The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition has expanded its network of local and international partners for its 2021 edition, to identify and support talented African entrepreneurs for its 2021 edition.
VC4A, a leading platform for startup funding in Africa, has partnered with ABH for the first time this year, and will work closely with the prize’s organizers to help identify and engage with potential candidates. VC4A will also work closely with participants to strengthen, in particular, their “investment-readiness” and increase their chances to gain relevant exposure to potential investors and secure funding.
To date, the 2021 edition of the ABH prize competition has received strong applications from candidates representing all 54 countries in Africa. In recognition of the level of interest from across the continent and the challenging circumstances that entrepreneurs and SMEs continue to face, ABH has extended the deadline for applications from June 7 to June 21.
Founders across the continent are working hard to bring about important innovations and solutions that address some of the world’s most pressing problems. It is important we celebrate these efforts and work together to support these entrepreneurs. said Ben White, Founder and CEO, VC4A.
We are grateful to be collaborating with VC4A to reach an even wider pool of talented entrepreneurs from across Africa. In addition, our partnership will enable us to support ABH finalists raise future investment as VC4A will leverage its expertise to organize and deliver a tailored investment readiness program designed to help entrepreneurs with insights and tools to fundraise. We will also work together to organize an investor roundtable to ensure those who are investment-ready have a platform to grow their businesses and share their stories,” notes Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships and Programs at ABH. “With them as part of our network of partners, we will be able to reach entrepreneurs from a diverse range of regions and industries, and do even more to support African entrepreneurs grow and scale.
The Africa’s Business Heroes prize competition is a philanthropic program established by the Jack Ma Foundation to spotlight and support African entrepreneurs. ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period and allocate grant funding alongside training, mentoring and learning programmes, as well as access to a community of like-minded African business leaders.
At the grand finale later this year, ten finalists will take the stage to present their businesses and share their visions to an esteemed panel of judges, to win a share of the US$1.5 million grant. The journey to the Finale will include several rounds of rigorous evaluation panels, as well as access to a community of international leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, through a number of multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions.
To apply and for more information about ABH, please visit the competition page.