The second day of GroundBreakers Live 2026 brought together young innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and agriculture enthusiasts for a thought-provoking conversation on Building Profitable Agribusinesses in the Digital Age, led by Seyi Alabi, Co-founder of Crop2Cash.

Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey and years of experience building technology-enabled solutions for smallholder farmers, Alabi challenged participants to rethink how they approach agribusiness opportunities in an increasingly digital world. His message was simple but powerful: profitable agribusinesses are built by solving real problems, not by chasing technological trends.

One of the session’s most striking moments came when Alabi described agricultural extension as a “dying sector”, highlighting the growing gap between farmers and the information they need to improve productivity and profitability.

“There are simply not enough extension officers to serve the millions of farmers we have today,” he noted, urging young innovators to see the challenge as an opportunity to create digital solutions that can deliver advisory services, knowledge, and support to farmers at scale.

The comment resonated strongly with participants, particularly as conversations around artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and emerging technologies continue to shape the future of agriculture. Rather than viewing technology as an end in itself, Alabi encouraged young people to use it as a tool for solving practical challenges faced by farmers.

The session also offered valuable lessons on entrepreneurship and innovation. Reflecting on one of his early ventures, Alabi shared how a promising digital marketplace failed because it was built on assumptions rather than a deep understanding of users’ needs.

“We were thinking like city people,” he admitted, explaining how the experience taught him the importance of listening to customers, testing ideas, and building solutions around real demand.

Another key takeaway from the discussion was the need to look beyond primary production when exploring agribusiness opportunities. According to Alabi, some of the biggest opportunities in agriculture today lie in addressing service gaps across financing, extension, market access, logistics, and farmer data systems.

“Don’t build what you want; build what the market demands,” he advised.

Throughout the webinar, participants were encouraged to think critically about the future of agriculture and the role young people can play in shaping it. The conversation reinforced the idea that digital transformation in agriculture is not just about creating new technologies, but about making agriculture more efficient, inclusive, and profitable for the millions of people who depend on it.

As GroundBreakers Live concluded its two-day webinar series, the session served as a reminder that the future of food will be driven by innovators who understand problems deeply and are willing to build practical solutions around them.

Missed the session?

Watch the full webinar recording to hear Seyi Alabi’s insights on digital innovation, agribusiness opportunities, and the future of agriculture in the digital age.