On Tuesday, 10 November, 12 young entrepreneurs from 9 different countries across the African continent arrived at African Leadership Academy. The Anzisha Prize, a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation, seeks to award young entrepreneurs aged 15-22 who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social challenges or started successful businesses within their communities.
The finalists were selected from an impressive pool of 494 applicants from 33 African countries, and for the first time since its inception, from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Finalists for the Anzisha Prize have a chance to win a share of $75,000 and access to ongoing support to scale their enterprises and expand their impact. The Anzisha Prize is as a result of believing fundamentally in the power of youth-led change.
After months of preparation all the excitement leads up to the gala event on Tuesday, 17 November. The selected finalists take part in #AnzishaWeek hosted at our campus – an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa that sees the finalists participating in workshops where they learn more about entrepreneurial leadership, receive mentorship and a significant transfer of skills that will ultimately benefit the growth of their venture.
The Anzisha Prize Gala event coincides with Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), which is held to celebrate entrepreneurship and inspires people to explore their entrepreneurial potential.
Our 2015 finalists are:
Daniel Mukisa (Uganda) – Co-Founder of Transporter Corporation
Chantal Butare (Rwanda) – Founder of KIDACO (Kinazi Dairy Coperative)
Karidas Tshintsholo (South Africa) – Co-Founder of Push Ismokol
Fabrice Alomo (Cameroon) – Founder of MyAConnect
Chris Kwekowe (Nigeria) – Founder of Slatecube
George Mtemahanji (Tanzania) – Co-Founder of SunSweet Solar
Mabel Suglo (Ghana) – Founder of Eco Shoes
Farai Munjoma (Zimbabwe) – Founder of Shasa Seminar
Sirjeff Dennis (Tanzania) – Founder of Jefren Agrifriend Solutions (JAS)
Hidaya Ibrahim (Ethiopia) – Co-Founder of QAPEQ
Vanessa Zommi (Cameroon) – Founder of Emerald Moringa Tea
Blessing Fortune Kwomo (Nigeria) – Co-Founder of De Rehoboths Threurapeutic Studio
Finalists are inducted to a network of Anzisha Fellows. The Anzisha Fellows will receive ongoing mentoring, professional guidance, linkages with financial institutions and investors, as well as business development skills from ALA and its network of partners and regional hubs.
