The Africa Netpreneur Prize is an entrepreneurship Initiative by The Jack Ma Foundation set to run over the next 10 years. The program follows a commitment made by the Alibaba Executive Chairman, Mr Jack Ma during his first visit to Africa in 2017 where he experienced the power and energy of Africa’s young entrepreneurs first-hand.
Applications for the inaugural Africa Netpreneur Prize will open next year on 15 January and close 15 April 2019.
The Africa Netpreneur Prize is an entrepreneurship Initiative by Jack Ma Foundation set to run over the next 10 years. Supported by Nailab, the Initiative is designed to recognise and support the youthful generation of African entrepreneurs, through whom the continent can achieve inclusion and prosperity.
The foundation seeks to select 10 young leading netpreneurs annually who will share a prize pool of one million US dollars, according to their individual achievements. The total sum of reward goes up to $10 million for 10 years.
Echoing with the founder’s e-philosophy, the program seeks to support and fund African entrepreneurs that are working to tackle Africa’s challenges and further its digital economy through entrepreneurship. The program is also set to particularly focus on women empowerment and have a grassroots approach with the aim of advocating and encouraging the entrepreneurship spirit within young business leaders, striving to help build a youthful, digital and promising Africa.
Jack Ma was inspired by the young entrepreneurial talent he met during his first visit to Africa in July 2017 and decided to create this Prize to give young Africans a platform to showcase their stories and dreams. He believes that Africa’s youth is a demographic advantage and that by leveraging entrepreneurship and the Internet, Africa can dramatically improve its future. Jack also sees the value of a strong entrepreneurship network for entrepreneurs within the continent and is therefore keen on helping grow and build African entrepreneurs that will help mentor,support and build other budding entrepreneurs on the continent.
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