Applications for FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 Class Of 2021 are open. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, creatives, sports stars and technology geeks. Each year, FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come what may.

The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on the continent and this year, we are on the hunt for 30 of Africa’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology, Creatives, and Sport.

Eligibility

Business and Technology categories

• Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
• Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent
• Business/businesses should be two years or older
• Nominees must have risked their own money and have a social impact
• Must be profit generating
• Must employ people in Africa
• All applications must be in English
• Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Sports Category

• Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
• Must be representing an African team
• Should have a proven track record of no less than two years
• Should be making significant earnings
• Should have some endorsement deals
• Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
• All applications must be in English
• Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Creatives Category

• Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021
• Must be from or based in Africa
• Should be making significant earnings
• Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years
• Must have social influence
• Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
• All applications must be in English
• Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Selection Process

The judging process will be of four stages

• The first stage will be the evaluation of your motivation. If you do not hear back from us (within a specific period), please deem your nomination as unsuccessful.
• The second stage will require potential candidates to submit more documentation for the next stage of assessment.
• The third stage will include an analysis of your financials, revenue model, and credibility as in-depth research will be conducted into who you are and your company/team (no criminal records, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies, allegations of crime, bad behavior, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud).
• The final stage will have an expert panel of judges assess the strong candidates, whittling them down to the final 30. The editorial and research team makes the final selection based on judges’ scoring/remarks and adjusts for diversity across company type, gender, background, etc.