By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Young entrepreneurs who intend to receive over $5,000 in cash stipends and coaching services from a team of experts can begin to apply for the 2023 Anzisha Prize on or before November 27, 2022.
Anzisha Prize is a leading venture-building program championing young African entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 22.
For next year’s event, 30 fellows running businesses and creating employment opportunities for their peers will be selected for a three-year fellowship and business consulting support.
Since 2011, Anzisha Prize, a partnership between Mastercard Foundation and African Leadership Academy, has supported and celebrated the entrepreneurial endeavours of very young people.
The program alumni network includes 202 entrepreneurs who have gone on to create businesses that have transformed their communities. To date, just 130 of these fellows have created 8708 employment opportunities and have raised over $6 million in investments.
The fellowship supports the growth of young entrepreneurs and recognises and incentivises their achievements – big and small. Through an individual and collective entrepreneurial development journey, the fellowship focuses on key areas of support: Business Development and Personal Leadership. During the fellowship, entrepreneurs will have access to a plethora of tools, resources, and experiences and access to a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Every six months, entrepreneurs will unlock key features such as cash stipends or experiential learning workshops and courses based on predetermined milestones they have achieved. At the end of the second year, entrepreneurs will pitch their improved businesses and plan for a chance to win their share of grand cash prizes valued at over $50,000.
“Application season is always an exciting time for the program because we get to see how Africa’s youth are thinking innovatively to solve some of our pressing issues.
“For the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in Agri-Tech and Fin-tech businesses that are reshaping how we do business on the continent,” the Selection Lead for The Anzisha Prize, Ms Suzan Kibirige, said.
“What I enjoy most about this work is seeing how tenacious young people are. They never take no for an answer, and that is what we need,” Ms Kibirige added.
Adedapo Adesanya