DDQIC is thrilled to announce the remarkable success of the finalists in the 2023 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship (JL MCF) on Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition. This groundbreaking event took place virtually and across seven different ‘watch party’ locations, gathering aspiring entrepreneurs from across Africa to showcase their innovative solutions and commitment to solving pressing global challenges. The excitement of the pitch competition reached far and wide, as 275 individuals and groups from Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Canada gathered at various watch parties to witness the live virtual event, while 215 joined virtually. 
 
JL MCF was established to empower African students and recent graduates with a passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. This year, over 1500 fellows were accepted into the 1st phase of the program, around 300 made it to the 2nd phase and 82 made it to the 3rd and final launch phase. After 8 months of rigorous training, mentorship and customer validation, the top 15 fellows of the final launch phase competed in this final pitch competition for a prize pool of $25,000 CAD seed funding!Thank you to our judges for offering their time and expertise to support us in choosing the award winners: Norman Musengimana Hakeem Subair Hugh Cameron Nazaneen Qauomi
 
Results:
1st Place: Zuripack ($6,000 CAD) - Oliver Omondi 
2nd Place: Organo ($5,000 CAD) - Milbert Mbalire Nabatanzi 
3rd Place: Rim-Nextgen ($4,000 CAD) -  Arnold Kabare
4th Place: Machoice Nigeria ($3,000 CAD) - Maryam Atolagbe
4th Place: Faster Fresh ($3,000 CAD) -  augustine kojo wiredu
5th Place: Gro-gel ($1,000 CAD) -  Rawlings Grace Ogenyi
5th Place: Farmsurance ($1,000 CAD) - Emmanuel SIKAVI
Audience Award 1: Care Link Daycare Services ($1,000 CAD) - Grace Nduta
Audience Award 2: Safe Harbor Babies Home ($1,000 CAD) - Sharon
Natukunda 
 
Take a look at the watch party locations featured in the pictures! We’d like to thank our program coaches, mentors, and representatives who organized these amazing events on the ground!
- Lagos, Nigeria EGO Foundation Toluwase Olaniyan Oluwasegun Oluwaleti
- Gaborone, Botswana - University of Botswana Helen Chedza Chilisa MSc, Ae MBA, M.A. Tebogo Ketshabile
- Nairobi, Kenya - United States International University Africa Marie Jambawai
- Mbarara, Uganda - The Wit Technologies office The Wit Technologies Naturinda Emmanuel
- Cape Town, South Africa - Scalabrini Centre Avenvuka Mbu-letang Pascal
- Accra, Ghana - University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) Duncan Asamoah
- Kingston, Canada - Queen's University
- Zoom
 
Congratulations to all the 2023 JL MCF Fellows, we are inspired by your commitment and perseverance to create an impact in your communities through your creative ventures!
 
If you weren't able to attend, check out the recording here: https://lnkd.in/gKDzW9pn