aims to develop a pipeline of quality ‘nutrition investments’ in Africa and Asia that can be linked to local and international investors and technical assistance providers; leverage local and global strategic partnerships that can increase the reach of SBN’s partnerships; and position SBN as the local and regional coordinating mechanism for private sector investment in nutrition in Africa and Asia.

Competition Timeline

To build a pipeline of eligible finalists for the 2020 Global SUN Pitch Competition over the course of 2019, a series of national and virtual pitch competitions were held across Africa and Asia. All winners selected from the national and virtual pitch competitions undertook a three-month training programme provided by Bopinc and Cathy AgriProjects Management Limited focused on nutrition education, business development, and investor readiness. Hosted as an interactive video event, the selected finalists pitched their innovative business solutions for improved nutrition on 30th July, 2020 to secure a range of cash and business mentorship prizes awarded by SBN, GAIN, Royal DSM, Cargill, Bopinc and AGREA.

Meet Our Finalists

1st Prize

US$20,000

2ndPrize

US$20,000

3rdPrize

US$10,000

In addition, the following prizes were awarded by the competition sponsors:

  • GAIN Food Technology Innovation Prize: cash prize of US$10,000 awarded by GAIN to the company that provides the most innovative food solution that is nutritious, affordable, safe and tasty.
  • Cargill Innovation to Enable Access to Good Nutrition Prize: cash prize of US$10,000 awarded by Cargill to the company that improves accessibility to healthier foods either through greater market access, innovative reformulation, collaborative partnership, consumer education or new delivery channels.
  • DSM ‘3A Nutrition Prize’: cash prize of US$10,000 awarded by DSM to the company that offers 3A nutrition, that is, a nutritious food product that is affordable, widely accessible, and aspirational.
  • AGREA Mentorship Prize: mentorship prize awarded by founder and CEO of AGREA, Cherrie Atilano to an outstanding entrepreneur with an exciting and promising investment opportunity.
  • Bopinc Digitalisation Prize: mentorship package awarded by Bopinc to the overall winner of the SUN Pitch Competition to identify opportunities for digitalising their business.

Sponsored Partners

Final Event

The Global SUN Pitch Competition brought together 21 innovative SMEs from national and virtual pitch competitions 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. The competition took place as a virtual event on 30th July, 2020.

The SUN Pitch Competition finalists also participated in the SUN Deal Room, an investor matchmaking platform where they sought combined investment deals worth US$12 million, with a broad innovation and nutritious food focus.

Meet Our Winners

Baby Grubz

Nigeria

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overall winner of the 2020 SUN Pitch Competition and Bopinc Digitalisation Prize

Danish Care Foods

Cambodia

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first place runner-up of the 2020 SUN Pitch Competition

Mealimeter

Nigeria

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second runner-up of the 2020 SUN Pitch Competition

Limpho Produtos Alimentares

Mozambique

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winner of the DSM 3A Nutrition Prize

Poulta Inc

Pakistan

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winner of the Cargill Innovation to Enable Access to Good Nutrition Prize

Sanavita

Tanzania

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winner of the GAIN Food Technology Innovation Prize and the AGREA Mentorship Prize