World Entrepreneur Award™ Southern Africa

Here’s to the entrepreneurs reshaping the world.

Southern Africa’s entrepreneurs provide a shining beacon of hope amidst recent uncertainty. They have redefined what success looks like, and shown us what it means to reimagine every aspect of our world. They have provided inspiration in reframing our future and how to tackle some of the world’s most intractable problems.

We call these entrepreneurs ‘The Unstoppables’ – those whose bold ambitions deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform our world. Now, it’s time to celebrate their efforts to transform their businesses and reach new heights.

Every year since 1998, EY’s World Entrepreneur Award Southern Africa has honoured the ‘unstoppable’ men and women who build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses. As part of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme, which operates in more than 150 cities in over 60 countries, it’s become the ultimate global competition for entrepreneurs. 

But while it’s called an Award, the programme is so much more than it. It’s an ecosystem. A network. A community of like-minded entrepreneurs. Country programmes typically run over the course of a year and culminate in the announcement of winners across a range of categories.

In Southern Africa, an independent judging panel of alumni, entrepreneurs and key influencers determine the winners of the Ignite, Inspire and Influence categories each year across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The overall winners from each country or territory are then invited to compete for the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) title in Monte Carlo in June each year.

All World Entrepreneur Award™ Alumni