Anzisha Venture Building Fellowship 2027

Prize Opportunities

At the end of the second year, fellows can compete for a share of a US$40,000 prize pool across four areas:

• Job Creation
• Revenue Growth
• Systems of Delivery
• Storytelling

The prizes recognise entrepreneurs who demonstrate meaningful progress in their ventures over the fellowship period. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

The prize pool should not be confused with an upfront US$40,000 grant to every fellow. The programme also provides milestone-based financial support during the fellowship, but Anzisha does not publish a single fixed cash-stipend amount applicable to every fellow. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be between 15 and 22 years old.
• Be a citizen of an African country.
• Have a valid national identity document or passport.
• Have already started a business, venture or project.
• Be a founder or founding member of the venture.
• Be actively involved in leading and operating the venture.
• Commit at least 20 hours per week to the venture.
• Have a venture that is already operating rather than merely being an idea.
• Demonstrate evidence of customers, sales, beneficiaries or other meaningful activity.

The fellowship is therefore not intended for applicants who only have a business concept that they have not yet started implementing.

Anzisha's current fellowship community includes entrepreneurs from many African countries, including Nigeria, and the organisation's 2026 fellows include Nigerian founders working across areas such as housing, agriculture, recycling and technology. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

What Counts as a Venture?

The programme is broad in terms of sectors. Existing ventures within areas such as agriculture, technology, education, health, manufacturing, food, environmental solutions, fashion, financial services, energy, retail and other sectors can potentially fit the programme.

The important distinction is that the applicant must be actively building something that already exists.

For example, an applicant should be able to explain what the venture does, who it serves, what problem it addresses, the applicant's role in operating it and what evidence demonstrates that the venture is already functioning.

The Venture-Building Approach

Anzisha's model is centred on practical progress rather than simply attending entrepreneurship classes.

A fellow may use the programme to strengthen areas such as:

1. Business operations — improving how the venture delivers its products or services.

2. Financial management — developing stronger financial systems and understanding the numbers behind the business.

3. Revenue growth — identifying ways to increase sustainable income.

4. Job creation — building the capacity of the venture to create employment for other young people.

5. Leadership — developing the founder's ability to manage people, make decisions and lead growth.

6. Systems and delivery — creating processes that allow the business to operate more effectively as it expands.

7. Funding readiness — preparing stronger financial information and materials for potential investors and partners.

Because the programme is multi-year, the objective is not simply to help founders launch something and leave them on their own. It is structured around continued development and measurable progress.

Application Evidence

Applicants should be prepared to provide detailed information about their existing venture and their role in it.

Useful evidence can include:

• Description of the product or service.
• Information about customers or beneficiaries.
• Sales or revenue information where applicable.
• Evidence that the venture is already operating.
• Explanation of the problem the venture addresses.
• Information about the applicant's role as founder.
• Current team or employees, where applicable.
• Business growth or impact achieved so far.
• Photos or other supporting evidence requested during the application.

Applicants should be truthful and specific. The strength of an application is not simply in describing how ambitious the business could become; it is in demonstrating what the founder has already built and learned.

Application Timeline

• Applications open: 29 September 2026
• Application deadline: 10 November 2026
• Application evaluation: November 2026 – March 2027
• Fellows announced: May 2027

The application is free. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Applicant Tip

Do not approach this application like a traditional scholarship essay.

The most useful evidence is likely to come from the actual venture you have built.

Instead of simply saying that you are passionate about entrepreneurship, show what you have already done. Explain when you started, what problem you identified, who uses your product or service, how the venture currently operates and what measurable progress you have achieved.

If you have customers, beneficiaries, revenue, employees, partnerships, repeat orders, production figures or other evidence of activity, use concrete figures where you can do so honestly.

Also explain your own contribution. Being associated with a business is different from being the founder who makes the important decisions and spends significant time operating it.

Finally, think beyond the current size of the business. Anzisha is interested in young entrepreneurs who can build ventures that grow and create employment, so explain what you have learned from the challenges you have already encountered and what you need to improve next.

Important Note for Applicants

This is not a conventional university scholarship. Applicants do not need to be applying for a degree programme to participate. The core requirement is an existing venture and active entrepreneurial leadership.

The programme is also not simply a competition for the US$40,000 prize. Fellows receive ongoing venture-building support, while the prize pool is an additional recognition opportunity based on progress during the fellowship. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}