Six entrepreneurs from across the world have been selected as finalists for the Ernst and Young (EY) Accelerating Entrepreneurs incubator, with one African candidate making the final cut.
Disrupt Africa reported in March EY released a shortlist of 30 applicants from around the world still in the running to join the exclusive accelerator programme. Four African entrepreneurs were included on the shortlist.
EY has now selected the final six candidates to participate in the accelerator, and stand the chance to be named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Nigerian entrepreneur Gossy Ukanwoke, founder of BAU Research and Development, represents Africa in the competition.
The six finalists receive all expenses paid trips to participate in EY’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year event, which sees leading entrepreneurs from 60 countries gather in Monaco for a three day conference.
At the event, the finalists will participate in mentoring and advisory sessions, and will present their business plans to a panel of “growth coaches” who will give feedback and advice on scaling the companies.
Following the event, each finalist will have an EY specialist seconded to their company for six weeks, to help address any identified challenges and set long-term goals.
“As enterprises scale-up, they have a huge impact on their communities and the wider world through the jobs they create and the innovative products and services they offer. That’s why it’s so important we support them at this critical stage of their journey by opening up our network to them,” said Bryan Pearce, global leader at EY for the Entrepreneur Of The Year award and venture capital.
“The EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year event brings together some of the world’s finest and most accomplished entrepreneurs, many of whom have grown to become global market leaders. Accelerating Entrepreneurs is a chance for tomorrow’s market leaders to learn from these people, with hands-on advice at the event and ongoing mentorship and support to help them on the next stage of their growth journey.”
The Entrepreneur of the Year event is set to take place in Monaco between June 3 and 7.
