Everyone agrees that entrepreneurship can create jobs
Everyone agrees that entrepreneurship can create jobs
But
not enough resources are provided to young African entrepreneurs.
The Anzisha Prize has responded to this gap in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
It offers Very Young Entrepreneurs (VYEs) across Africa seed funding and comprehensive business and individual support to enable them to thrive as business owners.
As the prize celebrates its success, we would like to introduce the 2020 Anzisha Prize finalists who are running businesses in their countries, employing their peers and paving the way for others to do the same.
We received over 1200 applications from across the continent, followed by due diligence visits to 50 shortlisted hopefuls to find our Top 20. Join us on October 27th to find out who wins !
But
not enough resources are provided to young African entrepreneurs.
The Anzisha Prize has responded to this gap in the entrepreneurship ecosystem by offering Very Young Entrepreneurs (VYEs) across Africa seed funding and comprehensive business and individual support to enable them to thrive as business owners.
This year
As the Prize celebrates its success, we would like to introduce the 2020 Anzisha Prize finalists who are running businesses in their countries, employing their peers and paving the way for others to do the same.
We received over 1200 applications from across the continent, followed by due diligence visits to 50 shortlisted hopefuls to find our Top 20. Join us on October 27th to find out who wins!
This year, the Prize celerates its success over the past 10 years
122
amazing
VYEs selected
2 200
jobs created
by VYEs
$7 000 000+
raised in grants
& investments
Over the past 10 years
122
amazing
VYEs selected
2 200
jobs created
by VYEs
$7 000 000+
raised in grants
& investments
Here's how you can show support for Africa's youngest entrepreneurs
Read below about our Top 20 Finalists from across Africa
Vote for the Viewers Choice award and choose your favourite entrepreneur who is young (15 - 22 years old), African and showing us that young people are changing the world.
Register for the 2020 Anzisha Prize Virtual Conference to see who will win a no-strings-attached $25 000 Grand Prize to grow their business.
Here's how you can show support for Africa's youngest entrepreneurs
Read below about our Top 20 Finalists from across Africa
Vote for the Viewers Choice award and choose your favourite entrepreneur who is young (15 - 22 years old), African and showing us that young people are changing the world.
Register for the 2020 Anzisha Prize Virtual Conference to see who will win a no-strings-attached $25 000 Grand Prize to grow their business.
Meet this year's Top 20 entrepreneurs
These young entrepreneurs aged between 15-22, are actively running impactful social ventures or for-profit businesses. Competing from over 16 countries, read their profiles to find out who stands a chance to win $25 000!
Meet this year's Top 20 entrepreneurs
As the Prize celebrates its success, we would like to introduce the 2020 Anzisha Prize finalists who are running businesses in their countries, employing their peers and paving the way for others to do the same.
Morocco
Founded IA4YOU in 2019 and has created jobs for 4 full-time, 7 part-time employees
Sector: Information Technology
Mustapha is the founder of IA4YOU, a business/social initiative that designs different systems and digital platforms using artificial intelligence. One of its main products/services is a teleconsultation platform that has been used by Morocco's ministry of health to help track and monitor COVID-19 cases. The business has also created a tracking system for lost/stolen vehicles that is also capable of detecting anomalies
Ghana
Founded Kobaa-Ok in 2019 and has created jobs for 8 full-time and 8 part-time employees
Sector: Agriculture Sector
Aseitu Olivia Kipo founded an agri-business called Kobaa-Ok Enterprise in 2019. Her company focuses on three elements: (i) The production and sale of fresh vegetables (e.g. cabbage, pepper, cucumber) to hotels and restaurants, wholesalers and to final customers; (ii) processing tomatoes and peppers into powder, and (iii) the provision of training and advisory services for other agri-entrepreneurs with farming businesses. Aseitu Olivia serves ~150 customers/ month.
Benin
Founded Abiathar Services in 2018 and has created jobs for 2 full-time, 2 part-time employees
Sector: Energy
Omonlola Lois founded Abiathar Services, a business that offers installation, monitoring and repair services for owners of electrical appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, surveillance cameras, etc. The business also manufactures and sells its own power inverters. It is mostly catering to customers in remote locations of Benin and aims to improve access to electricity and reduce the cost of it through its power inverters.
