Chance for African Entrepreneurs to Receive Grant Fund at the 2021 ABH Prize

Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) invites African entrepreneurs to be part of the 2021 ABH Prize. ABH aims to identify, support, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, working to solve the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.

The initiative aims to be as inclusive as possible. Applications are open in English and French to entrepreneurs from all African countries, all sectors, and all ages who operate businesses formally registered and headquartered in an African country, and that have a 3-year track record.

Every year, ten finalists will be selected to compete in the ABH finale pitch competition and participate in a TV Show that will be broadcast online and across the continent. The finalists will compete for a share of US $1.5 million in grant money.

• Pitch business legends and receive advice from them.
• Win your share of $1.5 million USD. All ten finalists win grant funds from $100,000 to $300,000.
• Gain global recognition & exposure. International publicity via televised Africa's Business heroes Show, press releases, news articles, TV/radio & print interviews.
• Access mentorship & training. Tailored Feedback, Mentorship & Training via Africa's Business Heroes Network of Partners and Judges.
• Get connected with entrepreneurs' ecosystem. An online community of ABH Alumni, judges, and key stakeholders that promotes peer learning, engagement, and networking.

To apply for the competition, you should meet the following criteria:

• The applicant should be the Founder or a Co-Founder of the company.
• The applicant has African citizenship or is the child or grandchild of an African citizen.
• The Company is registered and headquartered in an African country, and primarily operates in Africa.
• The company is in the post-Idea stage. Business is 3 years old or more and has at least 3 years of revenue history.

Selection Criteria:

To identify the heroes, ABH runs a 4-step application process:

• Round 1: An online review of submitted applicants to determine the Top 50 Finalists. Each application will be reviewed by two judges. The Top 50 Finalists will be determined by the average scores of all applications.
• Round 2: Video-Call interviews with two established business leaders who engage in a 1 hour and a half in-depth assessment of the company and finalist. The Top 20 Finalists will be determined by the average scores of all 50 Finalists.
• Due diligence: The Top 20 Finalists will need to pass due diligence checks by ABH partner: Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in order to move to the Semi-Finale round.
• Semi-Final Pitch: The short-listed finalists will pitch to a panel of a distinguished and experienced panel of investors, business leaders, and professionals who will determine the Top 10 Finalists.

About Africa's Business Heroes:

Africa's Business Heroes is an entrepreneurship competition of the Jack Ma Foundation's Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), which aims to identify, spotlight, and award grant-funding to 100 African entrepreneur heroes across Africa.

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