African Drone Business Challenge 2020

The African Drone Forum (ADF) has announced the launch of the African Drone Business Challenge. The Challenge will showcase the latest drone technology, convene experts and regulators together in a Symposium, and challenge drone companies to take part in flying competitions with real-world elements.

Emerging technologies can play a vital role in improving the lives of people in hard-to-reach rural communities across the continent, increasing resilience, and leapfrogging existing infrastructure to deliver significant socio-economic benefits. The African Drone Forum is a timely multi-stakeholder engagement programme that will take place in 2020 in Rwanda, a country already using drone technology to improve the lives of its citizens.

African Drone Business Challenge Benefits.

• The 2020 African Drone Forum Expo offers a platform for the drone industry, including global logistics experts, start-ups, drone pilots, engineers and media, to showcase their innovations and state-of-the-art technology for cargo drone deliveries, and outline strategies for the future.
• The Forum comprises a Symposium, Expo and Flying Competitions, which will take place in Rwanda. The Symposium and Expo will be taking place in Kigali from February 5 to 7, 2020. Competitive flights will commence on February 8, 2020.
• Cash prize of £40,000 for the winner of the best drone application.

African Drone Business Challenge Eligibility.

• To submit a business plan, you must be a citizen of an African country or an African in the diaspora. Business concepts would need to be implementable in Africa.
• Those eligible to apply include everyone from individual entrepreneurs or an early-stage startup to an innovation team within a small business, corporation, or government office that focuses on integrating new drone services or applications into their business models.
• Entrants do not need to be drone companies but should focus on concepts and customers for new business opportunities enabled by drone technologies.
• Significant consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate both economic and social value to their communities.

African Drone Business Challenge Selection Criteria.

• Ten finalists of the African Drone Business Challenge will be invited to attend ADF and will receive pitch training, exhibition space, mentoring, and the opportunity to pitch their business ideas live to a crowd of industry leaders, investors and government officials.
• Finalists will receive notification in early January 2020 if they are selected to participate in the final pitch event at the ADF.

How to Apply for African Drone Business Challenge.

Step 1 – Registration
The leading member of your team will need to create an account online through the SKILD website, afterwards the primary account holder can grant access to additional team members. The registration process is quick and simple, click HERE to get started!

Step 2 – Business Plan
Once you’ve registered, you may begin working on your business plan. For compelling submissions, participants should provide clear and concise responses taking into account the topic areas below and providing any additional relevant information that you feel will build a strong case for your business idea.

You may include an optional video elevator pitch of maximum 2 minutes (highly encouraged).

1. Problem Statement – What problem are you trying to solve?
2. Your Solution – What solution do you propose? What is the value proposition for the customers
3.  Market Analysis – What is the market size? If data isn’t readily available, attempt to predict/make an educated guess what the market size could be?
4. Product or Service – Describe your product or service and explain how drone technology or data would facilitate or enhance your objectives?
5. Competition – Who are your competitors and what is your competitive advantage?
6. Risks – What are the barriers to market entry? And how do you plan to mitigate that risk?
7. Team – Who makes up your management team and what unique experiences do they bring?
8. Financials – How will you make money? What are your marketing and distribution strategy? Show a schedule when you expect revenues to pour in.
9. Future plans – How will you use the prize money to grow your business? What are your targets for the next six months and year one and three projections?

Step 3 – Feedback on your business plan (optional)
Participants that would like to receive feedback on their proposals before the final deadline, have a pre-submission option. Only proposals that are submitted by Sunday, 1st of December 2019 will receive feedback. Based on this feedback, participants will have the opportunity to revise and further develop their business idea before the final deadline.

Step 4 – Submission
All participants must submit a complete business plan through the online portal before the deadline of Monday, 9th of December 2019 at 11:59 P.M. CAT

Official Link

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