Malawi
Founded IKFP in 2018 and has created jobs for 3 full-time, 5 part-time employees.
Sector: Manufacturing
Ian Khonje is the founder of an innovative agri-business called Ian khonje food processors (IKFP). His business procures raw baobab from smallholder farmers - both within Malawi and from Mozambique - and produces and packages Baobab jam. This jam is the first of its kind in Malawi, and is sold directly to customers, as well as to wholesalers and to restaurants.
Sierra Leone
Founded IFA in 2018 and has created jobs for 3 full-time and 6 part-time employees
Sector: Environment
Mohamed Bah is Founder of the NGO, Information For All (IFA) - Sierra Leone. IFA Sierra Leone, constructs drills and repairs water wells and toilets - enabling water sustainability and hygiene for water deprived communities. One of their main products; named the SL Pump, is compatible with all existing hand pumps and can be installed to any existing water well. To date, they have drilled over 20 wells and provided clean water to over 20 000 people.
Rwanda
Founded Kaso in 2019 and has created jobs for 2 full-time and 23 part-time employees
Sector: Manufacturing
Benjamin is the founder of Kaso, a manufacturing company established in March 2019. His business manufactures and packages natural organic products both for consumption (e.g. honey, tea, oils, baking soda) and for cosmetic purposes (e.g. lotions, bee wax, coconut soap). His products are sold to businesses (supermarkets, pharmacies, shops, etc.) and to final customers. In addition, Benjamin also provides training to other beekeepers in his region, through the Kaso Program.
Ghana
Founded PopKing Ghana in 2018 and has created 2 full-time jobs for employees
Sector: Consumer Products
Joshua Adabie Armah is the CEO of PopKing Ghana LTD, a business which sells fresh popcorn in multiple different flavors to vendors in Ghana. While a simple idea, the business has managed to gain popularity by producing a variety of enjoyable flavors of popcorn, which are sold in malls and streets, with Popking’s upmarket packaging and design. The business has managed to reach over 5000 end consumers in Ghana.
Ghana
Founded Emergency LED in 2018 and has created jobs for 5 full-time and 5 part-time employees
Sector: Energy
Adjei, is the youngest of our 2020 cohort. She is the founder of the *Mosquito Trapping + Emergency LED Bulbs Initiative, an innovative business in the energy sector. After losing both her biological and non-biological mother to Malaria, Adjei was adamant to solve the problem of Malaria. Her initiative produces and sells state-of-the-art bulbs that provide 12 hours of emergency electricity during power outages and traps mosquitoes.
Kenya
Founded Shulemall in 2018 and has created jobs for 4 full-time and 2 part-time employees
Sector: Retail
Wilfred is a co-founder of Shulemall Limited, an e-commerce platform for students in boarding schools. The platform is the first student-specific e-commerce platform in Kenya, sells uniforms, textbooks, stationary, etc. The platform is accessed via a website and a mobile application and identifies students using their school admission numbers. The company does direct-to-school deliveries in sealed courier packages that are trusted by school administrators.
Morocco
Founded Isla Pack in 2018 and has created jobs for 6 full-time and 3 part-time employees
Sector: Manufacturing
Abdelouahab is the founder of Isla Pack, a business which processes used industrial paper into boxes and wrappings for confectionary items. The confectionary market in Morocco is massive, with most people enjoying traditional sweets. Isla pack produces and sells sweet and bakery wrappings, supplying over 20 bakeries and sweet vendors with beautiful, great quality packaging at affordable prices. The business supplies over 100 000 sweet boxes monthly.
South Africa
Founded Wozilex in 2017 and has created jobs for 6 full-time employees
Sector: Agriculture
Mahlatse is the founder of Wozilex, an agri-business that produces and sells vegetables (e.g. cabbage, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, etc.). Wozilex has been operating since 2017 and supplies relatively large quantities of pre-packaged vegetables to wholesalers.
