Contests and Competitions

The Renew Venture Lab provides startups with the opportunity to access a knowledgeable investment team throughout Africa, experienced executives in the startup industry, as well as partners and investors from all over the globe. Renew Capital is an early-stage investment firm that operates across Africa, employing an innovative approach. We collaborate with development partners to stimulate entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa, and we invest in early-stage African businesses through our global investor network, the Renew Capital Angels. Benefits Startups that are chosen will have the chance to participate in the Renew Venture Lab, a series of training sessions designed to prepare their companies for potential investment. The Renew Venture Lab offers

Step into the spotlight of opportunity with the 2024 Boma Prize for Africa Contest! Are you a business owner or aspiring to create a business that makes a difference in Africa? You’ve come to the right place! The Boma Prize for Africa is not just a contest – it’s a platform for innovative African entrepreneurs like YOU. We are looking for driven individuals with ideas that can bring about positive change in communities and pave the way for a better tomorrow. Eligibility for the Boma Prize for Africa Eligibility is open to individuals who are at least 18 years old, residing in Africa, provided their projects significantly benefit African communities.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Grist climate fiction writing story contest. Grist is thrilled to announce the opening of submissions for the fourth year of our Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest. Imagine 2200 is an opportunity for writers from around the world to envision a future where solutions to the climate crisis thrive and bring about significant improvements to our world. The concept behind Imagine 2200 Imagine 2200 celebrates stories that imagine the progress we can make in the coming decades and centuries towards a more equitable climate. We are seeking stories that are grounded in creative climate solutions and community-centered resilience, showcasing

Siemens Stiftung is seeking innovative enterprises that are leading the way in creating customized solutions for the emerging Siemens Stiftung’s e-mobility industry in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, or Tanzania. We are backing pilot projects that are propelling the shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon transportation sector. These projects can be initiated by individual enterprises or collaborative efforts that are committed to enhancing the acceptance, accessibility, and affordability of e-mobility. The proposed solutions should address challenges related to electric vehicles, battery technology, or charging/swapping infrastructure, and may also originate from the energy sector (e.g. smart grid technologies; energy storage), the e-waste and recycling sector (e.g. electronic or battery waste; second life or recycling

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Yves Rocher Foundation Photo Prize. This prestigious prize, in collaboration with Visa pour l’Image – Perpignan, offers the opportunity to receive a grant of €8,000. Furthermore, the selected work will be exhibited at the Festival Photo La Gacilly and showcased at the renowned International Festival of Photojournalism “VISA POUR L’IMAGE – Perpignan”. Eligibility for the Yves Rocher Foundation Photo Prize If you are a professional photojournalist whose work focuses on environmental issues, the relationship between humans and the earth, or the challenges of sustainable development, this is your chance to shine. Fluency in French or English is required for this opportunity. Requirements

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Peter Drucker Challenge Essay Contest. This prestigious international competition, organized by the Drucker Society Europe in collaboration with the Drucker Forum, invites participants to delve into a contemporary management topic within the framework of Peter Drucker’s human-oriented management philosophy. Eligibility Peter Drucker Challenge Essay Contest for students and young professionals To be eligible for the Challenge, you must fall within the age range of 18 to 35 years old, regardless of whether you are a student (Bachelors, Masters, MBA, or PhD) or a young professional. It is important to note that you cannot have previously been recognized as a Drucker Challenge Laureate

Millions of young individuals worldwide, aged up to 15, have taken part in the annual International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People at both national and international levels since its inception in 1971. This competition serves as an exceptional means of promoting literacy among children and young people. It enhances their composition skills and their ability to articulate their thoughts effectively. Additionally, the contest raises awareness about the significant role that postal services play in our global society. Here’s how the competition operates: Every year, the UPU International Bureau announces a specific theme. Participating countries then organize the competition at the national level, often with the support of their respective postal

Restless Development Safe Photography Project Contest for Young Photographers is in search of 12 young photographers to participate in the initiative to combat violence against children, aiming to change the perspective on an issue that impacts half of the world’s children. During the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Colombia this November, it is crucial that the voices of young individuals are at the forefront of discussions. Restless Development will collaborate with key partners such as the World Health Organization, the governments of Colombia and Sweden, UNICEF, and the UN Special Representative on ending violence, to ensure that Ministers are connected with the realities faced by young

Applications are currently being accepted for the ILO Voices against child labour: A media competition. This media competition goes beyond being a simple contest; it serves as a call to action for media professionals and students to lend their voices and skills to an important global cause. By utilizing their influence, participants can truly make a difference in the fight against child labour. The competition has several objectives. Firstly, it aims to raise public awareness and enhance understanding of the complexities and realities of child labour in Africa. Secondly, it seeks to engage and empower local communities, activists, and media personnel to actively contribute to the fight against child labour.

