Awards are now flowing in, may be the tech start-ups will benefit..... here is the announcement.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 Legatum

Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship.   With prize money of USD 350,000, the

2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship will continue the tradition

of recognizing and rewarding the very best examples of small and

medium-sized businesses, and spotlighting the continent¹s most inspiring

business leaders.

This year we are looking for online applications from Botswana, Cameroon,

Cote D¹Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The application form and more details of the program are available at www.africaawards.com.

A Grand Prize of USD 100,000 and five runners-up prizes of USD 50,000 each will be awarded at a Gala Awards Banquet taking place in Accra in early

December 2010.

Winners will be selected on their ability to operate truly sustainable and

innovative businesses and demonstrated excellence in:

€Creating value for owners/shareholders

€Long-term business strategy

€Innovative and effective market strategies

€Leadership, culture and values

€Investment in their employees

The competition is open to all businesses that have had a for-profit entity

in existence for three years or more; located in one of the designated 15

countries; and with annual revenues of between US$2 ­20 million.

Applications will close on August 31st, 2010.