African Start-Up Award Application Now Open

Posted: May, 20th 2015 Contributor: Bilen Shifferaw,

Africa has ideas and talent but African start-ups lack access to capital, especially in the first phase of development.

In 2014, the first Train My Generation Survey undertaken by the New York Forum AFRICA with the Train My Generation vocational training fund established by the New York Forum Institute in 2013, highlighted this point: 56% of the 5,000 young African respondents to a recent survey conducted by the New york Forum Africa in 2014, pointed to their difficulty in finding funding.

In this context, Richard Attias, founder of the New York Forum Institute, initiated the African Start-up Award in partnership with France 24 and Le Point Afrique, the on-line edition of Le Point dedicated to Africa that was launched in March 2014.

The Award will support talent and the most creative initiatives, particularly those with a social impact component.

Applicants will be judged by an expert panel, with grants going to the top four laureates, with the winner getting 50 000 euros,

The winning start-ups will be covered in Le Point Afrique,

And will enter the Top 50 of the most innovative African start-ups, which will be promoted during the New York AFRICA 2015 and in Le Point Afrique.

For guidelines and application form visit the website.