First Online EU-African Business Lab for SMEs

We would like to thank to all of you for participating in the Call for Shared Value Business Ideas and hope that you equally found this opportunity as valuable, constructive and interesting as much as we did!

The jury (European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME, GIZ, ECOBANK) has re-assessed the public vote and made sure to be in line with the three main objectives of the call: jobs creation and growth on the African ground, demonstrates the real solution for the African customer as well as tackles SDG goals.

We congratulate to…

TOP 3 entrepreneurs from Kenya, Spain and Uganda who will be proposed by our teams to pitch their business idea at the EABF2020 online.

In addition, each entrepreneur receives the following prizes:

First award! Goes to Bronson Eran’ogwa – The Source Plus – KENYA

Expertise voucher: The business plan will be evaluated and improved according to the needs of the African market directly by experts in the sector.

Second award! Goes to Santiago Orlando – Interal – SPAIN

Travel cost contributions to on site visit in Africa to implement the business idea.

Third award! Goes to Francis Turyahikayo – Kashari Farm

In-depth counselling and coaching from experts.

Special Mention goes to Mr. Thierry Nsaka, Makuta – Digital Banking, Belgium – DRC

For your great grit to find a sustainable digital solution for the African diaspora and African people on the continent in doing money transfer in more transparent and efficient way.

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After the first EU-African SME Summit in Brussels in 2019, when 10 African and European SME support organisations signed – under the  auspices of the European Commission – the EU-African SME Alliance, and  where the basic values and strategic visions for a better economic cooperation between Europe and Africa have been shared, it is now time to explore more in depth the business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the two neighbouring continents.

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed us down, but we need to go back to meet across borders and sectors, even if digitally. European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME, PACCI, BVMW, FIPME and CONFAPI have decided to organise the First Online EU-African Business Lab for SMEs 2020, which intends to highlight the chances for entrepreneurs and to share the best roads towards a successful economic cooperation of smart and open-minded companies in Africa and Europe for a common future.

Participants had the chance to grow their network, hear from experts about  funding and new cooperation alliances between the two continents, and meet fellow entrepreneurs with whom they can start new partnerships.

To encourage the potential investments in Africa, we have initiated an open call for business proposals, for local businesses fostering job creation and market growth in Africa. The top three businesses selected under the call will get a special opportunity for free consultancy and business development  expertise to start their business on African ground.

This event is part of our business matchmaking platform
African European Entrepreneurs

Presentations and Videos from the event are available here