The future of Armenian agriculture just got a lot brighter. This week, Impact Hub Yerevan hosted the final pitch and graduation ceremony for the ACBA Federation Fellowship Incubation Program 2025.
After a year of intensive work, 11 dedicated teams stood before a professional jury to present how their startups are set to modernize the fields, farms, and food systems of Armenia.
This graduation marks a significant milestone in a partnership that has been flourishing since 2018. Over the last seven years, the collaboration between ACBA Federation and Impact Hub Yerevan has empowered nearly 150 innovators to turn their bold ideas into sustainable businesses.
The 2025 cohort spent the last 12 months navigating a rigorous incubation journey. Through monthly workshops, dedicated tracking, and expert mentorship, these entrepreneurs moved step-by-step from initial validation to market-ready business models.
The graduation was the culmination of a year’s worth of efforts. The finalists presented their ventures to an esteemed jury, including Harutyun Poghosyan (General Director of ACBA Federation) and Gegham Rostomyan (Responsible for Works with Rural Communities), alongside experts from the Impact Hub ecosystem.
The jury evaluated the projects based on their innovation, financial viability, and potential to drive rural economic growth. Top-performing teams competed for up to 1,200,000 AMD in funding to fuel their growth.
The 11 teams in this year’s cohort represented a diverse and vital cross-section of the Armenian economy, tackling critical challenges across several key sectors. Their projects ranged from AgriTech and sustainable farming to pest management, healthy food production, and hospitality.
This year’s participants included: AgroSyunik, BeBeeWAY, Bee’s House, Bee Planet, BeeSync, HOOND, Innovative, Lavender Land, ReFarm, Slowmotion Snail Farm, and Vinaro.
These entrepreneurs developed everything from high-tech solutions for harvesting and field protection to innovative approaches for crop preservation and the creation of next-generation Armenian nutritional products. Additionally, several initiatives focused on the intersection of hospitality and agro-tourism, creating unique farm-to-table experiences and rural tourism hubs designed to foster long-term economic growth while supporting local communities.
Each of these initiatives shares a common goal: to foster long-term economic growth while preserving the environment and supporting rural communities.
After much deliberation, the jury recognized the standout efforts of the cohort. While all 11 teams have shown incredible progress, Vinaro was awarded financial support to launch their next phase.
As we celebrate the achievements of the 2025 fellows, the cycle of innovation continues. We have already closed applications for the 2026 cohort, and our team is currently busy reviewing an impressive range of new initiatives. Stay tuned as we prepare to announce the next generation of entrepreneurs who will join the ACBA Federation Fellowship this April!