The LUANAR Innovation and Incubation Centre, well known by its brand name the Agribiz Hub is a university led creative space aimed at supporting development and growth of agribusinesses in Malawi and beyond. The centre was established with initial support from the Malawi Government, through the Jobs for youth Programme funded by the African Development Bank. The target clients for the centre are in three categories namely startups (out of school and higher education students); micro small and medium entreprises; and researchers (to commercialise research outputs).
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LUANAR Agribiz Hub aims at training, developing and support potential entrepreneurs to set up and grow businesses in the field of Agriculture.
To transform and promote potential Agribusiness entrepreneurial skills into sustainable businesses that will contribute to the economic growth of Malawi and the region.
Focused on enhancing entrepreneurial skils experientially. Currently supporting 22 youth (post and undergraduates; and interns at LUANAR) who have invested in soy production over 8ha. Recruiting cohorts of incubates to undergo a specialized incubation process.
Tailor made trainings to support innovativeness. So far conducted Ecommerce training in partnership with Virtual Global Consultants under an Africa Alliance Partnership grant. Planning to house all innovation capacity building initiatives for LUANAR.
In partnership with Centre for Agriculture Transformation, we want to bring research outputs closer to practitioners for enhanced value creation. Designing of activities in progress.
In partnership with Flametree foundation conducted a Delab for 18 entrepreneurs, a follow up De-studio being designed.
The Hub provides access to several faculties within the University with varied expertise and experiences in crop and animal production, agro-processing, market and feasibility research, innovative thinking and business management among others. In addition to internal partners, the Hub works in partnership with several organizations both within and outside Malawi.
Its motivation to partner with other organizations stem from its passion mandate to build the nation’s entrepreneurial capacity, and provide a platform for the out of school youths, students and existing MSMEs to develop, grow and accelerate into profitable ventures capable of employing others. LUANAR interacts with over 2,000 youths every year in various ways, and hence an opportunity to exponentially build on the mission of encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets amongst youths with a gender perspective.
The Hub works in partnership with several organizations both within and outside Malawi. Its motivation to partner with other organizations stem from its passion mandate to build the nation’s entrepreneurial capacity, and provide a platform for the out of school youths, students and existing MSMEs to develop, grow and accelerate into profitable ventures capable of employing others.
