A press statement that was seen by Business Insider Africa explained that each of the selected entrepreneurs will receive more than $15,000 venture of venture building support and $5,000 worth of grant over the next three years.
The Anzisha Prize programme, which is a partnership between the African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation, is focused on enabling young African entrepreneurs by availing them access to finance and mentoring. The organisation's Executive Director, Josh Adler, explained why:
“We’ve seen clearly that a transition from secondary or tertiary education directly into sustainable entrepreneurship requires both financial and learning support. Through our long-term partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we’re thrilled to not only announce an increase in the number of fellowships we can offer each year, but also in the monetary support each venture will receive."
Note that the participants were selected from a long list of applicants. There was a rigorous selection process, after which entrepreneurs (whose ventures cut across different sectors such as education and beauty) were selected from different African countries including Madagascar, Togo, South Africa, etc.
In the meantime, applications for the 2022 Anzisha Prize Fellowship opened today. Interested and eligible applicants are advised to check out the organisation's website for more information.
Here are the 26 participants for the 2021 Anzisha Prize Fellowship
- Constant Ayihounoun: This 21 year old Beninese entrepreneur founded a startup called Agreco Sarl which manufactures organic fertilisers and pesticides.
- Sergio Tabe Ashu: The 21 year old Cameroonian entrepreneur is the founder of Excel Academy which provides private tutoring services.
- Hebrey Issa Abraham: This is another 21 year old Cameroonian entrepreneur whose agritech startup, DATA, produces and sells vegetables.
- Krys Elfried Digbehi: This 18-year old is from Ivory Coast. His startup, Yeyiba Restaurants, specialises in preparing and selling African and European dishes to students.
- Victoire Bakunzi: This 21-year old entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo, founded Basuyi Business which produces Afro-centric jackets and tunics.
- Oumar Diogo Sow: Oumar is from Guinea and he is 22 years old. He is the founder of an agritech startup called Felian Trading Limited which produces rice and cassava.
- Martin Sure Ondiwa: This 21-year old Kenyan entrepreneur is the founder of Greenfarms. The startup produces and sells fresh vegetables.
- Tsantatiana Fideranaharilala Rakotoarimanga: 22-year old Tsantatiana from Madagascar founded Dream Study Agency which assists students to secure admission to study abroad.
- Mahefarivo Thierry Andrianarinoa: This is another entrepreneur from Madagascar. He is 21 and his fashion startup, Coufé Madagascar, specialises in making customised and embroidered shirts.
- Martin Masiya: A 21-year old entrepreneur from Malawi, founded Sollys Energy which distributes solar lamps and charges on a pay-as-you-go basis.
- Adama Kanté: He is 22 from Mali and founded Food Sante which processes food products.
- Ali Ould Mohamed: Ali is an 18-year old entrepreneur from Mali and the founder of Créa-Couture. The fashion company sells different unisex clothes.
- Renata Silva: 19-year old Namibian entrepreneur, Renata, is the founder of RS Clothing Brand which caters to young and trendy Africans.
- Eneyi Oshi: This is a 19-year old Nigerian entrepreneur and the founder of Maatalous Nasah. The startup specialises in the production of chicken, fish and eggs.
- Esther Akin-Ajayi: This is another 19-year old entrepreneur from Nigeria. Her startup, Jemai Interiors, sells furniture pieces and architectural materials.
- Oluwadamilola Akinosun: This 22-year old Nigerian entrepreneur founded Grant Master which assist startups to secure debt-free and equity-free funding.
- Grace Okezie: Grace is another Nigerian entrepreneur and she is 22. She founded Graced Baking Company which makes healthy snacks.
- Rebecca Samuella Kalokoh: This 20-year old entrepreneur is from Sierra Leone. Her startup, Grace Venture Natural Products, uses naturally extracted vegetable oils to produce cosmetics products.
- Amadu Deen Bah: This is another entrepreneur from Sierra Leone. The 21-year-old's startup, Caballay Investment, produces paper bags which are eco-friendly.
- Masello Mokhoro: This entrepreneur is 22 and from South Africa. Her startup, Starlicious Enterprises, farms chickens and pigs.
- Doroles Mihanjo: This 20-year old from Tanzania is the founder of Maktaba which sells educational documents to students.
- Rebecca Taboukouna: 22-year old Togolese entrepreneur, Rebecca, founded RBK Pearls which produces and sells beaded clothing materials.
- Jovia Nassuna Kintu: Jovia is 21 and from Uganda. Her startup, Kia Cosmetics, produces organic natural hair products.
- Viola Kataike: Also 21 and from Uganda, Viola founded Hand for a Refugee to help refugees learn how to grow and harvest passion fruits.
- Munyaradzi Makosa: This 21-year old Zimbabwean entrepreneur is the founder of Farmhut Africa. The startup connects farmers in rural Zimbabwe to market opportunities.
- Tafadzwa Chikwereti: 21-year old Tafadzwa from Zimbabwe is the founder of Murimi Electronic Agriculture which helps financial institutions to process loans and farmers to keep up with their finances.