Africa Business Concept Challenge

GBSN is pleased to present the 6th annual Africa Business Concept Challenge (ABCC), a virtual business concept competition for African undergraduate and graduate students. The competition challenges student teams to develop a viable business concept that addresses a locally relevant challenge or problem related to Agenda 2063 and inclusive and sustainable development as outlined by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Africa Business Concept Challenge (ABCC) invites African undergraduate and graduate students to turn local problems into powerful business solutions. Working in teams, you’ll identify a real challenge in your community connected to Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and develop a viable, responsible business concept to address it. This is more than a competition—it’s a chance to create impact, gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience, and be supported by mentors and investor experts along the way.

Eligibility: At least two members from each team must be currently enrolled at an African institution of learning, training, or development. GBSN membership is not required to participate. Each team must have a faculty mentor, who must also be from one of the represented African institutions. There is no charge to participate in the competition.

Registration Details

Registeration Is Closed
  • The challenge will be virtual and take place during a 5-week period.
  • Teams must consist of two to five members, and at least two must be current students at an African institution at the time of the competition. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.
  • Each team must have a Captain who will handle communications with GBSN and register the team.
  • Each team must have a Faculty Mentor upon registering. Mentors will help guide teams and enrich the learning experience.

NOTE: Teams are required to have a general idea of a business concept ready to complete the application form.

Participants will receive lifetime access to the Ennova platform, developed and run by the African Development Bank. The Ennova platform is powerful resource designed to help you kickstart and scale your entrepreneurial journey. With tailored opportunities, expert resources, and valuable networks, the African Development Bank’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab is here to support and empower the next generation of African business leaders. This is an exciting opportunity for students to access a world-class platform designed to support and empower aspiring entrepreneurs!

The Challenge

ABCC is a student challenge for teams of 2–5 students (ideally interdisciplinary) to identify and tackle a local challenge aligned with sustainable development goals. Together with a mentor that the student team will select, the team will develop a solid, viable business concept to address that challenge. The competition emphasizes collaborative learning and support among participants. This competition aims to foster innovative and impactful solutions to local sustainability challenges while providing students with valuable entrepreneurial and collaborative skills.

How it Works

Register your team

Establish a team of two to five members. We encourage you to form an interdisciplinary team! Each team must also have a mentor to work with. Mentors will help guide teams and enrich the learning experience. The ABCC is not just a competition but an opportunity for mutual support.

Identify a local challenge

Identify a locally relevant community need or challenge related to Agenda 2063 and sustainable development as outlined in the SDGs. Frame the problem or need and develop a creative, viable, practical business concept to address that community need or challenge.

Develop your solution

Develop a unique and implementable business concept and show how it can be applied in a specific, local context. Demonstrate your business concept through multiple phases of project development, incorporating feedback from an Investor Expert who will evaluate your work.

Deliverables

Student teams will engage in a phased project development process where their business concepts are evaluated and scored by a designated Investor Expert, who delivers critical feedback to improve their business concepts. To be accepted, projects must properly identify and define a local challenge and a business idea that addresses the problem.

Each phase will request specific information. Faculty mentors should be working with students throughout the phases. The top 5 projects will advance to the final round.

Competition Activities

Problem Statement

Your team will identify and describe either a deficiency, dysfunction, or a gap between the current state of a challenge or need and the desired one for a product, service, production process, infrastructure, etc. Good problem statements are centered on the product users and get to questions about what, why, when, and how they are affected or impacted.

Industry Analysis

Using consumer research to develop the problem definition, a good business concept also depends on having a solid understanding of the potential overall demand for what the product/service offers or does differently. It is also important to consider the industry dynamics and barriers, including comparable businesses, their geographies, relative sizes, strengths, etc.

Concept Illustration

Your concept illustration should clearly describe/illustrate how your business concept will be introduced. You will address key questions such as: how does your business concept improve society? How does it relate to one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? What is the source of competitive advantage?

