Two Ghanaian start-ups: AkooBooks Audio (www.akoobooks.com) and Neat Eco Foods have won $125,000 from a $1million prize pool at the 4th edition of the African Entrepreneurship Award Program held in Casablanca, Morocco.
AkooBooks Audio announced that it has won a High Potential Innovation Award in the 4th edition of the Annual African Entrepreneurship Award Program, a Moroccan based awards organization honoring African entrepreneurship.
The Presidential Jury, which nominates and selects the AEA Winners, is comprised of industry experts, including Othman Benjelloun, Morocco, Chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa Deborah Ahenkorah, Ghana, Founder of Golden Baobab, JB Duler, France/Silicon Valley, French-American Silicon Valley Executive, Amadou Gallo Fall, South Africa, NBA Managing Director for Africa, Gong Li, USA, Retired Chairman Accenture Technology Innovation Aubrey Kent, USA, Founder of Sports Industry Research Center.
“I am so grateful to the AEA Presidential Jury for their support and belief in our businesses. The untapped potential of digital distribution on mobile devices, to provide access to all the African books needed by young Africans for their growth and inspiration is enormous. Audiobooks can be listened to anytime, anywhere.’ Ama Dadson said.
Neat Eco Foods CEO Lincoln Peedah said “Build a heart to contain the shocks and glory when they come on your entrepreneurial journey!”
The African Entrepreneurship Award’s Presidential Jury announced the 13 winners from all 5 economic zones in Africa at the awards ceremony held on Monday, December 10, 2018 at the BMCE Bank of Africa’s headquarters. More than 5,000 entries were received this year. 30 entrepreneurs received expert mentoring from Coaches at a week-long Boot Camp. The Presidential Jurists then listened to pitches and selected winners from 12 countries in Africa in two categories: Innovation and Sports. Eight men and five women shared the $1 million prize, and all 30 finalists won mentoring to improve their business ideas.
This is the first time since the award was launched in 2014, that two Ghanaian companies have won the award in the same year.
AkooBooks Audio brings unprecedented access to African books with audio books available for download. Ama Dadson, Founder & CEO created the business to “face challenges of abysmally low levels of literacy and poor distribution” of content. In addition, the company focuses on becoming the largest employer of voice talent in Africa. Indigenous African literature read and recorded by authentic African readers. The AkooBooks Audio app is compatible on a variety of platforms, with easy payment methods. AkooBooks Audio won USD$25,000 in the High Potential Innovation Projects category.
Listen to Ama on AkooBooks Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVNk3MIhOhA
