Deadline: 27-Nov-2022

Have you heard the news? Africa’s Biggest Award for Youth, “2023 Anzisha Prize” is now officially open! If you are a young African Entrepreneur trying to grow a small business or you’ve created something that provides you and your friends with an income – then they look forward to receiving your application in our 2023 cycle.

Now in its 13thyear, the program has taken on a new shape and will run for three years per cohort. At the end of the three years, the fellows will graduate and join the Anzisha Prize alumni network.

30 finalists from across Africa will be selected for the fellowship program yearly. Here they will receive high-touch support for their business and their entrepreneurial journey. Their performance will be tracked throughout the three years to assess growth and progress. Businesses that show exemplary growth and initiative are rewarded with benefits and services such as short courses, cloud services, and cash stipends.

The Anzisha Prize has championed and supported over 200 Very Young Entrepreneurs throughout the African continent. The fellowship is a three year program that celebrates and rewards business growth.

Categories

• The Grand Prizes are split into 4 categories
  • The Job Creation Prize
  • Revenue Growth Prize
  • Storytelling Prize
  • Integrating Systems and Processes Prize

Prize Information

• The Anzisha Prize is Africa’s biggest award for her youngest entrepreneurs aged 15 – 22 years, and hands out over USD $200,000 every year in business support and prize money to very young entrepreneurs from all over the continent
• At the end of the second year, entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses and successes for a chance to win shared Monetary Reward to the value of $140,000 over three years including grand cash prizes valued over $50 000.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an ID document or Passport to present as evidence. Anyone born before September 1, 2000 or after August 31, 2007, will not be considered.
• You must be a national of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/beneficiaries.
• The Anzisha Prize isn’t awarded for great ideas or business plans – you must have already started, and be able to prove it! Get started now and ensure you have tangible results to share before applications open.
• Your business, invention or social project can be in any field or industry (science and technology, civil society, arts and culture, sports, etc.). Any kind of venture is welcome to apply.
• Individuals who apply must be one of the founding members of a business (for example, 2 or 3 co-founders who started up the project together).

Judging Criteria

• To be selected as one of the Anzisha ventures, your business or project will be judged on the following 5 criteria:
  • Is your venture established with customers and beneficiaries and are you offering value to them?
  • Are you, the founder, leading and managing your venture?
  • Is your venture demonstrating some impact already?
  • Whether your venture is a for-profit business or cause-based, does it already earn revenues or already reach beneficiaries? Is there potential to increase revenues or beneficiary reach with support from Anzisha?
  • Has your venture created jobs and is there potential to create more high quality jobs?
• To be selected as one of the Anzisha Fellows, you must demonstrate two important qualities:
  • You are the leader of your venture and you drive both venture strategy and operations.
  • You spend at least 20 hours a week (or more) on your business and plan to continue to do so after selection.

For more information, visit https://anzishaprize.org/anzisha-prize/apply/