From students, startups, young
and social entrepreneurs to small & medium and successful businesses,
African and global organizations open business plan competitions and awards
annually to support and encourage budding and successful entrepreneurs in Africa.
Whether you need funding to bring your bright idea to limelight
or have made innovative progress as an entrepreneur in Africa and need a
platform to demonstrate your achievements, there are opportunities out there.
Below is AfterSchoolAfrica
list of 40 plus business plan competitions and awards for African
entrepreneurs. Most of these programs are offered annually. Look out for the
next application.
Table of content
With Emphasis on Women Entrepreneurs
1.
BMCE Bank of Africa – African Entrepreneurship Award –
USD$1 Million for Women (and Men) Entrepreneurs: Are
you dreaming of launching or growing your business idea in your
community? Join the thousands of women (and men) entrepreneurs creating jobs
all over Africa and submit your idea for a chance to share in the $1 million
award.
2.
She Leads Africa is
a social enterprise dedicated to supporting young African women and their
journey towards professional success. The SLA Accelerator is a 3-month program
designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s
brightest female entrepreneurs and offers. The winner of a Demo Day will
receive a N 2mn investmentfrom She Leads Africa Fund.
3.
Ashden
International Award World’s leading green
energy awards, seeks pioneering enterprises and programmes demonstrating
achievement in any of the following areas: Increasing energy access for homes
or businesses, Sustainable buildings, Developing innovative financial
mechanisms or business models for delivering sustainable energy, Sustainable
travel, Improving the lives of women and girls through sustainable energy,
Sustainable energy and water. Prize money of £20,000; one
International Gold Award of £30,000
Student Entrepreneurship
1.
The African Innovation Prize (AIP)
is a UK based non-profit organization founded by Cambridge University Graduates
to spur student innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. Through university
based business planning competitions, AIP aims to encourage students to dream,
design, and dedicate themselves to their business ideas. AIP also develops
connections between students and the local enterprise community through seeding
entrepreneurship clubs within universities, and brokering mentorship between students
and local business leaders.
2.
The Dell Social Innovation Challengeidentifies
and supports promising young social innovators who dedicate themselves to
solving the world’s most pressing problems with their transformative ideas. The
program provides university students with world-class teaching and training, as
well as with start-up capital and access to a network of mentors and advisors.
3.
INDIAFRICA: A Shared Futurefeatures
a series of multi-disciplinary contests across top campuses in Africa and
India. The contests are aimed at offering students and professionals from both
geographies a common platform for future collaborations in business, design and
culture.
4.
The Cola-Cola Africa Foundation Entrepreneurship programs provide
students with the tools needed to prosper as a young adult. The main objective
is to help today’s youth understand the importance of self-reliance and the
impact they all have on the future of the economy by addressing the issue of
unemployment in Africa and helping to create a culture of entrepreneurship. The
Coca-Cola Africa Foundation has invested $3.1 millionin programs
that promote entrepreneurship amongst the youth in 12 countries.
5.
Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Fellowship for South Africa,
Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland Students: The Allan Gray Orbis
Foundation offers the exceptional Allan Gray Fellowship to Southern Africa’s
pioneering bright young students. This initiative aims to develop students,
known as Allan Gray Candidate Fellows, into Southern Africa’s future high
impact responsible entrepreneurs.
6.
The School Enterprise Challenge is a
global business planning awards programme run by the educational charity ‘Teach
A Man To Fish.’ It aims to create globally aware, socially responsible, young
entrepreneurs. The School Enterprise Challenge is an international awards
programme for schools around the world with up to $50,000 in prizes available
for the most entrepreneurial schools, teachers and students.
7.
The Skoll Scholarships in Social Entrepreneurship for
International Students, UKprovides funding and exclusive
opportunities to meet with world-renowned entrepreneurs, thought-leaders and investors.
The Skoll Scholarship provides tuition for entrepreneurs who have set up or
have been working in entrepreneurial ventures with a social purpose, and who
wish to improve their knowledge of market-oriented practices so they can be
more effective in their subsequent social change pursuits. The Skoll
Scholarship covers full costs of Said Business School tuition and college fees.
The Scholarship also covers partial living expenses based on need, up to an
additional £8,000.
8.
Google Hash Code Programming Competition for Students and
Professionals in Africa, Europe & Middle East is a
team-based programming competition organized by Google for students and
industry professionals (18+) across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. You
pick your team and programming language, Google picks a real-lifeengineering problem to solve.
9.
How will you change the world with US$1 million? Apply
for 2015 Hult Prize – Social Enterprise Challenge: thousands
of university students worldwide team up to create start-ups aimed at solving
an issue faced by billions in need. More than 10,000 applicants will begin the
journey, and only 300 start-ups from around the world will move on to pitch
their start-up ideas at one of five global locations, including: Boston, San
Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai.
10. The Google RISE Awards is an annual grant
program for informal education organizations around the world that promote
computer science for K-12/pre-university age youth. It aspires for students to
be creators not just consumers of tomorrow’s technology, and that includes
students from all backgrounds. This is why it’s efforts emphasize participation
from girls, youth in low-income communities, and minorities who
have historically been underrepresented in the field of computer science.
