Bank of Africa and Mastercard are giving Moroccan entrepreneurs another opportunity to turn promising ideas into viable businesses with the launch of the second edition of “Elevator Pitch by BANK OF AFRICA.”
The initiative is designed to identify entrepreneurs with high-growth potential while providing them with practical support, visibility and access to business expertise.
The first edition attracted more than 250 applications and eventually selected ten finalists from different parts of Morocco.
The new edition is targeting an even broader pool of entrepreneurs, with projects ranging from technology and e-commerce to education, cleantech and sustainable business models.
Applicants will face a deliberately demanding challenge: presenting their business idea in just 60 seconds.
To enter, candidates must complete an online application and submit a one-minute smartphone video explaining their project in a clear and convincing way.
Applications will be accepted from September 21 through November 1.
The selection process will then narrow the field to ten finalists. These entrepreneurs will enter an intensive support program before presenting their projects to a jury of entrepreneurship specialists.
Three winners will be selected by the jury. A fourth project will receive the Public Prize following a social-media vote.
The financial incentive is significant. The winning entrepreneurs can receive up to 100,000 dirhams to help accelerate the development of their businesses.
But the program is designed to provide more than prize money.
Finalists will receive training focused on turning an idea into a structured business, including work on business models and business plans.
They will also receive individual coaching on public speaking, storytelling and pitch techniques. These skills are increasingly important for entrepreneurs seeking investors, customers or strategic partners.
Professional video production is another component of the program. The objective is to give selected entrepreneurs high-quality content that can increase exposure for their projects.
Bank of Africa will also promote the finalists through its communication channels, while networking opportunities will connect participants with entrepreneurs, experts and specialized advisers.
The initiative fits into Morocco’s broader push to strengthen support for entrepreneurs and very small businesses, including commitments associated with the TPE Charter.
For BOA and Mastercard, the second edition is an opportunity to broaden the entrepreneurial community reached by the program while improving the support available to promising projects.
The ultimate test will not be the one-minute pitch itself, but what happens afterward: whether strong ideas can gain the financing, expertise, visibility and business discipline needed to become sustainable companies.