Sierra Leone
Founded EPHGP in 2017 and has created jobs for 14 full-time and 24 part-time employees
Sector: Agriculture
Abdul is the co-founder of a social enterprise that produces raw ginger and processes it into ginger powder. The powder is sold in sachets and is used to make food products such as ginger drinks and gingerbread by both food businesses and households. The social enterprise uses 25% of its generated revenue to support educational programs (e.g. community library, solar power for school children, etc.), which mainly target the children of ginger farmers.
Senegal
Founded SallyMaa in 2017 and has created jobs for 4 full-time and 2 part-time employees
Sector: Fashion
Saly Sarr is the founder of SallyMaa, a fashion brand that designs and manufactures leather accessories such as heels and sandals for women of all ages. The products are mostly sold through an online catalogue, but also through exhibitions. The brand wants to redefine and bring greater attention to the local craft of shoemaking in Senegal.
Cameroon
Founded Supreme Sparkle in 2018 and has created jobs for 2 full-time and 6 part-time employees
Sector: Fashion.
Frida is the founder of Supreme Sparkle, a multifaceted business that offers tailoring, salon and spa services. They mostly generate revenue through their hair dressing, manicure/pedicure and make up services, but also through the sale of beauty products (hair oil, mesh, nails) and African fashion dresses
Uganda
Founded Minute5 in 2019 and has created jobs for 3 full-time and 3 part-time employees
Sector: Consumer products.
Jonathan Paul Katumba founded Minute5- an online grocery delivery service with a focus on fresh farm products. Based in Uganda, Minute5 sources fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce from small scale farmers and then delivers to consumers and businesses all around the capital city, Kampala.
Egypt
Founded Presto in 2019 and has created jobs for 11 full-time employees
Sector: Retail
Alaa Moatamed is the co-founder of Presto, one of the leading delivery management platforms in Egypt. The venture enables business owners to provide an affordable and convenient delivery service to their customers. Presto mainly caters to small businesses and small women led ventures that don’t yet have the capacity to afford their own delivery agents. To date, Presto serves 300 stores and merchants in over 2 cities.
Uganda
Founded Biha Eco Venture in 2018 and has created jobs for 8 full-time and 10 part-time employees
Sector: Manufacturing
Hamidu Biha, is the founder of Biha Eco Venture, an innovative recycling company that uses poultry eggshells to make various eco friendly products including (i) Eco-Charcoal, which has less carbon and protects consumers from toxic fumes, and (ii) Eco-tiles, which are affordable tiles for low income earners. The business has also developed new products such as the eco-fertilizer and eco-paint, which are expected to generate significant revenue.
Tanzania
Founded Cutoff Recycle in 2018 and has created jobs for 5 full-time and 12 part-time employees
Sector: Environmental
David Denis is the founder of Cutoff Recycle, a Tanzanian based human hair waste recycling venture. The business uses human hair waste to produce two main agri-products: pesticide and fertilizer. Further, the venture develops its own hair fiber reinforcement of concrete (HFRC) technology. Human hair fortifies concrete and using that science, David has been able to continually sell the HFRC technology to local bricks works factories in Arusha, Tanzania.
Madagascar
Founded Sayna in 2019 and has created jobs for 3 full-time and 1 part-time employee
Sector: Education
Sayna is an innovative EdTech venture based in Madagascar. The business sources, trains, and produces highly equipped young Africans in industry-specific digital skills. Founded by Matina Razafimahefa, the venture has expanded its training to Comoros, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Senegal. So far, Sayna has been able to place 80 percent of its talents in the global IT marketplace.
Nigeria
Founded Recyclift in 2019 and has created jobs for 5 full-time and 1 part-time employee
Sector: Environmental
Ijeje Hephzibah is one of the co-founders of Recyclift, a Nigeran based recycling company with the sole focus of recycling plastic bottles and plastic bottle caps. With a B2B model, the venture sorts, compresses, packs, and sells recycled waste to exporters. Currently, Recyclift processes over 8000 kilograms of plastic waste each month and aims to diversity into exports of plastic waste products by the end of 2020.