BMCE Bank accepting applications for 2017 African Entrepreneurship Award

Second largest private bank in Morocco, BMCE Bank is currently accepting applications for the 2017 African Entrepreneurship Awards (AEA), which offers a mentoring journey for business ideas that can impact and improve lives in Africa.

Started two years ago, the AEA seeks to inspire African entrepreneurs – living in Africa and abroad – to develop businesses across the African continent and creating jobs that improve lives.

Last year’s edition saw several winners emerge in four categories. They all received cash prizes, and further mentoring to help them plan, launch and scale their businesses.

This edition, just like the others before it, will begin with submission of business ideas, which must be relevant in either of these categories: Education; Environment & Uncharted, by entrepreneurs and culminates in an awards ceremony at the end of the year.

In-between, the entrepreneurs will receive practical mentoring from business leaders and leading academics from Africa, Asia, Americas, UK and Europe in three rounds.

After these rounds, the finalists will be announced and a presidential jury of entrepreneurs, business leaders and academics from across the world will decide the winners after a bootcamp.

The winners, who will be announced at an award ceremony in Morocco late in the year, will share the US$1 million prize to be used for launching and scaling their businesses in Africa.

“You may be asking yourself this whole time why you would be submitting your golden idea to the African Entrepreneurship Award. What are you getting out of this? We are not seeking to capitalize on ideas. Rather, we seek businesses that will improve lives from all over Africa and empower you to plan, launch and scale your business,” the organizers stated in a post.

It added, “We will finance and help build your idea into a sustainable business that employs people, improves your economy, and impacts lives in Africa.”

Entrepreneurs interested in the awards should apply by 20 April 2017. They should get more information, especially as it concerns eligibility, about the awards from the official website.