Go-to-Market Plan

Getting to market requires an integrated plan describing how, when, and where you’ll implement and deliver your concept. For example, how will you reach your target audience? How will you deliver on the promise offered by the concept? The go-to-market plan shows how the concept will be implemented, sold, distributed, and protected.

Written Report

Your team will prepare and submit your final business concept, incorporating feedback provided by the Investor Expert after delivery of your materials in each stage of the competition. This will be the last chance to make any changes to the business concept.

Recorded Pitch

Prepare a pre-recorded pitch presentation to submit in Phase 3. Each member of the team must play a part in the pitch. Teams are free to be creative with visual aids, like graphics, slides, video footage, music, etc. The pitch should be no longer than 5 minutes. Submit a .mp4 file.

2026 Competition Key Dates and Deadlines
January 22Application Opens
March 22Application Closes
March 30ABCC Kick-Off Session (Virtual)
April 12Student Teams Written Report Submission (Phase 1)
April 27Student Teams Final Submission and Recorded Pitch (Phase 2)
May 6/7Top 5 Teams Live Pitches (Virtual)
May 11Winner Announcement 

Finals Round

The top teams will be identified based on Investor Experts scores. These top teams will advance to the finals round where each team will deliver a LIVE pitch presentation to the international panel of judges. A live Q&A session will follow each pitch presentation.

LIVE Pitch Presentations & Q&A Session:

  1. A 10-minute video pitch delivered LIVE to a panel of judges.
    • LIVE pitches will be recorded and uploaded to the GBSN competition webpage. 
    • All team members must participate in the LIVE pitch to qualify for the prize. Participation is defined as a minimum of 1 minute of speaking during the presentation.
  2. A 15-minute Q&A with the judges.
    • Judge and team participation will be moderated by a GBSN staff member to keep time and ensure equal distribution of participation between judges and teams.
    • The LIVE Pitch Presentation and Q&A portion will be recorded and broadcast LIVE for the public to watch.

Judging Process & Criteria

Students will be judged based on:

  • Problem framing: Does the team showcase evident research in their solution development and framing of the problem? Is it a viable problem that can be solved by the solution presented? Are there new insights that were previously unknown?
  • Relevance: How is the problem relevant to the SDGs/Agenda 2063? Does it make sense in the context of the community?
  • Business potential: Is the solution feasible in the selected represented region? Does it include a feasible business growth model?
  • Innovation: Does the team provide a convincing rationale for the actual innovation? Is the solution innovative?
  • Presentation (for live pitches ONLY) Q&A: How effective and cohesive was the presentation? Are the students able to answer additional questions? Are all aspects included in the presentation?
  • Additional: Style of presentation, was it well-rehearsed and easy to follow?

Investor Expert Application

Applications are Closed

GBSN welcomes applications from individuals interested in serving in this key role. The application will be live concurrently with the registration opening.

Drawing on their expertise and an investor point-of-view, Investor Experts provide critical feedback to students on early versions of their business concepts they intend to submit for the Challenge. Investor Experts can be anyone from entrepreneur practitioners and entrepreneurs-in-residence, to faculty, PhD students, researchers, and even non-African students.

Each Investor Expert can expect to be assigned multiple Student Teams to review. Investor Experts receive a digital certificate for their role in the competition and are highlighted throughout the process.

  • Renato Pereira, PhD

    Professor of General Management
    ISCTE Business School
    Portugal
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Mumbi Wachira

    Accounting Lecturer; Associate Director of the Doctoral Academy
    Strathmore University Business School
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Dr Sanaz Sigaroudi

    Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation and Assessment Lead
    Leeds University Business School
    United Kingdom
    Investor Expert

  • George Kyparissiadis

    Professor
    Deree – The American College of Greece
    Greece
    Investor Expert

  • Clive Asande

    Business Development Manager
    Strathmore University
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Sourabh Bhattacharya, PhD

    Professor
    Haldia Institute of Technology
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Mohamed Marwan Reda

