BMCE Bank of Africa launches the final of the African Entrepreneurship Award 2017

40 finalists from 19 countries will go to a boot camp from 6 – 10 December

BMCE Bank of Africa has announced the launch of the final phase of the 3rd African Entrepreneurship Awards. Devised and developed by the Group, the initiative provides support for African entrepreneurs, or entrepreneurs with African origins, rewarding talent and technology in three categories: education, environment and uncharted areas on the continent.

Round 3 of the 2017 Awards produced 40 finalists. The average age of contestants is 32, and over 35% of them are women, demonstrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and diversity driving African youth. The most popular category is the environment, accounting for 46% of projects, demonstrating the focus of entrepreneurs on ecological problems. Moreover, 61% of projects have now reached the start-up phase, as an indicator of the solid maturity of finalists.

On the next phase of the programme, the 40 finalists will go to a boot camp in Casablanca from 6 to 10 December. ​The training process will be followed up on 11 December by a closing ceremony with awards for the best and most sustainable projects.

The winners will be selected by the following jury headed by Mr. Othman Benjelloun; chairman of BMCE Bank of Africa:

• Mr. Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa;
• Mr. Gong Li, Chinese Innovator and Technologist;
• Mr. John-Bernard Duler, Silicon Valley Investor;
• Mrs. Marie-Paule Niat, Cameroonian Entrepreneur.

Acting as a vehicle for BMCE Bank of Africa’s commitment to innovative entrepreneurship since 2015, the African Entrepreneurship Award has a prize fund of one million USD. Every year the initiative conveys the Group’s vision in favour of a continent driven by its young entrepreneurs, in a bid to improve the quality of life of all Africans.