The African Impact Challenge for early-stage African entrepreneurs, inspired by The Prosperity Paradox, organizes its program in various African countries each year. Since its inception in 2020, we have provided training and support to over 1000 early-stage African entrepreneurs, and have financially backed more than 100 of them. This initiative has been carried out in Ghana (2020), Kenya (2021), Rwanda (2022), and South Africa (2023). In 2022, we introduced the Pan-African Health Entrepreneurship Stream, which now operates annually with the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation. The most successful teams are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding or a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) investment. Additionally,

The Transforming African MedTech Conference, now in its second year, is bringing together innovators, clinicians, investors, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Africa to collaborate on shaping the future of the medical technology industry on the continent. Our focus includes medical devices, robotics, artificial intelligence, and wearables. This conference provides a platform to highlight medical technology innovations, address healthcare challenges, and promote collaboration among stakeholders. With an expected 120 participants in 2023, this year’s event promises to be even larger, driving forward MedTech solutions and influencing the healthcare landscape in Africa. Our goal is to strengthen connections throughout Africa to support the development and distribution of locally created medical technologies. The

The Innovate Pitch and Grant event aims to empower young impactful businesses and entrepreneurs through business mentorship support and seed acceleration. This program is specifically designed to provide valuable experience to aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators as they present groundbreaking ideas, receive expert feedback, and connect with potential partners. Application guidelines: – Applications will be open from Monday, March 25th to April 10th, 2023, closing at 11:59 WAT. – As a requirement, please follow @CPinnovate on Instagram and Twitter before submitting your application. – If you qualify for the final round, you must be available at the Innovate Pitch and Grant showcase on April 27th, 2024, where you will pitch your

The 14th Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East will open for submissions on Monday, March 18, 2024. Candidates from the 17 countries within the Orange (www.Orange.com) footprint have until May 26, 2024, to submit their project on the website https://www.orange.com/en/osvp Eligibility for the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East Candidates must: Be 21 years and over Present a social entrepreneurship project based on NICT (New Information and Communication Technologies) The candidates must present a project that involves at least one of the 17 countries Since 2011, the OSVP prize has been rewarding innovative start-up projects that use and develop new technologies to

Applications are now open for the 2024 Pierre Castel Prize for green Entrepreneurs. The Pierre Castel Fund and its partners Castel El Djazaïr , Brakina , Boissons du Cameroun , Solibra , Star and Bracongo SA , are organizing the 7th edition of the PIERRE CASTEL PRIZE, from March 1 to July 10, 2024 .  6 African countries are concerned by this edition: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo. Eligibility Requirements You are an agricultural entrepreneur; You are between 18 and 45 years old; You have the nationality of one of the countries concerned by this edition and you reside there; Your business exists legally and has been in operation for at least one year; You have a

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 MCN Millennium Oceans Prize. This prestigious award, now in its tenth year, aims to recognize and support students who are dedicated to the conservation, protection, and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine life. The Millennium Oceans Prize aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 14 by honoring young activists who are committed to enhancing their communities through initiatives focused on marine and freshwater conservation, as well as the sustainable utilization of marine resources. Winners of the prize will not only receive a $5,000 grant but also benefit from mentorship to bring their campaign ideas to life, driving positive change and building advocacy, policy,

The Digital Energy Facility has launched the Digital Energy Challenge in 2021, which will run for a period of four years and includes an annual call for projects. The main objective of this Challenge is to provide support for the development of innovative solutions that can enhance access to energy, facilitate the integration of renewable energies, and improve the performance of energy operators. For the 2024 Call for Digital Energy Challenge  Projects, the focus is on projects based in Africa and owned by two specific categories: 1. Start-ups in the pre-seed phase or with early-stage activities. NGOs are also eligible to apply under the Start-up category, and you can find

