Sprint Programme of the second edition of the KAAIA
The end of the KAAIA Austria Experience marked the beginning of the sprint phase: the three winning teams – Amini, ChipChip and Fresh Networks - have the opportunity to take part in a 12-month Sprint Programme run by the WFP Innovation Accelerator and invest € 250,000 of funding. The kick-off took place in September in the premises of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the day after the High-Level Award Ceremony.
Coaching tailored to the ventures’ needs
The Sprint Programme includes an individual coach by WFP Innovation Accelerator, who has monthly 1 on 1 sessions with the ventures. A monthly tracker and a collection of learnings were also established to support their development. On a regular basis, the ventures receive additional external coaching based on their needs in the area of finance and business organisation.
Bridging continents: the KAAIA Awardees in Austria
The three winning teams of the KAAIA 2024 – Amini, Chip Chip, and FRESH Networks – were once again welcomed to Austria present their progress at the Austrian Federal Chancellery during the KAAIA Mid-Year Share-Out and to take part in Impact Days 2025.
Mid-Year Share-Out 2025: Reflecting Progress, Celebrating Impact
The Mid-Year Share-Out 2025 marked a significant milestone in the Kofi Annan Award for Innovation in Africa (KAAIA) programme. Held at the Austrian Federal Chancellery, the event brought together the three winning ventures of KAAIA 2024 – Amini, ChipChip, and FRESH Networks – for an inspiring exchange with KAAIA partners, jury members, and key Austrian stakeholders.
This exclusive gathering offered space to reflect on progress, share lessons learned, and celebrate the awardees’ achievements. It also reaffirmed the programme’s continued commitment to supporting scalable, inclusive innovation and fostering collaboration between Europe and Africa.
We sincerely thank our partners – the Kofi Annan Foundation, Austrian Development Agency, WFP Innovation Accelerator, Austrian Federal Chancellery – as well as our High-Level Board of Advisors and Jury and the KAAIA network. Together, we are building bridges, scaling innovation, and enabling impact. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Impact in Action – Highlights from the KAAIA 2024 Awardees
Key learning: Refining data collection and verification strategies can ease the burden on field teams while improving data quality.
Impact: Surveyed more than 4,000 farmers, mapped over 1,500 farms, and expanded operations to Côte d’Ivoire.
Key learning: Scaling supply chains in Africa requires agile, asset-light models; not all strategies from mature markets apply.
Impact: Reached over 41,000 new customers since October 2024 and facilitated the distribution of 2.2 million kilograms of food from farm to fork.
Key learning: Clearly defining operational costs among partners can uncover unexpected efficiencies.
Impact: Sold 14,000 litres of milk to over 600 people in 2025, with commercial roll-out now underway.
Impact Days 2025: Advancing Africa–Austria Collaboration in Agritech Innovation
At the Impact Days 2025, held at the historic Vienna Town Hall, the “Bridging Continents" session showcased how African startups are leveraging AI, IoT, and digital innovation to transform agriculture. In light of rapid population growth, shifting climate realities, and the urgent need for sustainable food systems, Africa is emerging as a powerful hub for agritech innovation.
Rooted in the legacy of Kofi Annan and the mission of the KAAIA, the session focused on a central question: How can Europe and Africa collaborate to scale impactful solutions – while ensuring sustainability, inclusivity, and shared value?
High-level speakers from the Austrian Development Agency and WFP Innovation Accelerator emphasized KAAIA’s role as a practical bridge between Africa and Austria – bringing together ideas, investment, and impact. Then, our three 2024 KAAIA Awardees offered compelling insights into how agile models, data-driven approaches, and empathetic tech can unlock opportunities across the continent. Their reflections highlighted the importance of locally grounded innovation, Africa’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the value of designing solutions that work both globally and regionally.
Agritech in Action: Pitching Innovative Solutions
The second session, “Breakthrough Innovations Unlocking Agritech Potential in Africa”, featured pitches from the three KAAIA Awardees alongside three additional ventures. Each team presented to a jury and engaged in a focused Q&A.
Amini was selected as the session winner and received a six-month membership with Vai, a Vienna-based innovation platform that provides mentoring, resources, and ecosystem support.
CoLab Workshop: Partnering for Global Impact
The day concluded with the interactive KAAIA CoLab, a hands-on session where each awardee hosted discussions around key questions on long-term collaboration, local impact, and sustainable scale. The format encouraged open exchange and joint ideation across sectors and regions.
Throughout this “Impact Day”, a shared commitment was clear: to build bridges between continents, empower visionary solutions, and accelerate sustainable transformation – where it’s needed most. Thank you to all our KAAIA partners and congratulations to the Impact Hub Vienna as well as the Impact Days team on an inspiring event.