Some 360 African entrepreneurs have been enrolled in the latest Alibaba Netpreneur training programme, conducted by Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI), the professional training arm of Alibaba Group.
The initiative aims to support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs to advance in the digital economy, and has the backing of Jack Ma’s Africa’s Business Heroes competition.
Ma is one of the influential figures advancing the digital economy, having founded online marketplace Alibaba, which is now a multibillion-dollar business.
With the competition, the businessman’s foundation allocates grant funding, training programmes and support for the development of the African entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The latest edition of the Alibaba Netpreneur training programme, which kicked off yesterday and runs until 10 November, follows the success of the inaugural class, which graduated 70 African participants last October.
Globally, the Alibaba Netpreneur training programme was introduced in 2019, and has to date trained close to 1 500 entrepreneurs in Africa, Europe, Latin America, as well as South and Southeast Asia since its inception.
The training seeks to equip entrepreneurs and business leaders across different sectors with “tangible and actionable steps” they can take to advance in the digital economy.
“We are delighted to be able to continue advancing our vision of sharing the positive impact of the digital economy with entrepreneurs and enrolling our second cohort of African participants,” says Dan Liu, senior advisor at Alibaba Global Initiatives.
“With companies taking to online channels to keep their business afloat during the pandemic, digitalisation is no longer a foreign concept to consumers and entrepreneurs.
“We hope this edition of our Alibaba Netpreneur Training will help entrepreneurs in Africa develop long-term, savvy digital strategies that will open up more opportunities for them.”
In a statement, the AGI says participants will, among other things, deepen their knowledge and understanding of “the digital economy in China and the latest trends and practices shaping its development, and the evolution of Alibaba’s business, including the role of digital technology in supporting the growth of companies in its ecosystem”.
The candidates will also broaden their understanding of frameworks and approaches for building a successful and innovative business in today’s digital world.
According AGI, outstanding participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a one-week offline immersion programme at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, subject to fulfilling the online course criteria.
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