eStartUp Competition
Unleashing Ecommerce Ideas from Zambia’s Future Leaders
Harness innovative ecommerce ideas conceptualized by young people below the age of 30. The intended outcome is to produce ecommerce businesses that can power economic development and job creation.
About the Competition
The eStartUp competition is a collaborative effort between the Institute for Finance and Economics (IFE) Zambia, eAfrica Expo, and supported by Alpha Labworks, a USA-based company. The competition offers prize packages of cash awards and in-kind professional services.
Two Categories: Aspiring Business Idea & Existing Businesses.
Enter CompetitionThe eStartUp competition is the only ecommerce biased startup competition program in Zambia.
Legal 101
Legal compliance, entity creation, partnership agreements, copyrights, trademarks, IP, term sheets, and taxes.
Ecommerce Basics
Website setup, basic analytics, and essential integrations for running an ecommerce business.
Social Media Marketing
Best practices for social platforms, including influencers, paid marketing, and SEO strategies.
Accounting & Finance
Bookkeeping, cash flow management, financial modeling, forecasting, and fundraising preparation.
Pitching & PR
Pitch practice, public speaking, body language, handling Q&A, and media training.
Fundraising & VC
Basics of fundraising, investor expectations, valuation, and how to pitch to VCs.
Customer Insights
Understanding target customers, creating discovery materials, and developing MVPs.
Brand Strategy
Developing an identifiable brand, including visual identity, tone, and cross-platform consistency.
Important Information
- Participants may not contact judges during the course of the competition.
- The proposed or existing idea should not be in violation of any intellectual property right.
- Entries that do not follow the rules and requirements will automatically be disqualified.
- You should only disclose information with which you are comfortable.
Important Dates (2026)
- May 1st, 2026: Contest Opens for Submission
- May 31st, 2026: Submissions Deadline
- June 30th, 2026: 1st Round Judging (Up to six groups selected)
- July 31st, 2026: Selected Finalists Announced
- August 29th – 31st, 2026: Final “Live” Pitch Competition
- October 9th, 2026: Presentation of Winner and Runner-up
Who Should Apply?
- Eligibility: Currently enrolled at ANY higher learning institution in Zambia.
- Idea Stage: An idea for a business earning revenue or/and external investment less than ZMW 100,000.
- Previous Winners: Previous Aspiring Business Idea winners are NOT eligible.
Team Requirements:
Max five (5) members per team or individual applicant. Participants can join only one team. Cash prizes will be equally distributed among all team members.
Don’t Miss the 2026 Competition
eStartUp is an initiative that aims to harness innovative ecommerce ideas conceptualized by young people below the age of 30. Enter your email below to stay informed.