Africa’s leading award and fellowship for very young entrepreneurs aged 15–22, delivered by the African Leadership Academy in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. A two-year venture-building fellowship providing mentorship, business development support, and cash stipends, culminating in grand prizes across four categories.
Verified Opportunity
Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship
pending_verification
Opportunity Overview
Opportunity Details
Funding Type
Verification & Key Dates
Verification Date
July 14, 2026
Deadline
Not currently confirmed. The most recent cycle found during verification (2026) closed 7–21 November 2025, already past. The next cycle's dates were not announced as of this check — confirm current status directly at anzisha.org before relying on this listing.
Source Organization
African Leadership Academy, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation
Official Application Link
Eligibility
- Aged 15–22 at the application deadline
- Citizen of an African country, operating a business within Africa (South Sudan not individually confirmed as excluded or included beyond the general 'African country' framing — verify directly)
- Must be one of the founding members of an already-operating, income-generating business or venture (ideas or plans alone are not eligible — you must show tangible results)
- Spending at least 20 hours per week on the venture, with intent to continue
Benefits
- Two-year Venture Building Fellowship with business coaching and mentorship
- Bi-annual cash stipends throughout the fellowship
- Access to short courses, cloud services, and technical expert consultations
- Chance to win a share of grand prizes (found to total approximately $40,000–$50,000 in recent cycles, across Job Creation, Revenue Growth, Storytelling, and Systems & Processes categories — confirm current prize structure officially)
- Membership in the Anzisha alumni network
Application Process
1. Confirm the current cycle is open at anzisha.org
2. Complete the online application form, providing evidence of your existing business/venture
3. Application guide is available in English, Arabic, French, and Portuguese
4. Shortlisted applicants may be invited for interviews and further review
5. Selected fellows are announced at the annual fellowship event
Required Documents
A valid ID document or passport as proof of age. Evidence that your business/venture is already operating (not just an idea) — the exact document list is provided in the official application guide on anzisha.org.
Important Notes
This listing is marked Pending Verification because the current application cycle's exact dates could not be confirmed — the most recent information found was for a cycle that has already closed. The programme itself is well-established and credible (running since 2011, backed by the African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation). Always verify current cycle status directly at anzisha.org, and be cautious of any third-party site asking for payment or personal information on Anzisha's behalf — apply only through the official site. Additionally: during final link verification, anzisha.org returned a connection timeout (HTTP 522) — this may be temporary, but could not be confirmed resolved at time of publishing. Try the link again yourself, and if it persists, search independently for "Anzisha Prize" rather than relying solely on this stored link.
Common Questions
Is this opportunity guaranteed?
No, verification confirms the opportunity is real and current, not that any application will be accepted.
How current is this listing?
Check the Verification Date above, listings are reviewed periodically and marked Expired or Closed when no longer valid.
Can Bang Ti Lenydoor help me apply?
Yes, contact an advisor for application guidance specific to this opportunity type.
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