Marrakech – TV5MONDE and WeMake Productions have announced the launch of the first-ever pan-African televised competition for entrepreneurs, aiming to spotlight the continent’s most promising business talents on the global stage.
The program, set to air in prime time across more than 200 countries and territories, will offer contestants the opportunity to win up to €500,000 (MAD 5.5 million) to help scale their ventures.
In an unprecedented move, the show will bring African entrepreneurial innovation to international audiences via TV5MONDE’s eight general-interest channels and its streaming platform, TV5MONDEplus.
The initiative is co-produced by TV5MONDE and WeMake Productions, in partnership with Hémisphère Africa.
A four-phase journey to the top
The program will unfold in four major stages:
- Open Call for Applications – Aspiring participants can submit their applications online until July 20.
- Selections – Pre-selected candidates will meet mentors in four key African economic capitals.
- The Station – Chosen entrepreneurs will undergo an intensive residency in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they will receive guidance from four renowned mentors and face a series of entrepreneurial challenges.
- The Grand Finale – The top 10 finalists will pitch their businesses before a jury of investors for the chance to win up to €500,000 in funding.
The show is scheduled to be filmed during autumn 2025 and enjoys support from the Alliance des Patronats Francophones, BPI France, and the French-African Foundation.
Who can apply?
The competition is open to all francophone entrepreneurs based in Africa who meet the following criteria:
- Be fluent in French
- Own a business registered in an African country
- Have a structured, credible, and scalable project
- Be available for filming between September and November 2025
- Possess a valid passport for travel to Côte d’Ivoire and possibly other casting locations
- Be willing to receive entrepreneurial coaching
Interested candidates can apply via the official platform, but run don’t walk.
With high stakes, elite mentorship, and unprecedented exposure, this show promises not only to transform lives, but to put the spotlight on a new generation of African changemakers.
