Apply to the Anzisha Prize

The Anzisha Prize is Africa’s biggest award for her youngest entrepreneurs aged 15 - 22 years, and hands out over USD $200,000 every year in business support and prize money to very young entrepreneurs from all over the continent.

The Anzisha Prize has championed and supported over 200 Very Young Entrepreneurs throughout the African continent. If you are a young African Entrepreneur trying to grow a small business or you’ve created something that provides you and your friends with an income – then we hope you submitted your application for the 2023 cycle. Become a role model and inspire other young entrepreneurs to make a difference in their communities and Africa as a whole. By applying to the Anzisha Prize you stand a chance to win a share of grand cash prizes valued over $50 000 and business support for your business. Africa’s future lies in your hands and we want to celebrate your potential to grow your country’s economy and create jobs. Keep following the Anzisha Prize for the latest updates on our Venture Building Fellowship.

Applications for the 2024 intake will close on 31 October 2023.

Advice to Very Young Entrepreneurs - Sharon Yayra | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice For Aspiring Entrepreneurs | Entrepreneurs Say What | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice to Very Young Entrepreneurs - Noreen Mutavhatsindi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice to Very Young Entrepreneurs - Amina Nakiboneka | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice to Very Young Entrepreneurs - Vanessa Ngwi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Conselhos para um jovem empresário aspirante - N'zinga António | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

نصائح مقدمة إلى رائد أعمال شاب طموح - Abdulwhab Mohamed | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs - Martin Sure | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Conseils aux aspirants entrepreneurs - Rebecca Taboukouna | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs - Eneyi Oshi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Important Dates for the 2024 Application Cycle

DBE – E-cubed

About the Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship

The Anzisha Prize is a venture building fellowship program that has successfully supported and championed very young entrepreneurs for over 10 years. The fellowship is a multi-year program that celebrates and rewards business growth. During the course of the fellowship, the program will track the performance of the business and the entrepreneur. Businesses that show exemplary growth and initiative are rewarded with benefits and services such as short courses, cloud services and cash stipends. At the end of the second year, entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses and successes for a chance to win their share of prizes to the value $50 000. The Grand Prizes are split into 4 categories

The Job Creation Prize
Revenue Growth Prize
Storytelling Prize
Integrating Systems and Processes Prize

At the end of the fellowship, the fellows will graduate and join the Anzisha Prize alumni network. If you are a young African Entrepreneur trying to grow a small business or you’ve created something that provides you and your friends with an income – then we look forward to receiving your application.

Download the Application Guide

In the application guide, you will find a list of eligibility requirements, documents, and images needed to submit a compelling application.

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Sharon Yayra | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Athingahangwi Ramabulana | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Amina Nakiboneka | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Abdulwhab Mohamed - اول 100 يوم لي في انزيشا

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Collins Kathuli | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Noreen Mutavhatsindi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Os primeiros 100 dias como bolsista da Anzisha - Sheila Chivura | Bolsa do Prêmio Anzisha

First 100 Days as an Anzisha Fellow - Vanessa Ngwi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Os primeiros 100 dias como bolsista da Anzisha - N’zinga António | Bolsa do Prêmio Anzisha

100 premiers jours Anzisha - Bassim-swe Hugues Bamassi | Anzisha Prize Fellowship

Download the Application Guide

This guide is available in Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.

Additional Information

Africa’s future lies in your hands and we want to celebrate your potential to grow your country’s economy and create jobs.

Eligibility Requirements

Judging Criteria

Anzisha Prizes

You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an ID document or Passport to present as evidence. Anyone born before 1 September 2002 or after 31 August 2009, will not be considered.
You must be a national of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/beneficiaries.
The Anzisha Prize isn’t awarded for great ideas or business plans – you must have already started, and be able to prove it! Get started now and ensure you have tangible results to share before applications open.
Your business, invention or social project can be in any field or industry (science and technology, civil society, arts and culture, sports, etc.). Any kind of venture is welcome to apply.
Individuals who apply must be one of the founding members of a business (for example, 2 or 3 co-founders who started up the project together).

To be selected as one of our Anzisha ventures, your business or project will be judged on the following 5 criteria:

Is your venture established with customers and beneficiaries and are you offering value to them?
Are you, the founder, who is leading and managing your venture?
Is your venture demonstrating some impact already?
Whether your venture is a for-profit business or cause-based, does it already earn revenue or already impacting beneficiaries? Is there potential to increase revenues or beneficiary reach with support from Anzisha?
Has your venture created jobs and is there potential to create more high quality jobs?

To be selected as one of our Anzisha Fellows, you must demonstrate two important qualities:

You are the leader of your venture and you drive both venture strategy and operations.
You spend at least 20 hours a week (or more) on your business and plan to continue to do so after selection.

Bi-annual cash stipends to eligible fellows throughout the fellowship.
Short term educational opportunities, internships and specialised technical expert consultations for eligible fellows in Year 2.
Job Creation Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has created the most job opportunities since joining the fellowship.
Revenue Growth Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 with the highest business revenue growth since joining the fellowship.
Storytelling Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has creatively communicated and distributed their entrepreneurship story through written, oral and visual storytelling since joining the fellowship.
Systems of Delivery Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has effectively used systems and processes learned in the program to advance their business model since joining the fellowship.

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