In the
continuous search and supporting Entrepreneurs both big and small in
2015, She
Leads Africa has
partnered with the Foremost Institutional Bank, GTBank, and the launch of
her second annual Entrepreneur Showcase for the most talented female
entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Africa in Diaspora.
The flagship of the event is the premier
platform for young female entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their
businesses across Africa. Participants in the competition will vie for US $10,000
in cash prizes, media features in international news outlets, and exclusive
meetings with top investors.
The 2014 edition received nearly 400
applications from 27 countries for just 10 finalist positions. The top
finalists were featured in Forbes, Ventures Africa, Venture Burn and several
other international news outlets. They also had the opportunity to pitch their
businesses to a panel of leading business personalities including Aliko
Dangote, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Audu Maikori and Omoyemi Akerele. Empowers
Based on the
fact that female entrepreneurs are often underestimated, hindered and
overlooked, GTBank and partner found the need to empower the zealous
entrepreneurs in the continent.
This year
teamwork championed by GTBank is to illuminate on women who are driving
Africa's growth through leadership, commerce and innovation.
Corroborating
the need of empowering female entrepreneurs, Yasmin Bello-Osagie, Co-founder,
She Leads Africa says, “ We decided to launch She Leads Africa because we saw a
critical gap in the market - no one was investing in high growth female
entrepreneurs. Through our Entrepreneur Showcase we not only give exceptional entrepreneurs
a space to connect with investors and the media but we also provide them with
training and mentoring to ensure that they are able to take advantage of the
experience."
Affirming the effect of the competition,
the 2014 winner, Cherae Robinson founder of travel startup Tastemakers Africa
stated "participating in the She Leads Africa pitch competition literally
changed my life and my business, by putting me on a rocket ship towards
success." "I was able to hire my first employee with my winnings and
I continue to receive support from the team nearly one year later," she
concluded.
Application window has been specially
extended for SME businesses listed on the GTBank SME MarketHub until 27th July
2015 at 11:59pm. Businesses from any industry are eligible to apply as long as
there is one woman on the founding team between 18-35 years old. To apply
please visitwww.smemarkethub.com/she-leads-africa and
don't forget to attach your pitch deck.
Considering the fact that there is
nothing like concrete plan, paying attention to dreams, nurture it and taking
advantage of every opportunities, Anals Nin urges “ Throw your dreams into
space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a
new friend, a new love, a new country”.
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