Total awards youth with new ideas

To promote young business entrepreneurs Total Ethiopia has launched the registration which will award top three entrepreneurs a total of USD 50,000.
The 2018-19 startupper of the year award by TOTAL challenge will support and reward young local entrepreneurs in any business sector who have a project or business less than two years old.
Registration is open and applications are being accepted until 13 November.
This challenge targets young local entrepreneurs who have an innovative project or idea that could make a change in their country. After several selection steps, a local jury will nominate three winners and the top female entrepreneur award.
The three winners will get the 2019 STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR Award, along with financial support, exposure and coaching for their project.
A local jury comprised of experts from Total, specialists from incubators and business leaders and local community stakeholders will select the winners.
The project will be passed on the entrepreneurs: innovation nature, social and community impact, feasibility and development potential.
Athlete Haile Gebrselassie, Ambassador of Total said at the registration launching ceremony the program is a good motivation for young entrepreneurs.
“We must create something to develop, we must change our idea into action to grow and such kind of program is the key tool to support people who have ideas but no money,” he said.
Total was established in Ethiopia in 1950 as a petroleum product distribution company, developed its activities by merging with Mobil Oil East Africa in 2006. Today, the company has 148 operational service stations and four operational depots with one new depot being constructed in Dukam town and two more aviation depots under construction in Lalibela and Shire.