If there’s one word to describe the participants of the Food Connection Challenge in Benin and Nigeria, it is dedication. The 2018 Food Connection Challenge helps SMEs to improve business solutions for post-harvest losses. To ensure this dedication is also translated into viable business plans, a 3-day training at IITA in Ibadan and EtriLabs in Cotonou, provided by Crosswise Works and BoP Innovation Center, emphasised the need to identify and test the underlying assumptions on which the entrepreneurs’ plans are based. As one participant from Benin observed: ‘if I identify bakeries as a new customer segment for my coconut rest materials, are they ready to adopt coconut fibres as a (partial) alternative to wheat flour?’. The entrepreneurs left the training with a dedicated action plan to test these assumptions in practice, supported by local business coaches. The next step in the Food Connection Challenge is the Clash of Ideas, which will take place mid-September. At this event, the business idea and the assumptions will be challenged. All of this is meant to give the business plans a final “shake.” How to turn good ideas into solutions that work in practise? Who has the solution that fits best with market conditions? Who can present the most reliable data on the effect of their solution? An independent jury made up of experts from different fields will select the four entrepreneurs (five in Benin) with the most promising solutions to continue in the challenge. Discover the list of the finalists EL-kanis and Partners – Nigeria Develops an app for smallholder farmers on inclusion, coordination and integration of their products, Uyo Pack Passion – Benin Training quality sourcing agents on better selection of cassava, Bohicon Ojoro Kitchen Limited – Nigeria Processes Peppers, Ginger and Garlic into ready-to-use products, Lagos Fourteen farms – Nigeria Processes plantains and bananas, Modakeke-ife, Osun state Assiba Fee Sarl – Benin New product lines processed with solar technology, Cotonou Huilerie Royale Ted – Benin Developing by-products of coconut oil, Porto Novo Africa Compost – Benin Improving the sourcing of maize corn by sensitizing the producers, Abomey-Calavi HVC – Benin Developing organic post-harvest pesticide for yams, Glazoué Les jardins de l'espoir – Benin Producer-owned and managed organic supermarket in the capital, Tori Smiley’z Mobile Kitchen – Nigeria Processes tomatoes, Kaduna Afririce Agrobusiness – Benin enting service of rice thresher-cleaner, Cotonou Agro Express – Benin Proposing crates and other equipment services for tomato producers, Kpomassè AgroDynamique – Benin Improving transportation process by using and offering better equipment for vegetable transportation Ahimel Sarl – Benin Turning pineapple peelings into snacks, Porto-Novo After the Clash of Ideas, the remaining participants will come up with a concrete plan of how to spend their potential prize money (of up to a maximum of €20,000, provided by the Postharvest Network). The Food Connection Challenge is organized by Crosswise Works and Bop Inc, on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Parallel to the challenge in Nigeria, an edition of the Food Connection Challenge is simultaneously taking place in Benin. Food Connection Challenge Food Connection Challenge agri-business agri-tech agricultural implements agriculture agriculture and development digital listing startup young entrepreneurs