Global Entrepreneurship Congress

Application Deadline: February 5th 2017

Every year, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress gathers together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and other startup champions from more than 160 countries to identify new ways of helping founders start and scale new ventures around the world. At the weeklong GEC, delegates make connections, gain insights, learn about new research, and leave ready to renew their programs, policy ideas or firm founder skills.

GEC 2017 will take place in the heartbeat of South Africa, in Johannesburg — a budding startup hub that is both an economic and cultural cornerstone of the country — which promises to build on the successes of previous years.

The Global Entrepreneurship Network is calling on entrepreneurs across Africa to apply for the Digital Pitch Competition for a chance to pitch on stage during the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in South Africa.

Application Procedure:

To enter the competition, they are required to like the GEN South Africa Facebook page, click the “Digital Pitch Competition” tab and register by completing the form.
Thereafter, they should upload their pitch video directly on the page before February 5, 2017. The videos are open for public voting, as such entrepreneurs are to ask their friends to vote by liking their videos.
After the public voting closes on February 7, the top five entrepreneurs will be selected as winners with an official announcement made on February 17 on the GEN South Africa Facebook page.

Benefits:

The winners will go on to pitch their products/services in front of fellow entrepreneurs, potential investors and others in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem at the 2017 GEC, which holds on March 13 – 16, 2017 in Johannesburg.
Their flights to the venue and accommodations for three nights will be covered, and they will also receive recognition as VIP guests, giving them networking opportunities with big players from tech ecosystems around the globe.

Interested? Follow the aforementioned instructions or send an email to [email protected] if you got questions.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2017 Digital Pitch Competition

Application Deadline: September 30th 2016

Startup Open is a global competition that is open to entrepreneurs from any industry with a new business that has yet to raise any outside capital from angel investors, venture capital firms or other formal sources of seed funding.

Eligibility

YES Stand-up phase when individuals or groups are equipped with the entrepreneurial attitudes and skills to attempt the creation of new company.
YES Start-up phase when resources are mobilised and regulatory requirements fulfilled to start a new company.
NO Scale-up phase when successful companies expand their businesses to new markets or in innovative ways.
NO Exit phase when a business owner or an investor decides to cash out an investment made in the past through trade sale or merger with a larger player in the industry (merger and acquisitions), secondary sales to third parties or initial public offerings (IPOs).

Rules

All applications must be submitted in English.
Applications will be accepted from July 1, 2016, until September 30, 2016.
Applications will only be accepted online through the Startup Compete platform or through an officially approved National Competition.
It is not required that a startup be incorporated, but a company cannot be incorporated over 18 months to compete.
You must be starting a for-profit company, or a non-profit that does not rely on grants.
Your startup must be pre-money, no venture funding, at time of application

Prizes:

One winner of Startup Open receives an all expenses paid trip to Johannesburg, South Africa where they will receive VIP delegate credentials to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March 2017.
In addition to the Grand Prize GEC experience, all 10 finalists gain a spot in GEN Starters Club, with additional chances there to travel to Johannesburg for GEC 2016.

Judges

The winners will be selected by a panel of judges who are looking at a range of criteria including growth potential, passion, creativity, level of idea development, and their pitching skills.
Each judge’s score is weighed equally.

Apply Now for the Global Entrepreneurship Network Startup Open

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Global Entrepreneurship Network Startup Open

Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2017 Digital Pitch Competition for African Startups (Fully Funded to Johannesburg, South Africa)

Global Entrepreneurship Network Startup Open 2016 Competition for Entrepreneurs Worldwide (All Expense Paid Trip to Johannesburg, South Africa)

Rules

Judges