African Development Bank (AfDB) Nairobi Innovation Week High 5s Startup Challenge 2018

Application Deadline: Ongoing

Eligible Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia

To Be Taken At (Country): Nairobi, Kenya

About the Award: The African Development Bank is stepping up the pace by focusing on five priorities that are crucial for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation. The Bank calls them the “High 5s”: Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

Type: Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: Have an innovation addressing one of the AfDB High 5 priorities, namely:

• Be from the countries listed above: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia
• Have an innovation addressing one of the AfDB High 5 pillars, namely:
• Light up and power Africa
• Feed Africa
• Industrialize Africa
• Integrate Africa
• Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa

Selection Criteria: Interested Innovators should;

• Be over 18 years
• Submit a complete and eligible application
• Have a product or service that already has users or customers
• Have some market traction
• Have a clear business and operational model
• Have an existing team in the start-up
• Demonstrate impact
• Demonstrate evidence of sustainability
• Illustrate how their innovation addresses gender equality’

Value of Award: 

For the top 5

• Travel costs to attend the NIW 2018 (a roundtrip economy class ticket and accommodation if coming from outside Kenya.
• An award of USD 1000 to support the innovation.
• A placard in recognition of the innovation.
• Opportunity to exhibit the innovation at the NIW2018.
• Opportunity to meet and interact with the Director General AfDB, East Africa Regional Development and business-orientedness Delivery Office.

For the top 50

• Be featured in the AfDB-NIW Special Edition Innovation Journal that will be a compendium of promising innovations from the region
• Have your profile displayed on the NIW.Startups, a platform for recognizing promising startups in the region

Duration of Program: Tue 6th – 23rd February, 2018

Apply here
Winners will be announced on 28th February, 2018. 

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers: Africa Development Bank(Afdb) and Nairobi Innovation Week (NIW).