Activity 06 — Entrepreneurship competition

Your ideas can create value right here in Gontougo

BI-WÔRI Startup is the competition that gives the region’s young entrepreneurs a stage. We are looking for projects rooted in local realities that can generate income, jobs and solutions for communities.

[target]project applications
Target

[number]finalists pitching
To be confirmed

5judging criteria

21.11final and awards

Our conviction

Local entrepreneurship, a lasting answer to youth migration

When young people leave their villages for lack of opportunity, a whole region loses energy. Yet Gontougo has considerable agricultural, commercial and human resources.

The competition does not just reward an idea: it creates a demonstration effect. Every winner proves to their generation that it is possible to build a business and succeed at home.

Visibility

Present your project to the festival audience, partners and media.

Advice

Structured feedback from the jury to strengthen your model and action plan.

Rewards

Prizes for the winners — type and value to be confirmed with partners.

Support

Follow-up after the festival to turn the idea into reality (arrangements being designed).

Who can enter

All sectors, all stages

The competition is open to young people from Gontougo, individually or in teams, whether with a well-structured idea or a business already under way.

Agriculture and agri-processingLivestockTrade and distributionCraftsDigitalLocal servicesEnergy and environmentCulture and events

Age and residency conditions will be set out in the competition rules (to be published).

Judging criteria

How the jury assesses projects

Proposed scoring grid, to be validated by the jury. Weightings will be published with the rules.

Criterion	What the jury looks at	Weighting
Local relevance	Does the project meet a real need in Gontougo?	[to be defined]
Economic viability	Can the model generate sustainable income?	[to be defined]
Social and environmental impact	Jobs created, inclusion of women and young people, respect for the environment.	[to be defined]
Founder capacity	Motivation, skills, team coherence.	[to be defined]
Feasibility	Realistic action plan, required resources identified.	[to be defined]

Timeline

Competition stages

Exact dates to be confirmed.

Launch

Call for applications

Applications submitted online or through village contact persons.

Shortlisting

Application review

The jury selects finalists using the scoring grid.

Preparation

Pitch coaching

Finalists are prepared to present their project in a few minutes.

21 November 2026

Final at the festival

Pitches to the jury and audience, winners announced in the evening.

Questions about the competition

Do I need to have started my business already?

No. A well-structured idea is enough, as is a business already under way.

Can we apply as a team?

Yes. Name a lead applicant in the form.

Who is on the jury?

Professionals from entrepreneurship, finance and local development. Members will be announced once confirmed.

Will my idea be protected?

Applications are handled confidentially by the committee and the jury.

Can a financial institution support the competition?

Yes: funding prizes, providing mentoring or microcredit. Propose a partnership.

The Festival

Programme

Get Involved

Partners

Your ideas can create value right here in Gontougo

Local entrepreneurship, a lasting answer to youth migration

Visibility

Advice

Rewards

Support

All sectors, all stages

How the jury assesses projects

Competition stages

Call for applications

Application review

Pitch coaching

Final at the festival

Questions about the competition

Explore the other activities

Inter-Village Football Tournament

BI-WÔRI Leadership Academy

BI-WÔRI Gontougo Youth Network

BI-WÔRI Children's Village

"Women Leaders of Gontougo" Panel

BI-WÔRI Practical Workshops

Ready to present your project?