She Leads Africa has announced it would be hosting its inaugural Entrepreneur Showcase later this month in Lagos. According to the social enterprise dedicated to fostering the spread of business growth and ideas in Africa, the showcase would provide female entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ventures to a panel of potential mentors and investors, and compete for cash and other prizes.
The organisation said it had selected ten entrepreneurs from about four hundred applicants representing twenty seven countries who entered the challenge to win US$10,000 and US$5,000 cash prizes for the overall winner and runner-up, respectively, in addition to other prizes such as phones and tablets, brand consultation, free office space, access to prominent venture capitalists and angel investors, and additional tools needed to expand their existing start-ups and achieve their business dreams.
“We are incredibly excited about the finalists for the inaugural She Leads Africa competition,” said Yasmin Belo-Osagie, co-founder of She Leads Africa. “These finalists represent some of the best and the brightest entrepreneurial talents in Africa, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of the competition.”
“Starting a business is challenging for any young person in Africa and at times the challenges can multiply for young women,” said Afua Osei, co-founder of She Leads Africa. “Access to education, financing, and useful networks are limited, and cultural stereotypes can curtail a woman’s ambition. She Leads Africa’s vision is to provide entrepreneur development, networks and funding for promising female entrepreneurs who have the ambition and drive to be the business leaders of tomorrow, building companies that will become pan-African and global leaders.”
Over a period of one month, the finalists would consult key figures in the private equity, management consulting, and financial industries.
“Africa as a whole is poised for greatness, with significant potential for wealth,” further said Osei. “With the guidance and mentorship of those that have become proven successes in their fields, we can make sure that this new period of growth creates opportunities in new sectors and for a new generation of Africans.”
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