The Jack Ma Foundation has launched the second edition of the Africa Netpreneur Prize, which will offer selected innovative African tech startups access to a US$1.5 million prize pool.
The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) was created by Alibaba founder Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017, and aims to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The first edition was won by a Nigerian startup LifeBank founded by Temie Giwa-Tubosun in November last year.
Through the Jack Ma Foundation, 10 finalists will be selected to pitch for a share of an overall prize pool of US$1.5 million – up from $1 million last year. The finalists will be entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, solving the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. They will be selected to compete for the final pitch competition that will be broadcasted online.
This year, the foundation will work with a selected group of Anchor Partners, including Ashesi, Dalberg, Janngo and RiseUp will join forces with ANP to identify and support African entrepreneurs for this year’s edition. ANP also has on its advisory board, Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens.
Applications are open until June 9, with semi-finalists to be announced in August and the top 10 finalists for 2020 shall be unveiled in September. Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries are welcome to apply, with applications available in both French and English.
Apply here https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/
