The Jack Ma Foundation’s $10 million Netpreneur Prize Initiative in Africa has announced three new local partners to help mobilize contestants in their respective regions. NINE from Nigeria, RiseUp from Egypt, and 22 On Sloane from South Africa are the new officials for Western, Northern, and Southern Africa, respectively. The new three partners will be required to work along with the previously announced eastern Africa partner Nailab. With the main aim of drawing participation from entrepreneurs across Africa through grassroots outreach in their particular regions.
The Africa Netpreneur Prize was created with the aim of supporting and funding African entrepreneurs working to address the continent’s most important challenges and further its digital economy through local entrepreneurship. The Prize will see that US$10 million will be distributed to 100 entrepreneurs over the next 10 years. The Jack Ma Foundation hosts an annual pitch competition, with 10 finalists selected from across the continent to showcase their business ideas and compete for US$1 million in prize money. All 10 finalists will receive grant funding from the Jack Ma Foundation, as well as access to the Netpreneur community of African business leaders to leverage the community’s shared expertise, best practices and resources.
Appointing new regional partners is expected to increase the number of entrepreneurs across the continent who want to get involved and compete for the impactful prize. The partners will be able to rally entrepreneurs across the continent.
22 On Sloane, the southern partner, have been able to grow the largest startup campus on the continent and also the main project of the Global Entrepreneurship Network Africa (GEN Africa). The organization majorly is keen on supporting and growing disruptive startups so as to grow various industries.
RiseUp, the northern partner, acts a link between startups and the resources they need across the continent. It has been able to hold MENA the region’s largest entrepreneurship event, RiseUp Summit.
The western partner, NINE is Nigeria’s largest network of Incubators supporting the growth of entrepreneurs.
Official applications for the ANPI will be expected to start on 27th of March to the 30th of June 2019. The top 50 regional finalists of the Africa Netpreneur Prize will be announced in August, while the competition’s 10 finalists are set to be announced in October. Thereafter, the prize’s grand finale pitch event will take place in November.
All 10 finalists will receive grant funding from the Jack Ma Foundation, as well as access to the Netpreneur community of African business leaders which will assist the entrepreneurs with resources, advice on best practices and through its shared expertise.