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To transition to regenerative agriculture, smallholder farmers require inputs, training, market access, and other solutions. According to Isaac Muhofa, venture builder at Rootical, “As a startup studio, we are in the business of establishing businesses that can offer these products and services to speed that shift.

The startup studio is trying to support Ugandan business owners in creating and owning sustainable agri-food enterprises. Businesses that are profitable, scalable, and have an impact are being developed to hasten the shift to a more equitable and sustainable food system. Rootical will provide future founders with a structured venture-building process, access to experts, mentors, and investors, as well as an early-stage investment of 20–40 million UGX for each of the co-founded businesses at the beginning of 2024. These solutions will address key challenges and opportunities in the food system.

Rootical is a project that SHONA and Fresh Ventures worked on together. SHONA, a seasoned East African business development organization since 2013, has been emphasizing ethical business practices. From 2021 onward, Fresh Ventures has operated a comparable regenerative studio in the European setting. Hannes Van den Eeckhout, a co-founder of Rootical and its managing director, has a wealth of experience in agroecological entrepreneurship, company development, and food systems in East Africa, Europe, and Peru.

To transition to regenerative agriculture, smallholder farmers require inputs, training, market access, and other solutions. According to Isaac Muhofa, venture builder at Rootical, “As a startup studio, we are in the business of establishing businesses that can offer these products and services to speed that shift.”

Three steps make up Rootical’s founder journey. First, a 10-day intensive course on food system leadership will train 40 chosen talents to become change-makers. One outcome is a common analysis and comprehensive comprehension of the main difficulties and opportunities in the Ugandan food system. Next, a group of prospective founders will be invited to participate in a 3-month holistic venture-building process to find, test, and refine ideas. They will create economically sound and environmentally sustainable business models using a human-centered design methodology to implement such solutions. In order to establish a team and move closer to serving their first paying clients, selected businesses will thereafter be co-founded in the studio with additional venture builder support and 20–40 million UGX of investment apiece.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the DOEN Foundation, Biovision and the French Embassy in Uganda as we work to redesign and regenerate the Ugandan food system, one startup at a time. Our goal is to grow and scale businesses that make regenerative farming and food accessible to all Ugandans. To accelerate the transition to a healthier and regenerative food system with farmers and consumers all together.” said Hannes Van den Eeckhout, Rootical’s Founder.

In order to train and equip them with information, resources, and access to networks of experts and investors, we are now assembling the top potential founders and food system change-makers in Uganda. We plan to help them launch their firms in early 2024. Do you want to launch Rootical and run your own agri-food company? “Apply now at www.rootical.org,” said Faridah Nalunkuuma, talent manager for Rootical.

Three different future founder types are looked after by Rootical. First, those who have 10+ years of corporate experience working for a national consumer brand are now prepared to start their own food company. Second, risk-takers who have previously launched an agri-food company had to close its doors after a while or didn’t experience the predicted growth. These entrepreneurs are keen to try again after their previous failures. Third, high-potential grads who would welcome the chance to launch a company that would upend the food system within the framework that Rootical offers.

“To achieve change in the food system, agroecological entrepreneurship must thrive and for this, they need supporting facilities. Such as business development organizations like Rootical and SHONA. It is often difficult to find funding for these facilities. We appreciate how Rootical can ignite change in Uganda’s food system,” Maarten Derksen from the DOEN Foundation concluded.