By Anwar Hussen Mohammed – To recognize and award 100 African startups, TotalEnergies today launches African Startupper of the year challenge inline with celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Company.
The challenge is open for young entrepreneurs aged between ages of 18 and 35, according to the press briefing the officials of the company and promoters of the Challenge, including Olympic gold medalist Athlete Haile Gebrselassie, made this morning at the Sheraton Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
It is stated that the aim of this 4th edition is to support and encourage young African entrepreneurs to innovate and bring their projects to reality in their country of application. The Challenge is open for the entrepreneurs found in 32 African countries.
According to the officials, the projects of the entrepreneurs will be assessed against four major criteria:
1- Relevance to sustainable development challenges;
2- Innovation;
3- Feasibility and development potential; and
4- Respect for gender equality and inclusion of women in the project.
The 32 participating African countries are: Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Gabon, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte La Réunion, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Malawi, and South Africa.
The Entrepreneurs have to be owning a startup less than 3 years old or pioneering with a business idea to develop. All business creation project holders and owners of startups under 3 years old with a positive impact on their communities and/or the planet can participate in the Startupper of the year challenge until June 18, 2024.