APPLY NOW: AFRICA STARTUPS CHALLENGE NOW OPEN

Do you want to partner with a global financial services company to accelerate your business?

Then get involved in the Africa Startups Challenge!

Thomson Reuters in partnership with Venture Capital For Africa (VC4A) are launching an initiative to provide a platform for startups to partner with us as you grow your startup into a lucrative business.

The Africa Startups Challenge seeks to find the best new companies coming out of Africa. As a large continent made up of many emerging markets Africa is home to some exciting startups who are able to leverage new technology and new business models to leap-frog the current players. We want to know which startups are important and why.

Thomson Reuters aims to empower Africa’s success by providing government, financial, academic and business solutions that have helped move from aid-based economies to self-sustaining, knowledge-based economies for almost 150 years.

What is in it for you?

• The Challenge will provide you with the opportunity at a potential partnership with a global financial services and professional information company.
• Increase visibility for your startup by being showcased on our global investment platform called Eikon.
• Opportunity to attend the Thomson Reuters Africa Summit 2016.
• Cash prize for the winning startup.

If your startup is in FinTech or related industries, then this is the challenge for you!

Thomson Reuters position as a trusted provider in financial markets makes it attractive for FinTech startups to work with us as a partner. Our answer to the changing environment is an open platform approach – leveraging our depth and breadth, and enabling collaborative partnerships focused on innovation.

This Challenge seeks the most promising startups in Africa. Key areas of focus are the following 10 categories:

• Agri-tech (including land administration)
• Big data analytics
• Blockchain
• Digital government
• Education
• Internet of Things
• Fintech
• Media-tech
• Mobile technology
• Supply chain

Click here to apply now. 

The Excellence in Life series 2.0 is happening this Saturday

The current state of our nation leaves much to  desired. From the plunging Economy to insecurity. The masses are wailing and the rich also cry. From the constant decline of the value of the Naira to the hike in fuel prices which has catapulted inflation and taken it to an all time high, the common Nigerians have had to bear the brunt! 

It is quite convenient to heap the bulk of blame on the government as usual but truth be told the citizens are equally accountable. 

One major syndrome that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society is MEDIOCRITY and it is responsible for most of the pains we suffer today. We did not get to where we are in one day. It was a gradual process of letting mediocrity get the better of us and today it has become gangrenous thus becoming an uphill task to mitigate against. 

“I will mange it”, “It’s not so bad”, “It’s fair enough” “What more can I do” “I have tried, jare” “I can’t kill myself joorrr”… are very familiar expressions, aren’t they? We either encounter or even pronounce them ourselves regularly. What belies these otherwise insouciant and unperturbed proclamations is the syndrome called MEDIOCRITY!

Mediocrity is clearly a negative trait we should avoid like a plague. If you do not actively REJECT mediocrity, you are unwittingly choosing it over EXCELLENCE and will be running life’s relay littered with broken dreams and failed expectations and at the end of the finishing line you will be crowned with frustrations and unhappiness. 

Everywhere you go to today, across our beloved country Nigeria, mediocrity and impunity stare you in the face.  This sad development which pervades most facets of our national and private lives has now become a Sub-Culture. This also explains why most Nigerians prefer foreign products to Made-In-Nigeria ones, irrespective of price.  The reason for this is that the production of most foreign goods are driven by a Culture of Excellence.

Thankfully many Nigerians have taken the bull by the horn and have gone all out on the fight against mediocrity. One of such Nigerians is Dr. Femi Paul. 

Dr. Femi Paul, a Lawyer by profession, is the Senior Pastor of Grace Assembly Churches, Lagos. He attended the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Law. He later went on to the University of London for two Masters Degrees in Shipping Law and Intellectual Property. He is also a certified graduate of the Oxford Princeton School of Petroleum Studies.  He practiced law in Lagos for many years, before moving into the Shipping & Maritime Industry.  His last foray in secular business was into the Oil & Gas Industry, after which he settled into full time ministry in 2001.

Dr. Femi Paul has delivered various papers, keynotes and workshops on Excellence In Life at several organizations, institutions and conferences around the world.  In 2015, he was honored with a Doctorate Degree by Northwestern Christian University for his excellent contribution towards Christian Education. He is also a pastor and the founder of Grace Assembly Church, a ministry committed to inspiring people and transforming lives.  

Dr. Femi Paul is mostly known for his exceptional “Spirit and Lifestyle of Excellence”. This has earned him many accolades and also inspired him to birth the vision “Life Class with Femi Paul”, and also the Excellence-In-Life Series where he shares Life Transforming Principles that shaped his life. 

