The Anzisha Prize is Africa’s biggest award for her youngest entrepreneurs, and hands out over USD $100,000 every year in funding to entrepreneurs from all over the continent.
Last year was exciting in that we announced our new efforts to support the parents of very young entrepreneurs in Africa.
“Our new book – Parenting the Boss – uncovers the critical role parents play and how we must invest in them if we are to see more young people confidently choosing an entrepreneurship career path post school,” says Josh Adler, Vice President of Growth and Entrepreneurship at African Leadership Academy.
In 2018, Melissa Bime, a 22-year-old healthcare entrepreneur won the US$25,000 Grand Prize at the 8th annual Anzisha Prize awards gala. She is the founder of INFIUSS, an online blood bank and digital supply chain platform that ensures patients in 23 hospitals in Cameroon have life-saving blood when and where they need it. She is only the second woman to win the grand prize since Best Ayiorworth took it home in 2013.
“Today, I stand here to represent every young girl out there that just has her dreams,” said Melissa Bime during her acceptance speech. “I stand here to represent this amazing group of entrepreneurs that I am a part of. With these people, the future of Africa is very bright. We are going to change this continent.”
2019 Anzisha Prize applications are open! 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.
We are looking for 12 finalists, female and male alike from all over the continent. The Anzisha Team will be spreading the word in a country near you through our annual Prize Tour. We will be visiting various cities and areas during our Prize Tour and spreading the word on radio stations, that cater to young people to get the word out about the $7,500 fellowship experience and opportunity to compete for $100,000 in prize money.
“Our partners across the continent are selected to join hands in search for Africa’s youngest, most promising social and business entrepreneurs. Together, this network of change makers works to build a powerful ecosystem to accelerate youth entrepreneurial activity in every corner of Africa.” – Melissa Mbazo, Anzisha Prize Manager
If you are interested in applying for the Anzisha Prize make sure you are eligible by reading the criteria and downloading the guide.
ABOUT ANZISHA
The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation that celebrates and accelerates Africa’s highest potential, very young entrepreneurs and a growing community of educators and other players who are pioneering how best to provide entrepreneur education and support in Africa. The program aims to inspire and support thousands of young Africans to start their own businesses and create jobs for others, and to improve the quality of entrepreneur support and teaching offered to high-school and university-aged entrepreneurs.
For more information on the prestigious Anzisha Prize, go to AnzishaPrize.org
