In a celebration of innovation and resilience, three women entrepreneurs emerged victorious at the Phuka Pitch Night, hosted by Standard Bank Plc.

The winners were part of the third cohort of the 2024 Phuka Incubator, a collaborative initiative between Standard Bank, GIZ, Winrock International, and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The overall winner announced last night in Lilongwe is Mercy Esau of Tilime Honey Produce and received K10 million from Standard Bank.

Chimwemwe Samson of Tatiya Foods and Rosette Chakachadza of Hopmac secured second and third place, respectively, each receiving K8.7 million ($5,000) in agriculture grants.

“I am excited but at the same time this is a challenge for me to work harder than before to meet the growing demand for honey on the local and international markets,” said Esau, thanking Standard Bank and partners for the initiative as it is helping many start-ups to grow and achieve high quality standards of their products for the markets.

“At Tilime Honey, our priority is to have a sustainable water source for the apiary to deal with water shortages and achieve supply consistency to address climate change,” she said. 

The Phuka Incubator Hub aims to support women entrepreneurs in the agribusiness sector. 

Standard Bank's Head of Business and Commercial Banking, Graham Chipande, stressed the importance of empowering women in this critical sector.

"We are committed to supporting women entrepreneurs, particularly in sectors critical to the economy. Agriculture plays a vital role in our nation's growth, and women have the power to revolutionize this industry."

The Phuka incubator Hub is part of Standard Bank's commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth. 

By providing training and mentorship to women in agribusiness, Chipande said Standard Bank is helping to create more resilient and sustainable businesses.

This year, the Phuka Incubator Hub graduated 29 women entrepreneurs who are adding value and enhancing innovation in agribusiness.