Plan International, established more than 75 years ago, was created with the purpose of advocating for and safeguarding the rights of children. It was founded in 1937 by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge, in response to the upheaval caused by the Spanish Civil War. Initially, their focus was on providing essential necessities such as food, shelter, and education to children affected by the conflict. Langdon-Davies introduced the concept of a personal connection between a child and a sponsor, which remains at the core of our work, placing the child as the central figure. Today, Plan International operates globally, working in over 70 countries to advance children’s

Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI) is a Non-governmental, Non-profit Humanitarian/Developmental organization that was established in 2005. Our primary focus is on the well-being of vulnerable women and children in Nigerian society, particularly in the NE Nigeria region. We are dedicated to reducing suffering during times of crisis, whether caused by conflict or natural disasters. Currently, our efforts are concentrated in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe) States of NE Nigeria. As a developing country, Nigeria faces numerous challenges in its developmental process. These challenges include social unrest, religious crises, various forms of violence, inadequate environmental management, misuse of social media, unemployment, and insufficient access to basic amenities

Attention all early-stage founders: Are you prepared? TechCrunch is currently seeking 200 early-stage founders to be highlighted in the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October. In 2022, the Startup Battlefield expanded to include a showcase of the top 200 companies from around the world. Our 2023 class, consisting of entrepreneurs from over 35 countries and 25 industries with diverse backgrounds, surpassed even the first class in quality! Our third year promises to be even more competitive. If chosen from the numerous applications, these exceptional startups will receive complete access to the event, exclusive workshops, investor office hours, mentorship, training, perks, and complimentary exhibition space on

Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition that brings together the top startups, VCs, entrepreneurs and world-class tech CEOs. We are partnering with some of world’s largest conferences and tech events to host 70+ regional startup competitions for North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. ELIGIBILITY We encourage startups in any domain, at any stage, to apply. Please note that the startup must be a legal entity not just an idea. PRIZES The winner of the Grand Finale will receive US $1,000,000 prize in investment. It will either be in exchange for a portion of equity related to the most recent round of funding or a

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Geneva Challenge. The 2024 Advancing Development Goals International Contest for Graduate Students seeks to present creative and practical solutions to address the obstacles faced in empowering youth. With the generous support of Ambassador Jenö Staehelin, the Graduate Institute initiated the Advancing Development Goals Contest in 2014. This annual global competition for Master’s students aims to foster critical thinking and innovation in the field of development, drawing on diverse disciplinary and contextual perspectives. Each year, participants are encouraged to contribute theoretically sound and pragmatic solutions to a specific international development issue. These proposals are the result of collaborative efforts between three to five

The search for Africa’s future business leaders and change-makers has commenced with the launch of the sixth annual Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition. ABH, which is a philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, aims to support African entrepreneurs in their endeavors. This competition, spanning across the continent, aims to identify and honor 10 exceptional entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact in their local communities. For over a decade, this program has highlighted the achievements of 100 African entrepreneurs, providing them with crucial resources such as grant funding, training programs, and comprehensive support to strengthen the wider African entrepreneurial industry. Benefits: 1. Grant Funding: The top 10 finalists will

The Young Champions of the Earth program, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a prominent initiative that engages young individuals who have remarkable ideas to safeguard and rejuvenate the environment. In the upcoming year of 2024, one Young Champion will be chosen from each major global region: Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia, and two from Asia and the Pacific. The selected winners will benefit from mentorship, workshops to enhance their skills, and access to a network of UN experts. They will also have the opportunity to meet dignitaries at the award ceremony, gain publicity through interviews and global media, and receive

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, the Federal Ministry of Information, Innovation, and Digital Economy, in partnership with 3MTT, is hosting the 3MTT innovation challenge for women. Participate in two challenges organized by HerTechHub and 3MTT for a chance to win one of 370 laptops, 774 tablets, internship opportunities, and a share of 6 million naira. Challenge 1: An Innovation Challenge for Women Join the CommuniTech Innovation Challenge for Women by developing innovative solutions to local community issues using technology. In essence, create innovative solutions to address problems in your local communities through technology. How to join this challenge: 3MTT innovation challenge for women. Propose an innovative solution to community