Young entrepreneurs making waves in their industries or making a change in their communities are invited to apply for The Road to Nairobi 2016. They will get mentorship and support to take their enterprises a step further.
The Building Bridges foundation is currently running The Road to Nairobi 2016′ project which will see the fostering of youth empowerment and employment in 8 African countries (South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya). This will be done through, an over 100 days, bus tour starting in South Africa and ending in Kenya.
In each country, the country team and the core team will tour the country for 10 days, meeting 10 pre-selected youth entrepreneurs from across each country, on the ground and discussing some of the challenges they have faced as youth entrepreneurs in the business environment in their country as well as some enabling factors.
Once this has taken place, some of these entrepreneurs will be invited back to the capital city to pitch their businesses at a Multi-Stakeholder event to dignitaries, private sector, NGO’s and UN entities amongst others. They also stand the chance to be invited to the High Level Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya to speak on their experiences.
Eligibility
- You must be between 15 and 35 years old.
- You must be a national or a resident of the following African countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda.
- Your business must be up and running. The Road to Nairobi 2016 project is not for great ideas or business plans – you must have already started and be able to prove it!
- Your business, invention, or social project can be in any field or industry
- Individuals who apply must be one of the founding members of the business.
Upon being selected as participant of the Road to Nairobi 2016 project the youth entrepreneur will gain the following:
- Have their story and enterprise covered in a book called “Young African Entrepreneurs”. The book will be published in early 2017.
- Present at the multi-stakeholder event in your country of residence that brings together young entrepreneurs, policymakers and other government officials, successful members of the private sector, and UN entities.
- Stand a chance to be chosen as one of the five entrepreneurs to present their venture to policymakers and CEO’s from all over the world during the 2nd High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation in Nairobi.
- Have the opportunity to join the Global Shaper Community of the World Economic Forum in your city / country of residence.
- Have the opportunity to link with stakeholders who will have access to mentorship and funding opportunities.