Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative names three additional regional partners

The African Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) today announced the names of three additional regional partners it will work with on the $10-million Africa Netpreneur Prize.

The regional partners are Abuja-based Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (Nine), Cairo-based entrepreneurship platform RiseUp, and Johannesburg-based startup campus 22 On Sloane.

In a statement today (4 March), the ANPI said Nine, RiseUp and 22 On Sloane will serve as the initiative’s official western, northern, and southern African regional partners, respectively.

The African Netpreneur Prize Initiative regional partners now include Nailab, Nine, Rise Up and 22 On Sloane

The three, along with Nairobi-based accelerator Nailab  — which is also the initiative’s continental and East African partner — will promote the prize in their respective regions by mobilising aspiring entrepreneurs through grassroots outreach.

The Africa Netpreneur Prize aims to support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. The prize is an initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation.

Over the next 10 years, the ANPI will host a pitch competition across Africa which will culminate in a final in which ten finalists will compete for $1-million in total prize money.

Commenting in the same statement, Nailab founder and CEO Sam Gichuru said the accelerator was excited to work with “reputable and mission-aligned partners”.

“Together with our partners, we will support both technology-driven and traditional companies with a special focus on small businesses, grassroots communities and women-founded enterprises,” he added.

ANPI advisory board member Graca Machel said the regional partners will help support the prize’s “inclusive and community-based approach”.

“There are so many undiscovered entrepreneurial heroes, women and men alike, who once unearthed can become game-changers of the African entrepreneurship landscape. I am happy the Africa Netpreneur Prize has decided to make women a priority,” said Machel.

Applications open 27 March

Applications for the inaugural edition of the prize will open on 27 March and close on 30 June.

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.

Read more: Applications for Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur Prize to open in March
Read more: Here’s all you need to know about Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur Prize
Read more: Jack Ma challenges Africans to seize opportunities, announces $10m prize

Featured image, left to right: Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma speaks with Eneza Education co-founder Kago Kagichiri and Herdy CEO Derrick Muturi at Nailab during his maiden visit to Africa last year (Supplied)