The Africa Awards is conducted for research and outreach across the
continent searching for entrepreneurs with the most innovative,
sustainable, scalable, and impactful businesses.
Deadline: Not specified yet
The African Leadership Network is now accepting nominations
and applications for the 2014 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE). The
Awards recognize and award exceptional entrepreneurial leaders who serve as
role models to
Africa’s aspiring entrepreneurs and demonstrate business
excellence, innovation and profitability. The 2014 Awards gala will be held in
Kigali, Rwanda in November 2014 during the African Leadership Network’s fifth
annual gathering.
The AAE’s objectives
are to:
Create a platform to spotlight and celebrate business
excellence in Africa.
Build a strong network of African entrepreneurs as role
models and a source of best practice.
Promote entrepreneurship as a driving force for Africa’s
prosperity.
Encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the challenges
and rewards of entrepreneurship.
Attract venture capital inflows towards good businesses
across the continent.
AAE 2014 Categories
There are five (5) award categories which recognize
entrepreneurs at different stages of the entrepreneurial cycle:
1. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Awarded to a senior African
business leader who has served as an
entrepreneurial icon for several decades and has left an
enduring legacy of success in Africa;
2. TRANSFORMATIONAL BUSINESS AWARD – Awarded to a leading
business with revenues greater than USD 50 million that has created significant
socio-economic impact in Africa under the direction of a notable business leader;
3. OUTSTANDING MATURE BUSINESS AWARD – A USD 100,000 prize
to an established company led by a strong business leader who has generated
revenues between USD 5 million and USD 50 million;
4. OUTSTANDING GROWING BUSINESS AWARD – A USD 50,000 prize
to a young remarkable African business with revenues between USD 500,000 and
USD 5 million;
5. OUTSTANDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD – A USD 50,000
prize awarded to an organization that demonstrates outstanding innovation and
entrepreneurship while sustainably addressing the socioeconomic development of
low-income communities in Africa. To be eligible, the organization, which may
be structured as a non-profit or for-profit must: have been founded or be
currently run by an African citizen; demonstrate annual revenues of between USD
150,000 and USD 2.5 million in the last financial year; and be primarily focused
on social return.
Eligibility
The 2014 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship is open to
Africa-based entrepreneurs with firms that are fully registered in the
continent and that:
Have revenues of over USD 150,000 for social entrepreneurs
and over USD 500,000 for all other categories;
Have been profitable for the last two consecutive years;
Are independent, that is, not a subsidiary of a foreign
entity;
Free of legal actions.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be selected through a rigorous and transparent
selection process. A vetting team of business analysts, auditors and market and
sector experts will review and shortlist the most outstanding nominations
across each of the five categories, considering the entrepreneur’s story as
well as key performance indicators of business excellence.
The Finalists are judged by an international panel of
leading business experts through interviews and comprehensive reviews of
company reports based on the following criteria: Sustainability and innovation
Profitability and growth Long-term business strategy Leadership, culture and
values Investment in employees Social and economic impact on communities.
