High School

Join the entrepreneurship competition

We are looking for the next entrepreneur. This competition is open to teenagers at all stages of startup-development. It does not matter if you are just beginning to explore an idea, recently launched an MVP, or already driving millions in revenue, we still want to hear from you. Finalists will be provided coaching from experienced entrepreneurs and winners will be awarded cash prizes to support the growth of their startups.

Are you an entrepreneur?

Do you go to high school in East Africa?

Do you have an idea?

Are you ready to change the world?

We want to invest in your future.

We want to empower you.

We're giving away $2,000!

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Wins

All Finalists

  • LinkedIn Badges

HOW IT WORKS

This is a completely free competition!
Submissions must be for companies or company ideas by high school students.
You should attend high school in the following countries

Burundi
Djibouti
Democratic Republic of Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Rwanda
Somalia
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Before March 26 – Apply

Your team must consist of 1-5 students who are currently in high school. You can submit a business idea or a real business that you already founded.

Submit an optional 60 second pitch video for the audience vote.

March 31 – Finalists are announced

If you are selected as 1 of the 10 finalists, you will need to create a 3 minute pitch video.

April 11 – Demo Day

All 10 finalists showcase their pitch video and answer Q&As from our incredible judges.

We will also announce our audience vote winner!

April 16 – Winners Announced

The top 3  finalists will be our chosen winners!

Apply to 2025 AwardX East Africa

3 Minute Pitch Video

Your video must be 3 minutes or less, anything over will be cut from the video and not considered. Your company or business idea will be judged on the following aspects.

Customer Needs

Requirements

  • The problem should be well-articulated, demonstrating a deep understanding of a significant and specific market need.
  • The solution should be practical, feasible, and innovative, directly addressing the identified problem in a unique way.
  • The value proposition should clearly communicate unique benefits and differentiate the solution from competitors.
Revenue vs Cost

Requirements

  • There should be detailed market analysis with evidence supporting the size, growth trends, and opportunity in the market.
  • The revenue model should outline how the business will generate sustainable income, with clear and realistic financial projections.
  • There should be a thorough analysis of key competitors, with clear explanations of the business's unique selling points and competitive advantages.
Scalability

Requirements

  • There should be a clear plan for scaling the business, including strategies for market expansion, resource allocation, and scaling operations effectively.
  • The operational plan should outline necessary resources, technology, and detailed steps for successful implementation.
  • The financial plan should be comprehensive, with realistic financial projections, detailed cost estimates, and potential revenue streams.

Submissions will be judged out of a score of 30 total – up to 3 points for each criteria with an additional 3 points for presentation.‍

Audience Video Vote

After submitting your application above, you can submit an optional 60 second or less pitch video before March 26, 2025.

We will post it on our AwardX Youtube page within 72 hours where you can watch, like, and share the video. We will count up watches (1 point per watch), likes (2 points per like), and shares (5 points per share). Plus 10 extra points if you post your video on TikTok and share the link with us!

The video with the most points by April 9 at midnight will receive a $1,500 scholarship to a LaunchX program.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors

Jesse Casters

Dumari

Founder

Jesse Casters is a faith-driven entrepreneur and social innovator with experience in startups, the non-profit sector, and social entrepreneurship. A five-time founder, he now leads Dumari, a global non-profit dedicated to providing every person with an equal opportunity to flourish. Dumari focuses on people and community development in vulnerable regions around the world, working to create sustainable opportunities and lasting impact.

His work is grounded in the belief that entrepreneurship should go beyond profits—it should serve as a powerful tool for making a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most.

View Linkedin

Mohamed Sharif Adan

Dawati

Founder

Mohamed Sharif Adan is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader with over 15 years of experience in the EdTech and FinTech sectors. He holds a first-class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi and has completed post-graduate qualifications in Project Management, System Integration, Product Development, and Leadership.

As the co-founder of Dawati, Kenya’s leading EdTech platform, Mohamed has been instrumental in serving over 60,000 students across 4,000 high schools in Kenya. Dawati is revolutionizing the education sector by providing accessible, quality learning content to students across the country.

In addition to his work in education, Mohamed is also the co-founder of Afripesa, a pioneering mobile money platform that facilitates seamless cross-border payments by interconnecting African mobile wallets. Afripesa aims to simplify and empower financial transactions across borders in the African continent.

With his vast experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Mohamed is passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. He is now serving as a judge for the AwardX East Africa Pitch Competition, contributing his expertise to identify and support young, ambitious change-makers across the region.

View Linkedin
More judges will be announced soon.
Check back for more info.

Let's answer some FAQ's

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions
Can I submit as a team?
How many winners will there be?
When will the results be announced?
Who can participate?
Can I submit an idea for a company?
How can I become a sponsor?

More questions? Let us know

Our team will be happy answer any questions.

Get Updates

Complete the form to get regular updates about the AwardX competition.