Of the 448 entrepreneurs from 49 different African countries that made it to round 2 of the annual African Entrepreneurship Awards, 18 are Ugandan. This was published by the African Entrepreneurship Awards through their website.
Out of the 448, 32% of the entreprises were at Seed stage, 38% at prototype while 30% at startup stage. The round was largely dominated by males with only 27% of the 448 women.
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Source: African Entrepreneurship Awards[/caption]
The awards are organized in such a way that entrepreneurs are taken through three rounds. At every round, there is mentoring and the successful ones progress to the next. After the third round mentoring, site visits for the successful ones are arranged after which finalists are announced.
Immediately these are announced, they are invited for a boot-camp, after which they face the presidential jury. It is this jury that decides the fate for whoever has reached this far. In short, it is a very intensive journey that requires commitment and resiliency.
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Source: African Entrepreneurship Awards[/caption]
Mentorship is carried out by people with qualifications and experience from various backgrounds. Some of the notable names on the list are Uganda's social entrepreneur Maria Kyamulabye, Mohamed Hanno who has nearly thirty years of experience in the IT field and many more.
Uganda has had winners in all the previous years. Olive Akware of True Grit won the Outstanding award in 2015 and Joyce Kyalema Pumpkin Power won $100,000 Awards in 2016.
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Source: African Entrepreneurship Awards[/caption]
Of the 18 that have progressed to the second round, we were unable to establish any of the names on the list. Nigeria had the highest number at 115 while Libya, Guinea Bissau, Eq. Guinea, Seychelles and Eritera didn't have anyone progressing to the second round.
The 448 will received receive more mentoring on the Journey by answering 10 more questions before July 10.