How entrepreneurs can gain global recognition

IFE OGUNFUWA writes on some opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses

 

Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, who are ready to improve on their methods, win cash prizes and gain international recognition can take advantage of some competitions.

 

Hogan Lovells Community Solar Innovation Awards 2017

In support of initiatives of businesses that use solar technology to improve the lives of people in communities, the Hogan Lovells Community Solar Innovation Awards is calling on eligible businesses to apply for an opportunity to win its awards.

According to information on its website, the award, sponsored by international law firm, Hogan Lovells, represents a visionary partnership across business sectors to lift people out of energy poverty and support communities in developing countries.

The Community Solar Innovation Awards 2017 recognises and supports outstanding eco-inclusive businesses and not-for-profit organisations in developing countries that use solar energy or technologies to benefit lives in poor communities.

It says judges will be looking for businesses, which are locally-led and significantly help the lives of women and girls, particularly those which focus on gender equality or female empowerment.

It adds, “The judges welcome business and not-for-profit entrants from developing nations around the world.”

The eligibility criteria, according to the organisation, are the ability to “demonstrate entrepreneurship and innovation; apply solar technology in a productive way; intention and potential to become financially sustainable; locally-driven or locally-led;  and deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.”

It says ten winners of the Hogan Lovells Community Solar Innovation Awards, whose application will close on August 16, 2017,  will each receive a package of tailored support consisting of peer-to-peer networking session; capacity building: legal advice; profiling; and replication support.

Hogan Lovells will provide $10,000 to one overall winner to cover the organisation’s most pressing needs, it adds.

 

MasterCard start path

The Start Path Initiative is looking for solutions that demonstrate unfair competitive advantage, and are commercially available or launching soon.

According to information on its website, the programme, whose application ends on August 1, 2017, will support beneficiaries to achieve the specific deliverables on their road to success, opening doors and providing the access they need to MasterCard’s global infrastructure.

MasterCard says it partners start-ups from around the world to help scale up their businesses.

It adds, “The programme enables companies to gain access to MasterCard’s global ecosystem and to break new markets through relationships with MasterCard and our customers.”

It says candidates will participate in a six-month virtual programme and two immersion weeks at different cities.

 It explains that the onsite engagements will help participants to define and track the specific goals and create the tailored Start Path Global programme for their company.

It adds that other objectives of the immersion weeks include “content sessions to dive deep into key elements of MasterCard’s business; region-specific insights provided by leading subject matter experts and direct engagement with our partners, your future channels and customers.”

It says the two immersion weeks will take place at the launch and three-month point, and held at different MasterCard and start-up hubs around the world.

“We believe in investing time before money, focusing first and foremost on providing tangible value to the companies we work with. We’ll take an option to invest in your next round to discuss strategic investment as and when you’re ready to cross that next milestone,” the organisers add.

Short Story Day Africa Prize

The Short Story Day Africa is calling on writers of innovative short fiction that explores identity, especially (but not limited to) the themes of gender identity and sexuality, to apply for the challenge.

According to information on its website, the 2017 edition is themed “ID” because in early psychoanalysis, the “ID” was postulated as being one of three aspects of personality, and the only one over which we have no control.

It says 21 stories out of the entries will be published in the annual Short Story Day Africa anthology, and selected stories entered into the Caine Prize for African Writing (£10,000).

According to the organisers, the first prize winner will be given $800; second prize winner, $200; and third prize winner will go home with $100.

It says, “In modern Africa, our identities are too often defined for us and not by us, trapped by society, biology and history. The eligible fiction should examine beyond the boundaries of expectation, and look into the truest definitions of ourselves.”

The organisers explain, “The Short Story Day Africa Prize is an African writing prize open to African citizens, permanent residents of African countries, or second generation Africans living in the Diaspora only. Unpublished works between 3,000 and 5,000 words in response to the theme are eligible for the prize.

“In 2017, we hope to see work that seeks to break and redefine the structures put onto our identities, as individuals and as people.”

The organisers say submissions will close on July 31, 2017.

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How entrepreneurs can gain global recognition

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