IFC AgTech Vietnam (2020)

Accelerating mobile based Agtech solutions in Vietnam

The AgTech Vietnam is a three-month pilot acceleration program for AgTech companies to engage smallholder farmers (“smallholders”) in Vietnam. Through this Program, International Finance Corporation (IFC) seeks to improve the income of smallholders and sustainability of the environment by helping smallholders optimize the use of resources such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Three AgTech companies, which provides mobile-based farm management and advisory services to smallholders, will be selected to be part of the Program.

The Program will support AgTech solutions in the following use cases:
- More informed farm-level decision making and risk management by providing precision agriculture solutions.
- More informed crop planning through solutions supporting market-driven and sustainable - agriculture land usage and/or de-risk farm transition for crop changes and market standards.
Improved traceability of smallholder farming businesses by digitizing their operations.

As part of the Program, each selected AgTech company will:
- Customize its mobile solutions to specific crops.
- Acquire and engage 500 smallholders.
- Validate the value proposition of its services.
- Develop a commercially viable business model and plan for scaling.

The three AgTech companies selected will receive the following benefits:
- Pilot funding of US$15,000
- Local operation support such as contract staff and co-working space
- Access to smallholders in Vietnam
- Mentorship from domain experts and local entrepreneurs
- Capacity-building bootcamps
- Networking opportunities

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Kindly read the Rules of the Program before applying.
https://www.agtechvietnam.org/rules
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Evaluation Criteria

Program Fit (20%)
- The solution demonstrates the ability to tackle problems faced by Vietnamese Smallholders in their respective crop verticals.
- The company demonstrates clear strategic interest to bring their mobile-based solution(s) to Vietnam.

Credibility & Proof-of-Traction (20%)
- The solution’s credibility has been established with a sound use case.
- The company shows strong evidence of achieving significant traction in the market the company operates in.

Innovation for Smallholders (20%)
- The solution demonstrates an innovative and smallholder-centered approach in product development and / or business model
- The solution has an advantageous differentiator from its competitors.

Financial Viability (20%)
- The company is well funded with a financially sound business model.
- The company is able to present a reasonable breakdown for the pilot funding.

Team Capabilities & Commitment (20%)
- The company is able to dedicate personnel with relevant experience and skills throughout the duration of the program.
- The company is able to dedicate resources outside of the program to ensure the success of the pilot.