Dr. Femi Paul is the Convener of the EXCELLENCE-IN-LIFE SERIES, a National Transformation Initiative aimed at eradicating the prevalent culture of mediocrity in our society. According to Dr. Femi Paul, "It is in my patriotic quest to salvage our country, build a culture of excellence and leave a lasting legacy for future generations that I present to you, THE EXCELLENCE IN LIFE SERIES!"

The EXCELLENCE IN LIFE SERIES, a bi-monthly meeting is the tool by which the visionary, Dr. Femi Paul hopes to eradicate the prevalent Culture of Mediocrity and propagate in its place, the much needed Culture of Excellence.  This initiative promises to transform mindsets and inevitably optimize the potential of individuals, institutions and the nation alike.

Excellence-In-Life, is not another Certification Course, because when it comes to Excellence, you don’t tender certificates.  Excellence is simply about doing things well, and it is WAR AGAINST MEDIOCRITY!

 

Due to his passion for eradicating mediocrity and extolling the spirit of Excellence, Pastor Femi Paul has made The Excellence in Life Series a Bi- Monthly event featuring world class speakers. The next one holds this Saturday the 21st of May 2016 and speakers like Ibukun Awosika, the Chairman of First Bank PLC and Mrs Bukky George of the Health Plus Pharmacy chains will be some of those imparting the wealth of knowledge and experience in many Nigerian who will be attending.

Join in the WAR AGAINST MEDIOCRITY!

Cartier Women's Initiative Awards 2016 for Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide ($USD 20,000 in Funding)

It's that time again. The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards 2016 for Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide ($USD 20,000 in Funding) is now open.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2016 10a.m 

https://goo.gl/Nn8Wxk

Since 2006, the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards has supported over a 100 female entrepreneurs worldwide. Each year, 18 finalists are selected, 6 of whom will become Laureates.

The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards is an international business plan competition created in 2006 by Cartier, the Women's Forum, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs.

Read the full report here 

The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards aims to encourage the most vulnerable category of entrepreneurs in their most vulnerable phase: women entrepreneurs starting up. Since inception in 2006, they have reviewed plans from over 140 promising female business-owners and recognized 44 Laureates.

Eligibility Criteria

The project to be considered for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards must be an original for-profit business creation in its initial phase (2 to 3 years old) led by a woman.

The “for-profit” requirement: the business submitted for the Award must be designed to generate revenues. We do not accept non-profit project proposals.

The “originality” requirement: we want your project to be a new concept, conceived and imagined by the founder and her team and not a copy or subsidiary of an existing business.

The “initial phase” requirement: the project you submit should be in the first stages of its development with at least two years of operations and sales to account for but no older than 3 years. 

This means that in order for the business to be considered eligible, it must have been incorporated between August 2013 and August 2014.

Benefits:

Finalists get 

• Access to coaching
• Entrepreneurial workshops
• Media visibility

The Laureates receive a unique and comprehensive support package: 

• US $ 20, 000 of funding
• One year of coaching
• Networking opportunities
• Media exposure.
• One-to-one personalized business coaching

During the Awards Week, all participants will be exposed to 

• Entrepreneurship workshops
• Press conference
• Presentation to the jury members
• Networking opportunities

EVENT: Success Circle Africa Conference 2016

Success circle Africa has been conceived as a platform to spread the empowering message of what true entrepreneurship is and not just share the motivational success stories but also show practical ways to create a thriving African business enterprise that would contribute real value to the local and global economy.

THEME : INNOVATION & COLLABORATION AS CATALYSTS FOR GROWTH IN AFRICAN BUSINESSES
Our goal through success circle Africa is to spread our message of value driven entrepreneurship across multiple platforms using real media, community groups and social media as drivers of this message of change and transformation to enterprises in Africa.

Our annual conference would be our yearly gathering to bring together a community of aspiring and established entrepreneurs around the African continent to reinforce this message and celebrate the success stories of triumph and accomplishments against all odds.

The Details of the event;

Date: 26th May 2015
Location: The Wheatbaker Hotel, 4 Onitolo (Lawrence road) Ikoyi
Event Start up Time: 10am

Confirmed speakers Include;

Mr James Agada; CEO, Computer Warehouse group, 

Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezeigbo; Co-founder, Falcon Group, 

Dr Enase Okonedo; Dean Of the Lagos Business School, 

Mr Michael Owolabi; Md Il Bagno, 

Mr Wole Faroun; Md Webmallng and many more.

We believe in the abundance of potential in Africa and for many, this conference and platform would be the necessary thrust for them to proceed in taking their business to the next level.

'Tale Alimi, Convener