Submissions open for Google's Africa Connected

Google is calling entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators and web-lovers across Africa to share their stories of how the web has transformed their lives and work. Whether you're a photographer, an entrepreneur, a fashion designer or a community activist, if the Internet and Google tools have played an important role in your success, Google wants to hear from you.

In the next five years, seven out of the world's 10 fastest growing economies are predicted to be in Africa, and the internet is playing an important part in this. Google's new initiative, 'Africa Connected: Success stories powered by the web', aims to gather the largest collection of inspiring stories about ventures established online by Africans, in Africa. Five successful entrants will win $25,000 each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period.

"Google wants to hear from young, spirited entrepreneurial web adopters in sub-Saharan Africa who have a healthy disregard for the impossible and who are using the web and technology to do cool and extraordinary things to rise above their circumstances, change their world, and achieve success. We want to showcase the amazing achievements happening in the new Africa", says Affiong Osuchukwu, Google Lead for the Africa Connected initiative.

Categories

Categories for entries include:

• Education;
  
• Entertainment/Arts/Sports;
  
• Technology;
  
• Community and NGOs; and
  
• Small Businesses

20 semi-finalists will be selected from initial entries to take part in an interview and to produce a short promotional video. A judging panel made up of Googlers and external judges will then determine the ten finalists. The five winners will then be selected by the online voting public.

For more, go to www.africaconnected.com.