Deadline: October 21, 2015
Land of Africa Business (LAB) invites applications for the Africa Rethink Awards for startups. The goal of this award is to identify, analyze, favor and promote the development of young entrepreneurs’ startups, may they be African or from the African diaspora, whose actions try to respond efficiently to the issues related to societal, economic, social and environmental development in Africa
The African Rethink Awards will be given during the LAB closing ceremony on December 11th at the Hotel de l’Industrie, Paris.
Eligibility
The African Rethink Awards are open to any startup matching the following criteria:
- To have been existing for less than two years;
- To be carried by a less than 30 year-old entrepreneur from Africa or from the African diaspora;
- To implement a CSR policy;
- To have a products/services performance;
- To have an innovative products/services.
Award Categories
Three categories of prizes will be awarded to support the winning startups and give them a well-deserved visibility. –
- The Grand Prize, whose Laureate will be awarded €10.000
This prize is sponsored by the Société d’Encouragement pour l’Industrie Nationale. It aims at awarding the entrepreneur whose business plan is the most profitable and the most efficient to solve the problems encountered by the African, and which is the most likely to carry positive and concrete changes to Africa. - The Diaspora Award, whose Laureate will be awarded €5.000
This prize aims at awarding the entrepreneur for the exemplarity of his/her startup in any field that favors the transition to a more viable and sustainable economic development in Africa. Hence, this prize also aims to encourage the initiatives of entrepreneurs from the African diaspora throughout the world. It is meant to incite the diaspora to share its experience for the benefit of African people and for the development of the African continent. - The Award for Women’s Entrepreneurship, whose Laureate will be awarded €5.000
This prize is sponsored by Canal+ and aims at awarding women’s entrepreneurship from Africa, or from the African diaspora, for the exemplarity of the startup in any field favoring the transition towards a more viable and sustainable economic model in Africa. Through this prize, the partners of the ARAs wish to support and to accompany the dynamism of women, carrying innovative, ambitious and sustainable projects.
Award Endowments
For the Laureates of every category:
- A financial allocation;
- A 10-day tutoring in Paris, taught by an academic institution first.
For the 2nd Laureates of every category:
- A 10-day tutoring in Paris, taught by an academic institution first.
For the 3rd Laureates of every category:
- A 5-day tutoring in Paris, taught by an academic institution first.
For every Laureate of the ARAs:
- Visibility on the LAB communication channels;
- Interviews/Portraits dedicated to the laureates, published and broadcasted by the media partners – Canal+, Jeune Afrique, etc.
Every shortlisted startup will be offered:
- Its transport fees;
- The possibility to present its business plan during the Business Innovation Place of the LAB;
- A free and complete access to the LAB sessions from the 2nd to the 11th of December 2015; –
- The possibility to meet all the partners and participants of the LAB and to exchange with them during these 9 days.
How to Apply
- Download the application form
- Complete Application form in French or in English
- Send your application form, containing both your application and your startup business plan to [email protected], and write in the subject line of your e-mail: Application LAB/ARA – « your startup name ». Though optional, any introduction video of your startup will be welcomed.
For more information, visit My African Startup
