Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship Program 2025 for Innovative Young African Entrepreneurs ($140,000 Prize)

The Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship Program 2025 empowers young entrepreneurs through a multi-year fellowship, offering resources, mentorship, and the opportunity to compete for a share of $50,000 in grand prizes. Apply Below: 

When is the Application Deadline:

The application deadline for the Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship Program 2025 for Innovative Young African Entrepreneurs is November 8, 2024.

Tell Me About The Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship Program:

The Anzisha Prize is a venture-building fellowship program that has successfully supported and championed very young entrepreneurs for over 10 years.  The fellowship is a multi-year program that celebrates and rewards business growth. During the fellowship, the program will track the performance of the business and the entrepreneur. Businesses that show exemplary growth and initiative are rewarded with benefits and services such as short courses, cloud services and cash stipends. At the end of the second year, entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses and successes for a chance to win their share of prizes to the value of $ 50,000.  The Grand Prizes are split into 4 categories

• The Job Creation Prize
• Revenue Growth Prize
• Storytelling Prize
• Integrating Systems and Processes Prize

At the end of the fellowship, the fellows will graduate and join the Anzisha Prize alumni network. 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, we look forward to receiving your application. 

Check: WIMBIZ Business Pitch For Female Entrepreneurs 2024

Which Fields are Eligible?

Entrepreneurship

Type:

Fellowship

Who can Apply For The Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship Program?

Also, applicants are to meet the following criteria:

• You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an ID document or Passport to present as evidence. Anyone born before 1 September 2002 or after 31 August 2009, 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).

How are Applicants Selected?

Furthermore, to be selected as one of our 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, who is 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 revenue or already impacting 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 one of our 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.

Check: Sterling Bank Green Innovation Challenge 2024 for Nigerian Startups and MSMEs (20million naira award)

Which Countries Are Eligible?

African Countries

Where will the Award be Taken?

Africa 

How Many Awards?

Not specified

What is the Benefit of the Award?

Additionally, successful applicants will benefit the following:

• Bi-annual cash stipends to eligible fellows throughout the fellowship.
• Short-term educational opportunities, internships and specialised technical expert consultations for eligible fellows in Year 2.
• Job Creation Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has created the most job opportunities since joining the fellowship.
• Revenue Growth Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 with the highest business revenue growth since joining the fellowship.
• Storytelling Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has creatively communicated and distributed their entrepreneurship story through written, oral and visual storytelling since joining the fellowship.
• Systems of Delivery Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has effectively used systems and processes learned in the program to advance their business model since joining the fellowship.

How Long Will the Award Last?

Unspecified 

How to Apply:

To apply, fill out the application form here.

You can also nominate a business via this link.