Do you know of a young innovator between 15-22? After five years of success, the Anzisha Prize is investing further to find, celebrate and expand the award to the very youngest entrepreneurs in Africa. The 6th Anzisha Prize application phase is now open, and the search is on to find 12 of Africa’s youngest, most innovative social and business entrepreneurs under the age of 22.
The Anzisha Prize is one of the most accessible and inclusive Pan-African opportunities for youth. The Prize aims to stimulate, celebrate, nurture and scale young African entrepreneurs and catalyze the ecosystem that supports them. It recognizes young innovators, aged 15 – 22, who have developed and implemented solutions to challenges facing their communities and created dynamic businesses. The program celebrates young leaders who are blazing a trail for others to follow, showing us all that if you are good enough, you’re old enough!
The prize is co-hosted by African Leadership Academy (ALA) and The MasterCard Foundation. They are excited to announce a significant increase in the support available to selected entrepreneurs over the next five years. Each of the 12 finalists will now receive a $7,500 USD fellowship package with the ALA’s Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U) which includes the Anzisha Week boot camp, mentorship and consulting services, travel opportunities to network and business equipment.
In addition, a new $25,000 USD prize category has been created to recognize Anzisha Fellows who have created further social and economic value through their ventures by effectively leveraging the opportunities provided by the fellowship with ALA.
This brings the total prize pool to $100,000 USD annually, with the Grand Prize Winner taking home $25,000 USD, 1st Runner-up receiving $15,000 USD and 2nd Runner-up receiving $12,500 USD. The remaining nine finalists will receive $2,500 USD each.
The prize is open to any African national under the age of 22 with an active project, social venture or for-profit business based on the continent.
Anzisha Prize organizers encourage nominations from teachers, parents and community members to identify talented young people. Application forms and information are available in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic, and the Anzisha Prize Tour team will visit key hubs across the continent and engage local media in every region. Both paper and electronic applications are accepted. Applications will close on 15 April 2016.