Twenty entrepreneurs across Africa will be winners of US $100,000 (about Shs368 million) this year courtesy of 2019 Anzisha Prize, a premier award for young entrepreneurs.
The 2019 Anzisha Prize seeks to award young entrepreneurs who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social challenges or started successful businesses within their communities.
The awards are an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation and the African Leadership Foundation.
To be considered for the awards, one must hold African citizenship and be running a scalable business based on the continent.
In addition, both applicants and nominees must demonstrate how their ventures have achieved impact or have the potential to create jobs.
2019 Anzisha Prize Coordinator for Global Programmes Melanie Mboya is quoted by Ventureburn as saying that nominations for the 2019 cohort opened last Friday (1 February) and that applications will open on 15 February, with both applications and nominations closing on 13 April.
Nominations for the 2019 cohort of the Anzisha prize can be me made through the Anzisha Application Guide.
This year’s Anzisha prize winner will receive a $25 000 grand prize, while the first and second runners up will receive $15 000 and $12 500, respectively.
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The remainder of the cash prizes will be awarded to the rest of the 17 finalists who will each get $2500 each, with one finalist receiving a $10 000 agriculture prize.
Last year’s edition was won by Cameroonian Melissa Bime. Bime founded Infiuss, a Yaounde-based online blood bank and digital supply-chain platform that helps connect hospitals that have blood banks to those that don’t.
Uganda’s Joan Lubega, 21, was the second runner-up and she won US$12500 for her mosquito repellant soap.
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