The African Drone Business Challenge powered by the African Drone Forum, is now open for applications from African entrepreneurs that have identified new and innovative business models enabled through drone technology and data.
The winner of the Challenge will be rewarded with a cash prize of £40 000.
The objective of the African Drone Business Challenge is to promote drones as a catalyze for new business ventures and ultimately new frontier markets.
As such, the Challenge does not focus on the development of new technologies, but rather on exploring sustainable and scalable solutions to important problems around mobility and data landscape.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
1.) Be an African citizen or diaspora (consortia led by an African founder may apply)
2.) Propose business concepts that leverage drone technology or data and will operate within Africa
3.) Submit a complete business plan through the online portal before the deadline on Monday, 9th of December 2019 at 11:59 P.M. CAT
4.) Be available to attend the African Drone Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on 3-7 February 2020. ADF will cover travel expenses for selected finalists.
Evaluation
All submissions will be evaluated by a panel of local and international industry experts, based on the following criteria:
1.) Feasibility and implementation plan – 40%
2.) Scalability and sustainability – 30%
3.) Drone application and innovation – 15%
4.) Societal and economic benefits – 15%
Benefits & Prizes
Ten finalists will be invited to attend the African Drone Forum where they will pitch their business ideas live to a crowd of industry leaders, investors and government officials.
Finalists will compete for cash prizes up to 40,000 GBP.
1.) Full access to the ADF and Africa Tech Summit
2.) All travel expenses will be covered for finalists including flights, accommodation, and visas.
3.) Exhibition space
4.) Two-day capacity-building workshop (includes pitch training)
5.) Networking potential with over 1,000 participating digital leaders, tech corporates, technology regulators, banks, mobile network operators, and startups from across Rwanda, Africa and the globe.
For more information about the African Drone Business Challenge, click here.
