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Season 2021 Categories

THE SOUTHERN AFRICA STARTUP AWARD CATEGORIES

Startup of the Year

Salutes a startup that inspires the next generation of founders by positively impacting the economy and the world in general. It should be a product and/or service that is already a success on the market, disrupting its industry with an innovative approach.

Category Criteria:
The startup must have a maximum of 5 years in age (calculated from establishment date until public nominations open).


General Criteria

Best Newcomer

Acknowledges a startup of up to two years in age with the potential to become Startup of the Year in the future. Its product and/or service should already be on the market and on a path to disrupt its industry and positively impact the economy and the world.

Category Criteria:
The startup must have maximum of 2 years in age (calculated from establishment date until public nominations open).


General Criteria

Founder of the Year

Will go to a startup founder or co-founder who has shown strong leadership skills and achieved exceptional business results while also being an inspiration to their team and a role model for the next generation of founders.

Category Criteria:
The individual must be a founder or co-founder of a startup with a maximum of 5 years in age (calculated from establishment date until public nominations open).


General Criteria

Venture Capitalist of the Year

Honours the Venture Capitalist who has created impressive financial results while investing bravely in innovative companies that can positively impact the economy and the world, supporting them with resources other than purely financial.

Category Criteria:
The VC must be established in the country which is participating in the competition.


General Criteria

Best Accelerator / Incubator Program

Recognises a fixed-term, cohort-based, mentorship-driven program that helps and empowers entrepreneurs to foster the growth of their innovative companies by providing tools, resources, connections, knowledge and expertise.

Category Criteria:
The Accelerator/Incubator Program must be established in the country which is participating in the competition.


General Criteria

Best Co-working Space

Is bestowed on a co-working space that deserves recognition for the services, support, and resources it gives to fast-growth startups, and for creating a culture and an environment that fosters innovation.

Category Criteria:
The co-working space must be established in the country which is participating in the competition.


General Criteria

Women in Tech

Celebrates a pioneering tech startup founded and owned by a woman/women.

Category Criteria:
A startup founded and owned by a woman or group of women.


General Criteria

Agri Tech

Is awarded to innovative solutions in food security, food production, farming methods and nutrition.

Category Criteria:
The startup must be agriculture and/or food and/or nutrition-focused and must be providing a solution in those markets.


General Criteria

Health Tech

Recognises a startup that has initiated medical breakthroughs through innovative solutions in BioTech, HealthTech, wellness and telemedicine to improve quality of life.

Category Criteria:
The startup must address a range of health and/or wellness and/or medical issues and must be providing a solution to these markets.


General Criteria

Commerce Tech

Acknowledges the startup connecting Africa by enabling commerce using technologies ranging from mobile-commerce, e-commerce, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, to fintech, insurtech and big data.

Category Criteria:
The startup must focus on solving a problem or improving a solution in the e-commerce, mobile-commerce, blockchain, cryptocurrency, fintech, insurtech or big data markets.


General Criteria

Industrial Tech

Celebrates the startup that is enabling Africa’s industrialisation with innovative solutions for safety, mining, manufacturing, production, logistics, mobility and supply chain management.

Category Criteria:
The startup must be providing innovative solutions in the fields of safety, mining, manufacturing, production, logistics, mobility or supply chain management.


General Criteria

ESG Tech

Is awarded to the startup that is enabling environmental, social impact or corporate governance solutions in areas such as renewable energy, CleanTech, sustainability, recycling, water and sanitation, human rights, EdTech, GovTech, policy and regulation, among others.

Category Criteria:
The startup must be active in one or more of the following markets: Clean Tech, Blue Tech, Ed Tech, Gov Tech, renewable energy, sustainability, water and sanitation, human rights, people and culture or policy and regulation.


General Criteria

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