Female startup founders in Africa have a golden opportunity to get support and funding. Les Margaret Award 2020’s call for applications has been launched. The Les Margaret Award is a business acceleration program to boost women entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in Europe & Africa. Les Margaret Award will offer to the 4 winners funding to support and accelerate the growth of their business.
‘‘Through les Margaret Award, we reward creativity, innovation and audacity. We offer the winners a growth acceleration and a gigantic media exposure in Europe and Africa. With less than 5% of women founders of startups worldwide and access to funding of 2%, it is important to provide financial support to these women who are changing the world.” Delphine Remy-Boutang, CEO the Bureau & DWD, President of GEN France.
Here Is All You Need To Know
- Created in 2013 by DWD (DigitalWomensDay.com) and supported by Margaret Hamilton, les Margaret Award highlights big ideas and innovations from committed and inspiring digital women who are disrupting challenges that our society is facing today.
- The 4 winners, Margaret Entrepreneur Europe & Africa et Margaret Intrapreneur Europe & Africa, will be revealed during the 8th edition of DWD Europe, on April 21st 2020, in Paris, France (la Maison de la Radio).
- For the first time, les Margaret Award will offer to the 4 winners funding to support and accelerate the growth of their business. As part of the DWD’s business acceleration program, they will receive funding, media exposition, development support, for an overall value of 1 million euros.
- The jury chaired by Delphine Remy-Boutang, composed of digital experts will deliberate on February the 6th, 2020: Vanessa Chocteau, Head of French IoT program of La Poste group, Bernard Giry, digital, innovation and research advisor of Région Ile-de-France, Cathy Mauzaize, Head of key accounts entity of Microsoft, Morgane Miel, deputy editor in chief of Madame Figaro, Karim Sy, Chairman of Digital Africa, etc.
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Eligibility For Participation
Entrepreneurs must meet several criteria to be eligible, such as:
- A mixed team with at least one woman founder.
- The use of new technologies to serve a better world.
- Existing structure in Europe and/or in Africa for less than 5 years.
- Intrapreneurs on the other hand must mainly demonstrate that they are developing new growth opportunities within their company based on agile and original methods. This category concerns employees of large and medium-sized companies who have developed a project in agreement with their employer while remaining employed, which may lead to the creation of a startup, but also to other innovative activities and orientations, such as new products, services, technologies, administrative techniques, strategies development.
What Their Startups Stand To Gain
Les Margaret Award will offer the winners:
- A growth acceleration and a gigantic media exposure in Europe and Africa
- Support, invest, assist, the ambitions of forward-looking entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.
“Being a Margaret is a real boost. We have gained so much visibility… To be rewarded by such a prestigious event has helped with our daily business with contacts and more doors have opened.” Julie Davico-Pahin, co-founder of Ombrea, winner of les Margaret Award (Europe 2019).
“Our ambition is to create more Margarets. I am not the best, there are plenty! Our job is to be able to draw from the bottom, to create a fresh wind with african young girls who grow up with a new state of mind, and who will be the next leaders.” Arielle Kitio, founder of Caysti, winner of les Margaret Award (Africa 2019).
How To Apply
The call for applications is open until February the 2nd, 2020 (midnight): Interested applications could be made by clicking on https://lajourneedelafemmedigitale.com/lesmargaret/
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award winning writer.
He could be contacted at udohrapulu@gmail.com