Agri-Business Incubator

An on- and off-line incubator for Iraqi Start-ups

The Agri-Business Incubator was developed as a business incubator within the Iraq Response Innovation Lab (IRIL) to support innovative local start-ups, projects and ideas. Ultimately, creating livelihood opportunities and contributing to the economic prosperity in conflict affected areas of Iraq.

The Incubator focuses on developing early stage local businesses, SMEs, and individual entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions in the agri-business sector and related agriculture and food sectors. Businesses that were successful before the conflict, have an innovative idea and need support in rebuilding.

The end result is to benefit Iraqi businesses in conflict affected areas where Oxfam is operating in Tikrit, Salahadin, Baghdad, Ninawa and Kirkuk, and Diyala.

Services

The intent is to equip innovative start-ups with the necessary knowledge and skills to become successful entrepreneurs, such as bookkeeping and business planning. The support includes on-going one-on-one business advice and mentorship, training, and networking through seminars/events. Additionally, the innovators will have access to the fully equipped Response Innovation Lab office to use as their own and organize events, workshops, training, meetings and exchange with peers. The Incubator offers the following services to a selected cohort of agri-bussinesses:

• Business coaching

• Mentoring

• Training

• Space

The Incubator utilizes a network of partners and experts to tailors technical expertise to the need of each start-up. By the end of the incubation, not only will they have business skills to further scale, but also be able to pitch for funding at the IRIL Innovation Pool Fund, and beyond.

Results

The Agri-business Incubator has a current strategic plan running until 2022 in which it will aim to achieve:

• 16 local start-ups incubated

• 5 local start-ups receiving grant funding for proof of concept or piloted by the end of year one

• All 16 start-ups have a finalized business plan in place by the end of the incubation period

• 85% of the incubated start-ups have created strategic business connections as part of the incubation program

• 100% of start-ups incubated by the IRIL have increased knowledge on private sector investor expectations, and wider knowledge of the eco-system and regulations in Iraq

• 5 jobs created, through received grant funding to the start-up

Current Incubations

• Smart Farming: Water scarcity, IoT in agribusiness

• Green Desert: Water for irrigation, alternative energy, ICT, and IoT in agribusiness

• Aquaculture: Water for irrigation, integrated fish farming, urban farming, and preserved farming

• Hydroponic: Preserved farming, urban farming, and vegetable production

• Magnetic Water Device: Greenhouses, aquaculture, vegetable production, water for irrigation, and mechanical device

• Water for irrigation, testing method

• Aquaculture: Water for irrigation, integrated fish farming, and preserved farming

• Convert wheat straw to bio-ethanol

• Seedling production station including tissues culture laboratory

• Agriculture Mobile Application

• Farmers field schools

• Hydroponics and barley sprouting

• Golden Mushroom: Mushroom cultivation, farm waste recycling, and green energy

Contact

Social Media

If you would like to learn more about the Incubator, please reach out to our team.