Freetown Pitch Night organised the first Orange Social Prize event in Sierra Leone.
The contest aims to reward the best innovative and socially responsible business projects in Africa and the Middle East. Three entrants will compete to pitch to an international jury in Cape Town. More
The first edition of 2019 Freetown Pitch Night is set for Feb 20th 2019! Venue: The British Council: Time 18:30-20:30 (6:30-8:30).
The theme is Leveraging Digital Technologies to Transform the Agriculture industry in Sierra Leone. This first pitch night of 2019 is in collaboration with Adam Smith International, EcoBank Microfinance, and the British Council. Our official sponsor is Heineken, and Innovation SL. Theme sponsor is Adam Smith International together with the BetterBusinessSL initiative and EcoBank Micro finance. Our partners are Cordaid, Brussels Airlines, Insight Magazine and Innovations Axis.
“Agriculture is one of the largest, and most untapped by technology, sectors of the economy.”
“There is growing interest in funding for agritech startups that focus on the real problem of food security and enabling better use of technology to grow the agriculture sector as a whole. It is a welcome and attractive idea for investors.” “Disrupt Africa “
Four entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas ranging from Smart Farming, Market Linkages, Post Harvest, Waste -Tech, Aqua Culture, to Alternative Farming.
Confirmed panelist: Wycliffe Ngagwe, Country Director UNCDF; Alex Kucharski, Adam Smith International; Ram Sharkandas; Estelle Van der Echoute, Brussels Airlines.
Original source and pictures + a pdf version
With a focus on managing waste in Freetown, the “Mayor’s Pitch Night Special” held on 1st August, 2018 was an outstanding example of how Freetown’s business community can generate solutions to some of our most pressing problems.
The event was opened by the Chairman of GEN Sierra Leone, Mr. Sheka Forna. He reiterated why Freetown Pitch Night decided to hold the “Mayor Special Pitch Night”.
Under the right conditions, entrepreneurs can have incredible power. They can help regions prosper economically and, as they help engineer innovative solutions to problems and challenges, they can also serve society. Yvonne Aki-Sawyer OBE, Freetown’s new Mayor, won a comprehensive mandate from the voters of Freetown. This mandate includes job creation for the city’s young people and better waste management. As new and growing businesses represent the principal sources of job creation and innovative activity in an economy, two factors that generally help raise standards of living for all, municipal authorities across the world are turning to entrepreneurs for ideas to help them address the challenges they face.
Recognizing the role that entrepreneurship can play in helping address Freetown’s challenges Mayor Aki-Sawyer, with Freetown Pitch Night, is inviting entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for waste recycling businesses to include a significant youth employment component.
Freetown requires a comprehensive waste management solution which must be delivered city-wide, and will require consolidation and significant resources. Read More