Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur declares appointment of 4 orgs to work with Nailab

Alibaba founder Jack Ma's newly-launched African entrepreneurs funding program has partnered up with four African organizations, with their service covering 54 African countries, the Jack Ma Foundation said on March 4.

The fund, named Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), has appointed Nailab from Kenya, NINE from Nigeria, RiseUp from Egypt and 22 On Sloane from South Africa as its regional partners. The three organizations will work closely with Nailab, the continental and Eastern Africa partner, to promote the Prize in their respective regions.

The four organizations will work together to promote the prize program in 54 African countries. The ANPI was launched on February 18, aiming to provide USD 10 million to outstanding African entrepreneurs in the coming decade.

Ten African entrepreneurs will be awarded each year, with the total funding of one million dollars. The first contest will be open for enrollment to all Africans on March 27, and the final contest is expected to be held in Africa in November. Nailab Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Sam Gichuru said the new partners will help bring the Prize to all corners of Africa, as well as discover and spotlight a new generation of entrepreneurs from across the continent.

"Together with our partners, we will support both technology-driven and traditional companies with a special focus on small businesses, grassroots communities and women-founded enterprises," Sam Gichuru added.