By Dhahabu Writer
Enterprise solutions provider MTN Business Kenya and e-commerce firm Jumia Kenya have called on youthful entrepreneurs in the country to participate in the MTN Entrepreneurship Challenge that seeks to support business ideas with solutions to solve a challenge faced in Africa.
The challenge that spreads across 14 African countries will see the winning idea receive Sh2.5 million ($25,000) and access to a Facebook Starter Programme valued at Sh1.5 million ($15,000) that includes tools and services essential in developing mobile applications.
The first and second runners-up will receive Sh0.5 million ($5,000). All winning ideas will also be entered into an incubation programme at the MTN Solution Space where they will be equipped with resources to drive their ideas forward.
MTN Business Kenya managing director, Kennedy Chinganya said that,
As MTN, we recognize the importance of delivering the bold new Digital World to our customers, and initiatives such as this will help to find digital solutions to the problems faced in Africa.
Through the initiative MTN will act as enablers of success and growth of local start-ups.
Head of sales and marketing at Jumia Kenya, Francisco Cockbaine, said that the competition is open to all and not restricted to online business ideas only.
“This way, we will be able to capture some of the most practical solutions to the challenges facing the African continent.”
Applications for the first stage, online submission of the business ideas, are open and will close on March 27. Upon a review of the applications, the successful teams will be invited for a live pitch to a panel of three judges, which will comprise of two successful entrepreneurs and the Jumia Kenya Managing Director, to be held at the Jumia Kenya offices. This will be held between April 1 and April 8.
The qualifying ideas will then progress to a final live pitch at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in South Africa on May 27th, where they will compete with entries from 13 other countries for the top prize of Sh2.5 million ($25,000).
“There is no limit on the number of entries that will proceed to the final pitch in Cape Town. This will be determined by the quality and viability of the idea,” said Mr Cockbaine.
