The African Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), powered by Jack Ma’s foundation, announced the addition of three regional partners it will work with on the 10 million USD African Netpreneur Prize yesterday, 4th of March 2019. They include; Abuja-based Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (Nine), Cairo-based entrepreneurship platform RiseUp, and Johannesburg-based startup campus 22 On Sloane. They will serve as the initiative’s official western, northern, and southern African regional partners, separately, alongside Nairobi-based accelerator Nailab, the initiative’s continental and East African partner. With the common goal to mobilize and train aspiring entrepreneurs via grassroots outreach.
The ANPI is a platform that aims to aid and inspire innovative African entrepreneurs that are building a sustainable and accommodating economy for the future. The prize is powered by Jack Ma Foundation. ANPI will host a pitch competition within Africa through the next 10 years and ten finalists will compete for $1 million each year.
See Also: Jack Ma Announces $10m Netpreneur Prize for Africa Startups
Nailab founder and CEO Sam Gichuru said,“Together with our partners, we will support both technology-driven and traditional companies with a special focus on small businesses, grassroots communities and women-founded enterprises.”
NPI advisory board member Graca Machel said, “There are so many undiscovered entrepreneurial heroes, women and men alike, who once unearthed can become game-changers of the African entrepreneurship landscape. I am happy the Africa Netpreneur Prize has decided to make women a priority.”
Applications will open on the 27th of March and close on the 30th of June. The top 50 regional finalists of the Africa Netpreneur Prize will be announced in August. The competition’s 10 finalists will be announced in October, and the grand finale pitch event will take place in November.
All 10 finalists will receive grant funding from the Jack Ma Foundation, and access to the Netpreneur community of African business leaders that will aid them with resources, advice and training.