SHIFT Enterprise Academy Launches Global Agribusiness Cohort to Strengthen Supply Chain Execution Across Africa-Diaspora

College Station, Texas May 22, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – After 15 years of programming across the United States and multiple African markets, SHIFT Enterprise Academy is entering a new phase of growth with the launch of its first paid global cohort, Capacity Building for Maximum Results: AgriBusiness Supply Chain Cohort.

The five-week virtual program, beginning June 2, 2026, brings together agribusiness entrepreneurs, supply chain operators, and diaspora participants from countries including Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States. Sessions will be held weekly on Tuesdays, connecting participants across time zones to engage in structured, execution-focused learning.

At a time when global food systems are under increasing pressure, Africa’s role in agribusiness continues to draw attention. The continent holds approximately 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet imports more than 50 billion dollars in food annually. Post-harvest losses across Sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to range from 20 percent to 40 percent, highlighting persistent inefficiencies in storage, logistics, and market access.

For SHIFT Enterprise Academy founder Ethan Brisby, these numbers point to a deeper issue.

“There is no shortage of opportunity in agribusiness,” Brisby said. “There is no shortage of talent or even capital. What we are seeing consistently is a lack of structure. Ventures begin with strong intent but struggle to scale because they are not positioned properly within the supply chain.”

The upcoming cohort is designed to address that gap.

Rather than focusing solely on theory or general entrepreneurship, the program applies the SHIFT Approach, a five-part framework centered on financial discipline, relationship structuring, strategic positioning, execution systems, and accurate decision-making. Participants will work through each pillar over the course of five weeks, building toward a practical output known as the SHIFT Venture Dossier.

The dossier includes a supply chain positioning statement, a basic financial map, a partnership concept, and a 90-day execution plan. The goal is to move participants from informal activity to structured ventures that can engage with buyers, partners, and potential investors.

The cohort also reflects a broader shift in how entrepreneurship is being approached within emerging markets. As diaspora capital continues to grow, with remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa exceeding 50 billion dollars annually, there is increasing interest in aligning that capital with real-sector opportunities such as agriculture.

However, Brisby notes that capital alone is not enough.

“We have seen diaspora investors ready to deploy 10,000 to 50,000 dollars into agribusiness ventures,” he said. “The opportunity is there, but without clear models, defined roles, and accountability, those investments often do not perform the way people expect. This cohort is about building ventures that can actually receive and use capital effectively.”

Participants in the June cohort will include farmers, aggregators, processors, logistics operators, and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as diaspora investors seeking a more structured understanding of the sector. While Uganda is expected to have strong representation, the program is intentionally global, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern supply chains.

The course will be delivered virtually, with sessions held at 6:30 PM East Africa Time, 4:30 PM West Africa Time, and 10:30 AM Central Standard Time in the United States. Registration opens May 1 and closes May 22, with the program fee set at 98 U.S. dollars. A limited number of scholarship opportunities will be available for qualified applicants.

For SHIFT Enterprise Academy, the cohort is not an isolated program, but part of a larger ecosystem.

Over the past decade, the organization has expanded its work beyond education into areas including real estate development, venture incubation, and global partnerships. The agribusiness cohort is positioned as an entry point into that broader network, with top participants expected to move into deeper conversations around partnerships, advisory support, and future venture opportunities.

“We are building more than a cohort,” Brisby said. “We are building a pipeline. The goal is to identify serious operators, help them structure what they are doing, and then connect them to the relationships and resources they need to grow.”

As global markets continue to evolve, the need for coordinated, cross-border agribusiness systems is expected to increase. Programs like this cohort reflect a growing recognition that the next phase of development will depend not just on access to opportunity, but on the ability to execute within it.

About SHIFT Enterprise Academy
SHIFT Enterprise Academy is a global education and enterprise development organization founded in 2011. The organization focuses on economic mobility, entrepreneurship, and workforce development through structured programming and strategic partnerships. With participants across the United States and multiple African countries, SHIFT has supported thousands of individuals in building practical skills and ventures aligned with real market opportunities.

Media Contact
SHIFT Enterprise Academy
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.shiftenterpriseacademy.com

Registration Information
Applications for the Capacity Building for Maximum Results: AgriBusiness Supply Chain Cohort can be submitted at:

https://forms.gle/7j2h1D6nZRSbYik16

Registration closes May 22, 2026.