    Instructor
    American University in Cairo
    Egypt
    Investor Expert

  • Vladimir Korovkin

    Associate Professor
    Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO
    Russia
    Investor Expert

  • Carol Keshy

    Programme Lead AI Hub and Acting Director centre do Entrepreneurship
    Johannesburg Business School (UJ)
    South Africa
    Investor Expert

  • Bismark Agyei Yeboah

    Coordinator
    SEPT Competence Center, Leipzig University
    Germany
    Investor Expert

  • Thierry Vodounou

    Business Transformation Advisor
    Stanford Seed
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Tabitha Njuguna

    Lecturer
    Strathmore Business School
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Thomas Ngui

    Associate Professor
    United States International University- Africa
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Ayodeji Olugbade

    CTO/Product Development lead
    Lautech
    Nigeria
    Investor Expert

  • Randall Zindler

    Senior Teaching Fellow
    Lancaster University Management School
    United Kingdom
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Kakha Nadiradze

    President
    Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD
    Georgia
    Investor Expert

  • Seggie Kistasamy

    Sessional Lecturer
    Wits Business School
    South Africa
    Namibia Faculty Fellow

  • Dr. Sandip Rakshit

    Associate Professor
    Rabat Business School
    Morocco

  • Santosh Kumar

    Director
    SPJIMR
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Noomen Lahimer

    Director
    MSB
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Nneka Okekearu

    Director
    Enterprise Development Centre-Pan Atlantic University
    Nigeria
    Investor Expert

  • Jesston Williams

    Executive Director
    Tangelic
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Ruth Mbabazi

    Coordinator Enterprise Business Center
    University of Kigali
    Rwanda
    Investor Expert

  • Fasili Boniphace

    Entrepreneurship and Business Consultant
    Coaching Success and Consulting Limited
    Tanzania
    Investor Expert

  • Gilbert Shyaka

    Assistant Lecturer and PhD Student in Management (Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship)
    Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), School of Business, University of Rwanda
    Rwanda
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Zakiya Abdul Samad

    Assistant Professor
    Heriot Watt University
    United Arab Emirates

  • Robert Dygas

    Assistant Professor
    SGH Warsaw School of Economics
    Poland
    Investor Expert

  • Bernard Omboi

    Assistant Professor
    United States International University-Africa
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Kulneet Suri

    Applied Behavioral Scientist, Adjunct Prof & Research Reviewer
    Harvard University & University of Oxford
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Jamie Smith

    Associate Professor of Marketing
    FGV EAESP
    Brazil
    Investor Expert

  • Valentina Golla

    Associate Professor & Chair Professor
    School of Business – woxsen University
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Thomas Senaji

    Professor
    The East African University
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Sam Tavassoli

    Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    Deakin Business School, Deakin University
    Australia
    Investor Expert

  • Peter Johnson

    Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    Mediterranean School of Business
    Tunisia
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Nakuze Chalomba

    Lecturer
    University of Witwatersrand
    South Africa
    Investor Expert

  • Raymond Mutura

    Director
    Strathmore University Business School
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Peter Igbersese

    Managing Director
    SolarCowdin LTD
    United Kingdom
    Investor Expert

  • NVV Satyanarayana Puchakayaka

    Associate Professor
    Institute of Insurance and Risk Management
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Kelechi Nnamdi

    Senior Research Fellow
    Lagos Business School
    Nigeria
    Investor Expert

  • Oluseun Andrew Ishola

    Researcher
    University of Ibadan/Centre for Management Development
    Nigeria
    Investor Expert

  • Juan Felipe Henao Piza

    Associate Professor Management Science
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Gift Mpho Mogodi


    Henley Business School
    South Africa
    Investor Expert

  • Joseph Kabethi

    Dean, School of Business
    School of Business- Karatina University
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Amos Njuguna

    Deputy Vice Chancellor
    United States International University – Africa
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • John Szwakob

    Lecturer of Computer Science
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Mohamed Ihab Abdel Hamid

    Senior Investment Associate
    American University in Cairo
    Egypt
    Investor Expert

