The Anzisha Prize is Africa's biggest award for its youngest entrepreneurs aged between 15 and 22 and distributes more than 200,000 dollars a year in business support and cash prizes to very young entrepreneurs across the continent.
The Anzisha Prize has championed and supported more than 200 very young entrepreneurs across the African continent. If you are a young African entrepreneur trying to develop a small business or have created something that provides an income for you and your friends, they hope to receive your application in the 2023 cycle.
Programme details
The Anzisha Prize is a venture-building bursary programme that has successfully supported and championed very young entrepreneurs for over 10 years. The scholarship is a three-year programme that celebrates and rewards business growth.
Over the three years, the programme will monitor the performance of the business and the entrepreneur. Companies that show exemplary growth and initiative are rewarded with benefits and services such as short courses, cloud services and cash grants.
At the end of the second year, the entrepreneurs will present their businesses and successes for a chance to win their share of the big cash prizes valued at over US$ 50,000.
The Grand Prizes are divided into 4 categories
- The Job Creation Award
- Revenue growth premium
- Storytelling Award
- Integrating Systems and Processes Award
At the end of the three-year scholarship, the fellows will graduate and join the Anzisha Prize alumni network.
Prizes
- Six-month cash grants for eligible scholars in Year 1 and Year 3 of the scholarship.
- Short-term educational opportunities, internships and specialised consultations from technical experts for eligible scholars in Year 2 and Year 3.
- Job Creation Award - given to the 2nd year entrepreneur who has created the most job opportunities since joining the exchange.
- Revenue Growth Award - awarded to the entrepreneur in year 2 with the highest business revenue growth since joining the stock exchange.
- Storytelling Award - given to the 2nd year entrepreneur who has creatively communicated and distributed their entrepreneurial story through written, oral and visual storytelling.
- Systems and processes integration award - given to the 2nd year entrepreneur who has effectively used systems and processes to advance their business model.
Eligibility
- You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an identity document or passport to show as proof. Anyone born before 1st September 2000 or after 31st August 2007 will not be considered.
- You must be a citizen of an African country with a company based in Africa for African clients/beneficiaries.
- The Anzisha Prize is not awarded for great ideas or business plans - you must have already started and be able to prove it! Start now and make sure you have tangible results to share before the 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 type of enterprise is welcome.
- Individuals applying must be one of the founding members of a company (for example, 2 or 3 co-founders who started the project together).
Judging Criteria
To be selected as one of Anzisha's ventures, your business or project will be judged on the following 5 criteria:
- Is your enterprise established with clients and beneficiaries and are you offering them value?
- Are you, the founder, leading and managing your enterprise?
- Is your enterprise already making an impact?
- Whether your venture is for-profit or cause-based, does it already generate revenue or reach beneficiaries? Is there potential to increase revenue or beneficiary reach with Anzisha's support?
- Has your enterprise created jobs and is there potential to create more high-quality jobs?
To be selected as one of the Anzisha Scholars, you must demonstrate two important qualities:
- You are the leader of your enterprise and direct its strategy and operations.
- You spend at least 20 hours a week (or more) on your business and plan to continue doing so after selection.
How to apply
Entries can be made in any of the following languages: Click on the language of your choice.
Application deadline: 27th November 2022
