The ZOL Startup Challenge 2014 to be bigger, better and much more fun

Today we are proud to announce that Zimbabwe’s most anticipated startup competition is upon us. The fourth edition of the ZOL Startup Challenge kicks off today and we have bumped up the competition format and process to make it bigger, far reaching and a whole lot more fun.

Over the past few weeks, actually months , we have been inundated with requests and questions on the details of the ZOL Startup Challenge and its launch. After planning this year’s four month long (yes, four months) challenge, we share in the anticipation and we believe this year’s competition will be well worth the wait.

ZOL Startup Challenge Format

For the first time, the ZOL Startup Challenge will have two events in Bulawayo (there is a lot happening there with Sai Sai and all), and thanks to partnerships with local Hubs, the startups competing this year will be trained in business modelling, pitch training and assistance in active scaling and much more involved mentorship.

Another change in ZOL Startup Challenge 2014 is that competing startups will be placed in different categories. You’ll notice the top three startups from ZOL Startup Challenge in 2013 were all content creators and this year the idea is to level the playing field so that those in enterprise will compete with enterprise startups and also get mentorship and training from successful entrepreneurs in that respective category. But there is a catch, if startups in a certain category are considered too weak; judges may opt not to name a winner in that category and pass the prize to another category. There won’t be big fish in a small pond.

ZOL Startup Challenge Finals and the Techzim Surge Conference.

ZOL Startup Challenge will be decided during the final pitch event to be held on the 13th and 14th of November 2014 at Sango Conference Centre, Cresta Lodge in Harare. We are lining up a number of local and international tech personalities to be part of our Judging panel, some of whom will be interviewed during the conference. This is one event not to miss. Tickets are available here.

Last but not least, we would like to thank David Behr and #TeamZOL for investing in the local startup community yet again. This is the fourth year ZOL Zimbabwe has committed themselves to this competition and agreeing to do it on a bigger scale is an endorsement of the caliber of startups that can be nurtured in Zimbabwe.

The winning startup will pocket $10,000 worth of prizes and seed funding.