Nominations Now Open For Forbes Africa 30 Under 30

FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are leading the charge building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join the magazine’s Under 30 community for 2021.

Attention entrepreneurs, creatives, sports stars and technology geeks — the 2021 FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 nominations are now officially open.

Each year, FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come what may.

The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on the continent and this year, we are on the hunt for 30 of Africa’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology, Creatives, and Sport.

Past honorees include Mr Eazi, Lloyd Harris, Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Karabo Poppy, Thuso Mbedu, Nomzamo Mbatha, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Davido, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Nasty C and WizKid.

Continuing with a final list of 30, this year will go down in history as the Under 30s who survived and thrived during one of the most turbulent times recorded: the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 is the most coveted list of the year, and we will be celebrating seven years of the list in 2021. What will make this compilation even more compelling will be the fighting spirit of the candidates that made it through a challenging year. They need to be honored even more for their tenacity and resilience as leaders charting a non-linear trajectory to success,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA.

If you think you have what it takes to be on this year’s list or know an entrepreneur, creative, technology entrepreneur, or sports star under the age of 30 with a proven track record on the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by submitting your nomination.

The judging process will take place in four stages:

● The first stage will be the evaluation of your motivation. If you do not hear back from us (within a specific period), please deem your nomination as unsuccessful.

● The second stage will require potential candidates to submit more documentation for the next stage of assessment.

● The third stage will include an analysis of your financials, revenue model and credibility as in-depth research will be conducted into who you are and your company/team (no criminal records, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies, allegations of crime, bad behavior, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud).

● The final stage will have an expert panel of judges assess the strong candidates, whittling them down to the final 30. The editorial and research team makes the final selection based on judges’ scoring/remarks and adjusts for diversity across company type, gender, background, etc.

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:

Please read and take careful note of the following before applying.

Business and Technology categories

1. Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
2. Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent
3. Business/businesses should be two years or older
4. Nominees must have risked own money and have a social impact
5. Must be profit generating
6. Must employ people in Africa
7. All applications must be in English
8. Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Sports category

2019 30 under 30s in sport: Sabrina Simader, Patricia Aplot, Clarence Munyai. (Photo: Motlabana Monnakgotla)

1. Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
2. Must be representing an African team
3. Should have a proven track record of no less than two years
4. Should be making significant earnings
5. Should have some endorsement deals
6. Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
7. All applications must be in English
8. Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Creatives category

2019 30 under 30 creatives: Karabo Poppy Moletsane, Thando Thabethe, Petite Noir. (Photo: Motlabana Monnakgotla)

1. Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
2. Must be from or based in Africa
3. Should be making significant earnings
4. Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years
5. Must have social influence
6. Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
7. All applications must be in English
8. Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up