Aspiring and Startup Entrepreneurs
1.
IsDB Business Plan Competitionfor
Sub-Saharan Countries. The Islamic Development Bank Business Plan Competition
is a recently introduced initiative of the IsDB Group. In this competition,
candidates come together to develop and further refine their business plans to
launch their start-ups or grow ventures, while competing for the cash prizes!
As at 2014 Cash prizes ($25,000 for the 1st Place Winner, $15,000 for the 2nd
Place Winner, $10,000 for the 3rd Place Winner for each track of the
competition); Mentorship; Networking Opportunities. (not offered in 2015)
2.
BID Network: Are you an aspiring
entrepreneur from Rwanda or Uganda with a finance need between USD 10,000 and
USD 500,000? Entrepreneurs can register on one or more of the online portalsand submit their business plan
for assessment by our advisors. BiD Network introduces a unique offering of
one-on- one, tailor-made Business Development Support (BDS) to help
Ugandan entrepreneurs to professionalize their operations, accelerate
growth and obtain finance.Benefit includes sourcing,business development
support, coaching and matchmaking.
3.
Development Innovation Venturesaims to
find and support breakthrough solutions to the world’s most important
development challenges—interventions with the power to change millions of
lives at a fraction of the usual cost. Through its grant program DIV
invests in these game-changing ideas, rigorously tests them using cutting-edge
analytical methods, and scales solutions that prove they work.
4.
The Argidius Foundation and the Aspen Network of Development
Entrepreneurs (ANDE) have announced the Argidius-ANDE Finance Challenge (AAFC), a
new competition designed to support innovative ways to provide capital to small
businesses in emerging markets that require $20,000-$250,000 in early stage
capital. The goal of the challenge is to accelerate the development of
innovative and sustainable solutions in a number of emerging markets, ideally
establishing models that can be replicated.
5.
In 2011, the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and Western Union launched the second African Diaspora Marketplace(ADM II). ADM
II encourages sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting
U.S.-based African Diaspora and other entrepreneurs through grant funding and
technical assistance facilities. ADM II Awardees are individuals with
demonstrable connections to or experience in Africa, who have innovative and high-impact
start-ups and established businesses on the continent. Each business venture
can receive matching partnership grants up to $50,000 and other forms of
technical assistance.
6.
Launched in 2009, the MENA 100 Business Plan Competitionis
co-organized by the MENA-OECD Investment Programme, aims to promote
entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle
East and North Africa, by mentoring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to come
up with the perfect business plan for their startup or expanding their young
enterprises. First prize US$ 25 000, Second prize US$ 10 000 and Third
prize US$ 5 000
7.
Nigerian billionaire investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu
has committed $100 million to create 10,000 entrepreneurs
across Africa over the next 10 years. Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme TEEP,
a Pan-African entrepreneurship initiative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is a
multi-year programme of training, funding, and mentoring, designed to empower
the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
8.
In Africa as elsewhere, many young people aspire to start their
own business and build a brighter future, which is why Total created theStartupper of the year challenge.
If you’re currently preparing a business plan or are in the early stages of
creating your own business, you’re eligible to enter this challenge! Each
winner will receive a customized coaching to help him/her to create and/or
develop its business. Total will provide financial support up to
$30,000 (in winners local currency).
9.
Seedstars World offers
exclusive and global startup competition to promote, connect and invest up to $1.5mn
for Entrepreneurs in emerging market in over 65 countries across Asia,
Africa, LatAm, CEE and MENA. Companies less than two years old, MVP ready,
thinking global and with less than $500k raised so far can apply to become
Global Winners!
10. Diamond
Bank’s BET – Building Entrepreneurs Today –
business grant marks another great opportunity for entrepreneurs all over
Nigeria in the following industries (fashion and lifestyle, agriculture,
information and communication technology) to present their businesses and
innovation and have the opportunity of being selected as one of the top 50
businesses that will be provided with extensive training, mentoring and
advisory by the Enterprise Development Centre with the top 5 businesses winning3
Million naira each.
11. Shell LiveWIRE is
a social investment programme that aims to help young Nigerians explore the
option of starting their own business as a real and viable career option. It
provides support, access to training, guidance, and business mentorship to
young entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35.
The programme operates mainly in the Niger Delta region and aims to
inspire, encourage and support young people aged 18-35 to start up their own
businesses through the provision of finance and training for young
entrepreneurs.
12. Ashoka
Africa: Ashoka is the world’s largest network of
changemakers and social innovators with more than 3,000 social entrepreneurs in
70 countries, and has been working in Africa for over 20 years. Ashoka believes
that building a critical mass of leading social entrepreneurs with
groundbreaking ideas is an important step toward creating a vibrant, prosperous
African continent. Ashoka Fellows in Africa are empowering people to create
their own economic and civic opportunities, addressing the pandemic of HIV/AIDS
and other devastating health concerns, implementing transformative education
systems, protecting their environments and natural resources, and introducing
effective methods of conflict resolution.
