The Africa Business Heroes competition for inspiring entrepreneurs is scheduled to close on the 7th of June and already, thousands of entrepreneurs from Africa already have their entries submitted.
At a time when many small businesses are reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with its consequential lockdown, the award offers an opportunity for small business owners to boost their business with the prize money, a spotlight to advertise their businesses and as well tell their stories, network and get mentorship opportunities.
The award opens up the opportunity for indigenous business within Africa to compete for the first place reward of $300,000 with $250,000 up for the second place winner.
The third place winner will also go home with $150,000 while the top 10 finalists will go home with $100,000. $100,000 will also be allocated for the finalists to participate in a global immersion program.
The theme of this year’s competition is ”It’s African Time”, and serves as a bold call to action for entrepreneurs on the African continent. The ABH prize competition is the flagship philanthropic program of the Jack Ma Foundation, and is open to all African business founders or co-founders of Africa-based businesses or social enterprises with a track record of three years or longer. African entrepreneurs from all sectors, age groups and genders are welcome.
The organizers are therby calling on entrepreneurs and small business owners especially those in Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia.
“We are gratified to have received such a positive response to our ongoing call for applications. Given the challenges over the past year, it has become even more important to enable as many talented entrepreneurs as possible. We want to give entrepreneurs from areas still underrepresented this opportunity to grow their businesses and tell their stories.” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships and Programmes at ABH. “We are looking for people who are on a mission to build successful businesses that create jobs and solve challenges in their community.”
We are looking for people who are on a mission to build successful businesses that create jobs and solve challenges in their community
Although North and Central Africa have been underrepresented in number of applications, ABH has received excellent applications from those regions in past editions, with two entrepreneurs from North Africa making the Top 10 in 2019 and a Central African entrepreneur making it to the Top 10 in 2020. West Africa has also done well throughout the competition, with 11 of the top 20 winners in 2019 and 2020. To date, Zimbabwe has led the way in the Southern African region and East Africa is a region where women entrepreneurs have been particularly successful with five female top 10 finalists, including 2020’s first-place winner Chebet Lesan.
To learn more and apply to Africa’s Business Heroes 2021 visit www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org
