Africa Business Club 2023 IDEA Pitch Competition (Up to $5,000 in prizes)

George Christian Boadi October 07, 2023 0

The IDEA Pitch Competition, initially launched by the African Business Club in 2022, is back in 2023, featuring an exciting addition – a mentorship program to support competition finalists. 

Calling all food startups in Africa and black-owned food manufacturing businesses in the US! Your opportunity for business growth has arrived!

This pitch competition is designed to empower emerging African entrepreneurs on the African continent and black-owned entrepreneurs in the United States, with a particular focus on the food industry for the 2023 edition. 

Contestants are encouraged to present original concepts that align with their business objectives.

About Africa Business Club

The Africa Business Club (ABC) offers resources and support to African students, those with professional experience in Africa, and any student with an interest in African culture and business. 

We foster connections between the African business community and Harvard Business School. Our club is inclusive, welcoming anyone passionate about Africa, regardless of their background or prior exposure to the continent.

Benefits of Africa Business Club IDEA Pitch Competition:

- 1st place: $2,500

- 2nd place: $1,500

- 3rd place: $1,000

Requirements for Africa Business Club IDEA Pitch Competition Qualification:

To qualify for the Africa Business Club IDEA Pitch Competition, participants are required to meet the following criteria:

- Business pitches must reflect the original work of the team members. Authors retain all rights to their business pitch before and after the competition. Pitches must not contain fabricated information about the team's background, experience, education, product development stage, product performance claims, or market survey results.

- The competition is open to African entrepreneurs operating in Africa and black-owned entrepreneurs based in the United States. At least one member of the management team must meet these criteria, but other team members can participate in venture planning. Each participant may submit only one business pitch for consideration.

- The competition is specifically for African entrepreneurs who have played a significant role in creating, managing, and owning ventures in Africa or for black-owned entrepreneurs in the United States. These entrepreneurs should hold key management roles and possess substantial equity in the venture.

- The competition is focused on new ideas and business development, aiming to assist businesses registered for at least 6 months in accessing additional funding. Companies should be less than 5 years old at the time of application.

- This initiative targets emerging African entrepreneurs on the African continent, and participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism and respect for their fellow competitors. ABC @Kelley (Africa Business Club at Kelley) reserves the right to disqualify teams that engage in unprofessional conduct.

Evaluation Criteria for Africa Business Club 2023 IDEA Pitch Competition:

Business pitches will be assessed based on the following criteria:

- Uniqueness of the business idea

- Clarity of the business idea

- Viability of the business

Timeline for Africa Business Club 2023 IDEA Pitch Competition:

- Application Opens: September 11, 2023

- Application Deadline: October 13, 2023, by 11:59 pm EST

- Finalists Notified: October 16, 2023, EST

- Final Slides Due: October 25, 2023, by 11:59 pm EST

- Final Presentation: October 27, 2023, 12:00 pm EST

Application Deadline for  Africa Business Club 2023 IDEA Pitch Competition  is October 13, 2023

How to Apply

do you qualify? then click here to apply!

The business pitch must adhere to the following guidelines:

- The pitch should not exceed 7 pages of text, using a 12-point font.

- The page count should exclude the cover page, title page, and any exhibits.

- Ensure that the business pitch follows the prescribed ABC @Kelley 2023 Business Pitch Format.

It's important to note that ABC @Kelley may consider exceptions to eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis.

visit ABC website For more details.