13. Since
1976, Rolex has honoured extraordinary individuals who possess the courage and
conviction to take on major challenges. Each Rolex Award for Enterprise is given
for a new or ongoing project anywhere in the world – one that deserves support
for its capacity to improve lives, or protect the world’s natural and cultural
heritage. These projects have touched all aspects of humanity by expanding
knowledge or improving life on the planet.
14. The Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competitionis a
global programme and an online platform, which supports the implementation of
the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Young people from
around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas and projects with
a societal impact, which champion and implement one or more of the 17
Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 SDGs address the most important social,
economic, environmental, health and governance challenges of our time.
15. The N10
billion Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) programme is
an ambitious programme by the Bank of Industry (BOI) aimed at addressing youth
unemployment in Nigeria which is currently over 50%.
16. The SOCAP Scholarship for Social Entrepreneurs is a world-renowned conference series
dedicated to increasing the flow of capital toward social good. Social
entrepreneurs are the heart of SOCAP. They identify new solutions to pressing
issues, balancing true impact with sustainable business models. We prioritize
support for inspiring entrepreneurs, as they are the future of the social
capital markets.
17. The Saville Foundation Pan-African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Educationis a
competition initiated by Teach a Man to Fish and generously sponsored by the
organization Educating Africa. The competition is open to all organizations
based in Africa working in education, from primary through to tertiary, as well
as in non-formal and adult education. As well as a First Prize of
$10,000 and two Runners-Up Prizes of$5,000, there are up to 50
Awards of $1,000 available for the best entry from every country on
the continent.
Breakthrough Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
1.
The Anzisha Prizeseeks to award young
entrepreneurs who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social
challenges or started successful businesses within their communities. 12
finalists from across Africa will win an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa
to be a part of a week-long entrepreneurship workshop and conference at the
African Leadership Academy campus on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The
grand prize winners, selected from these finalists, will share prizes worth
$75,000 USD.
2.
The Innovation
Prize for Africa (IPA)IPA honors and encourages innovative
achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing
efficiency or saving cost in Africa. Specifically, the award targets
technological breakthroughs in 5 main areas: manufacturing & service
industry, health & well-being, agriculture & agribusiness, environment,
energy & water and ICTs. By providing USD 150,000 to
winners who deliver market-oriented solutions for African-led development, the
IPA acknowledges and encourages the endeavor of innovators and entrepreneurs
and works to raise their profiles on the development agenda. USD
100,000 for the winner with the best innovation, USD 25,000
for the Second Prize and USD 25,000 for the Special
Prize.
3.
The Facebook Internet.org Innovation Challenge in Africa supports
Internet.org’s vision of a connected world. To this end, the goal of the
Challenge is to recognize individuals and organizations that are working on
internet-based solutions to promote education and economic empowerment in
countries throughout Africa. Up to $150,000 awarded.
4.
The African Media Initiative (AMI), the continent’s
largest association of media owners and operators, has announced a $1
million fund to spur innovation in the news industry. The African
News Innovation Challenge (ANIC)is designed to encourage
experimentation in digital technologies and support the best innovations that
strengthen African news organizations.
5.
The Zayed Future Energy Prizeinvite entries
from companies, individuals, organizations and high schools to submit
applications, for a chance to win part of the US$4 million prize fund. The
scope of the Prize has also been broadened to include five distinct categories:
Large Corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs), Lifetime Achievement, and the newly instituted Global
High School Prize.
6.
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)is
a bilateral trust fund administered by the African Development Bank – anchored
in a generous commitment of USD 60 millionby the Government of
Denmark and the United States – to support small and medium clean energy and
energy efficiency projects in Africa.
7.
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation aims
to stimulate and reward engineering entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa. The
Africa Prize will encourage ambitious and talented sub-Saharan African
engineers from all disciplines to apply their skills to develop scalable
solutions to local challenges, highlighting the importance of engineering as an
enabler of improved quality of life and economic development. Finalists will be
invited to present at an event held in Africa and a winner will be selected to
receive£25,000 along with runners-up, who will each be
awarded £10,000.
Successful Entrepreneurs and Business leaders
1.
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Yearawards are the
world’s most prestigious business awards for entrepreneurs. The award
encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes
the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and
achievement.
2.
The African Leadership Network celebrates entrepreneurs by
hosting the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurs,the most distinguished business and
entrepreneurship awards programme in Africa, which considers candidates from
African Nations. The award recognizes and award exceptional entrepreneurial
leaders who serve as role models to Africa’s aspiring entrepreneurs and
demonstrate business excellence, innovation and profitability.
3.
African Leadership Network – ALN has hosted the Africa
Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE), dubbed the ‘Oscars of
Entrepreneurship in Africa’, since 2012. AAE was established in 2007 by
the Legatum Group to recognize business leaders who demonstrate
innovation, profitability, and business excellence while serving as role models
to inspire Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs in Africa.
4.
African
Achievers Awardsis a set of annual awards bestowed on Africa’s
most accomplished achievers in politics, diplomacy and entrepreneurship. Now in
its fourth year, the African Achievers Awards recognizes individuals and
organizations that selflessly devote their time and talents toward improving
Africa’s international profile and building stronger, integrated communities in
Africa.
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