Next month, I will publish the 2014 ranking of the 30 Under 30: Africa’s Best Young Entrepreneurs- the most definitive guide to the best young entrepreneurs on the African continent, and I need your help.
I am looking to identify 30 of Africa’s brightest, most ambitious and unsung young entrepreneurial stars. To help compile the list, I am asking you, the reader to nominate entrepreneurs (aged 30 and under) who are making the most dramatic impact in Africa today in manufacturing, technology, real estate, media & entertainment, financial services, agriculture, fashion and the service industry. I am on the lookout for builders and leaders, innovators and risk takers; today’s upstarts, tomorrow’s legends.
Nominees must be citizens of one of the 54 African countries and their business must be based in an African country. And no lone rangers here; nominees must be entrepreneurs who have built businesses that employ at least 4 people. Ideally, the companies they have built should be profitable, but if they are yet to break even, they must have incredible prospects for the near future. For instance, if an entrepreneur has raised a significant round of funding from investors, but is yet to turn a profit, he or she is of interest. And they must be ethical and socially responsible people, because entrepreneurs must help not just themselves but those around them.
To have an idea of the sort of entrepreneurs I am searching for, have a look at last year’s list here.
I’ll take your suggestions and mix them in with the nominations from our expert panel– which includes 7 entrepreneurs from last year’s list.
Tweet me your nominations @MfonobongNsehe, email me at mnsehe (at) forbes (dot) com or comment below on or before the 31st of January, 2014.
Follow me on Twitter @MfonobongNsehe
