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Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
2 weeks ago
Overview
Nigerian Team wins business pitch competition for Agritech solution
The AgriQ-Connect team, which consists of four Nigerian PhD students from Northeastern University, Boston, has won $2,000 at the Massachusetts Organisation of African Descendants (MOAD) Business Pitch Competition. The competition was held during the 2025 New England African Business Expo in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 3. The team was recognised for their innovative Agritech solution aimed at reducing post-harvest losses in Africa.
The Expo, which took place at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), brought together Black and African professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the region. The event was a gathering with a strong focus on economic empowerment, featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, business showcases, and a competitive pitch segment. The highlight of the competition was the pitch contest, which featured thirteen contesting teams of African students from across Massachusetts and Connecticut, where AgriQ-Connect emerged in first place.
Qudus Rafiu and his teammates, Toheeb Obidara, Azeez Akinyemi and Mariam Hamzat presented a dual-solution platform with a marketplace connecting farmers directly with processing companies and an AI-powered silo for real-time crop monitoring. Their solution addresses the $4 billion in post-harvest losses suffered annually in sub-Saharan Africa and aims to enhance food security and sustainable agriculture across the continent. The pitch resonated with judges and attendees for its practical innovation, economic relevance, and potential for global impact. In addition to receiving the $2,000 prize, the team gained mentorship and visibility among regional investors and business leaders.
The Expo featured keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Debora Jackson, Dean of WPI Business School. Other distinguished attendees included Worcester City Council Vice Chairman & Councillor-at-Large, Khrystian E. King, Massachusetts State Senator Robyn Kennedy, Jetari Veal of Workers Credit Union, Jawad Yatim of the Massachusetts Pirates, and Nana Antwi Boasiako, President and CEO of Omama Services Inc.
Credit: The Nation
