African Leadership Academy, in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, has announced 12 accomplished young entrepreneurs as finalists for the 2015 Anzisha Prize.

Started in 2011 with a strong belief in the power of youth-led change, The Anzisha Prize seeks to award young entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 22 who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social challenges or started successful businesses within their communities.

With applications trooping in from different sectors, The 2015 Anzisha Prize has attracted applicants from 33 African countries, with finalists from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia identified for the first time. In the same vein, the Anzisha team witnessed an increase in the number of applicants from last year’s 339 to an impressive 494 this year. These applicants were subjected to a selection process based on Impact, Scalability, Ingenuity and Leadership potentials with just 12 of them emerging unscathed.

These 12 finalists get to win a share of US$75,000, an all-expense-paid trip to Johannesburg for the 2015 Anzisha Week taking place from 12 – 18 November 2015 during which they will receive intensive training from African Leadership Academy’s renowned Entrepreneurial Leadership faculty and engage with industry leaders as mentors. The finalists will also be admitted as Anzisha Fellows, which allows them access to a rich networking pool of fellow entrepreneurs and professional development training.

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According to Grace Kalisha, Manager for the Anzisha Prize:

“Entrepreneurship has significant potential to drive economic growth and improved livelihoods for African youth. We are proud to be celebrating and supporting these inspiring young leaders…making them part of the global entrepreneurship narrative.”

Application for the 2016 edition of the Anzisha Prize begins March 2016. Interested persons should check here for eligibility conditions.