The stage is set for the first Africa Netprenuer Prize Initiative (ANPI) set to take place at the Accra International Conference Centre on the 16th of November, 2019, where top African entrepreneurs will be competing to claim a share of USD $1 million.

Inspired by his first trip to Africa in July 2017, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma created the 10-year ANPI to support African entrepreneurs who are committed to creating innovate products and services that change their communities for the better.

Each year, ANPI will select ten African entrepreneurs to participate in a grand finale pitch show in Africa to compete for not only their share of USD $1 million in grant funding but also exposure to mentoring, sharing and networking.

More than 10,000 people from 50 African countries applied for consideration back in March.  It is now down to the final 10 who are in Accra to battle it out for the top prize. The 10 finalists include 4 Nigerian founders, two each from Egypt and Rwanda, and one apiece from Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia.

A panel comprised of  Mr. Ma, Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group, Ibukun Awosika, Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and Founder/CEO of The Chair Centre Group, and Joe Tsai, Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group, has the unenviable task of deciding the winner.

In addition to the competition, the Jack Ma Foundation is also hosting a full-day Africa Netpreneur Summit where African and global entrepreneurs, investors, educators and leaders will convene and discuss how best to enable entrepreneurship and the digital economy across the continent.

Guest-speakers at the conference will include Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens.

Source: CGTN Africa