The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), launched by the Jack Ma Foundation, has selected regional partners across Africa to support its 2019 entrepreneurship competition. The program, which originated during Jack Ma's 2017 visit to Kenya, aims to identify and empower emerging African entrepreneurs through a Sh100 million prize pool.
Nigeria’s NINE, Egypt’s RiseUp, and South Africa’s 22 On Sloane were appointed as regional collaborators alongside Nairobi-based Nailab, the Eastern Africa partner. These organizations will promote the prize in their regions, focusing on small businesses, grassroots communities, and women-led enterprises.
ANPI’s 10-year initiative will conduct continent-wide pitch competitions before selecting 10 finalists to vie for the total prize money. Applications open March 27, 2019, and close June 30, 2019. Finalists will receive funding from the Jack Ma Foundation and access to a network of African business leaders.
Nailab founder Sam Gichuru emphasized the partnership’s focus on technology-driven and traditional enterprises, while Graca Machel, ANPI advisory board member, highlighted the potential of underrepresented entrepreneurs to transform Africa’s business landscape.
22 On Sloane, a GEN Africa project, operates the continent’s largest startup campus. RiseUp organizes the MENA region’s premier entrepreneurship summit, and NINE serves as Nigeria’s largest incubator network.