  • Peter Kiriri

    Professor of Marketing
    Chandaria School of Business – United States International University – Africa
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Paul Katuse

    Associate Professor of Management
    United States International University – Africa
    Kenya
    Kenya Faculty Fellow

  • Francis Wambalaba

    Professor
    Chandaria School of Business – United States International University – Africa
    Kenya
    Investor Expert

  • Jaka Aminata

    The Head of Study Program in Economics
    Faculty of Economics and Business
    Indonesia
    Investor Expert

  • Vandana Tandon Khanna

    Professor
    K J Somaiya Institute of Management
    India
    Investor Expert

  • Lukman Raimi

    Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
    Universiti Brunei Darussalam
    Brunei
    Investor Expert

  • Martin Andresen

    EdTech Manager
    BI Norwegian Business School
    Norway
    Investor Expert

  • Dr. Opeyemi Amusan

    Principal Investigator / Managing Consultant
    Development Impact West Africa UI – UGBS / University of South Africa
    Nigeria
    Investor Expert

  • Charmaine Williamson

    Academic Advisor and Faculty
    Business School of Netherlands
    South Africa
    Investor Expert

  • Robert Harris

    Program Director/Professor
    Lewis University
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Hammad Kassal

    Professor
    ISG – Institut supérieur de gestion et administration des entreprises
    USA
    Investor Expert

  • Tanaka Morejoy Mango

    Lecturer
    Midlands State University
    Zimbabwe
    Investor Expert

  • A.N.M. Rafiqul Islam

    Consultant, Investment & Strategy, Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa
    University of Dhaka
    Bangladesh
    Investor Expert

2026 Africa Business Concept Finals Judges

  • Roberta Blankson

    Knowledge and Content Manager
    African Development Bank
    Ivory Coast (Cote D`Ivoire)
    Final Judge

  • Peter Bamkole, PhD

    Deputy Vice Chancellor
    Pan-Atlantic University
    Nigeria
    Final Judge

  • Diane Holt

    Chair in Entrepreneurship
    Leeds University Business School
    United Kingdom
    Final Judge

  • Austin Okere

    Founder & Vice Chairman
    Computer Warehouse Group Plc.
    Nigeria

  • Rajan Patel

    Director of Seed's Entrepreneurship and Management Programs
    Stanford Seed
    USA
    Final Judge

  • Jim Staihar

    Executive Director, NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    USA
    Final Judge

Sponsors

GBSN is grateful to the following organizations whose sponsorship funds the challenge prizes, resources, tools, etc., ensuring a meaningful virtual learning experience for each cohort of Student Teams.

Show your support by sponsoring this year’s challenge! Sponsorship will directly contribute to this year’s challenge. Sponsorships fund the challenge prizes, tools, resources, etc. that enable GBSN to build and execute a meaningful virtual learning experience for each cohort of student teams.

Stanford Seed partners with entrepreneurs from across Africa and South Asia to help them build thriving enterprises that transform lives. Stanford Seed delivers world-class business training and resources to founders and CEOs, helping them increase revenues, create jobs, and positively impact people and the planet.

Contact: Darius Teter at dteter@stanford.edu

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a welcoming, inclusive place where all students, faculty, and staff are inspired by a distinctive STEAM education and social experience that prepares our graduates for the 21st century workforce and beyond. SUNY Poly applies science, technology, and innovation throughout its curriculum and is deeply committed to offering solutions to society’s grand challenges and improving the health and well-being of communities in the Mohawk Valley and around the globe. 

Contact: Jim Staihar at jim.staihar@sunypoly.edu

Supporters

The Africa Business Concept Challenge is a multi-faceted academic opportunity, and GBSN welcomes organizations to provide their support in the form of in-kind contributions. This includes:

  • Non-monetary prizes, such as academic opportunities for students, mentorship, or online certifications
  • Platform support to host the competition
  • Marketing support to a broader network of students and potential Advisors

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Questions?

Email programs@gbsn.org for questions or concerns.