KENYA
ABOUT SOYA
After running in Kenya for four years in 2020 FOYA expanded into Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. We did not stop there, FOYA in 2021 marked a milestone as we expanded the awards to include Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and South Africa.
In 2022, we decided not only to recognize founders but also the businesses they were running, hence, the introduction of Startup Of The Year Awards (SOYA Awards) by FOYA Awards. This means, that when one submits an application to be a nominee for FOYA, he/she automatically submits their business for SOYA Awards.
SOYA Awards exists to recognize startups that are building trailblazing services and products and employing thousands of young people in Africa.
BRIEF
SOYA Awards exists to recognize startups that are building trailblazing services and products and employing thousands of young people in Africa.
SOYA OBJECTIVES
SOYA AWARDS PROCESS
a) Once one makes an individual submission for FOYA, they automatically submit their business for Startup Of The Year Awards (SOYA Awards) by FOYA Awards.
b) Once a nominee selection panel (“Nominee Selection Panel”) set up by the Organizers decides on the top founders per category to make it to the list, their businesses also make it to the list of nominees for SOYA Awards within their industry categories.
c) The list of nominees is released to the public for voting in each category;
d) An executive voting panel (“Executive Voting Panel”), comprised of previous FOYA winners, will then contribute 40% to the tally of votes whilst the public contributes 60% in the final voting round to determine the winner in each category and the overall Founder of the Year winner in each country by considering and assessing, among other things: registration status of the founder’s business with the relevant authorities (Companies/Business Names and Tax), the general state of professional operation of the business (simple books of accounts and maintenance of healthy record of transactions) and clarity of thought and articulation of strategy; and
e) Once the category winners have been determined in each country and in each operation year group, these businesses will then enter into the second phase of voting pitting them against their category winning counterparts in the other countries competing for the African category trophy, with 60% of the determination being by the public and 40% by the African college of executive Voting Panel comprised of previous FOYA winners.
HOW SOYA VOTING WORKS
1.When logged in Your account will be credited with 1 voting credit per day immediately you create an account. The 1 credit will allow you to vote once for 1 startup. In case you would like to vote more than once for more than one startup, you will be required to buy more voting credits. You will be able to vote as many times as your voting credits allow.
2.When not logged in When not logged in, you can navigate to your preferred startup and then click vote express. There is no free credit for this option.
HOW TO VOTE DURING #SOYA2022AFRICA
Step 1: Login/ Sign up on soya.foya.africa
Step 2: Click Countries then select your preferred country
Step 3: Select your preferred category
Step 4: Click VOTE against your preferred startup
Step 5: Select Vote quantity if you would like to cast multiple votes at once
Step 6: Submit vote
HOW TO BUY VOTING CREDITS
Step 1: Login/ Sign up on soya.foya.africa
Step 2: Click BUY CREDITS on the top menu
Step 3: Select the country you would like to pay from (this will activate allowed payment gateways in that country)
Step 4: Enter the number of credits you would like to purchase, the system will automatically show you how much you will be charged
Step 5: Click proceed
Step 6: Confirm/enter your mobile money phone number
Step 7: Click Pay
Step 8: Check your phone for a push notification requesting you enter your mobile money pin
Step 9: Enter your mobile money pin. Your account will be credited immediately if the payment goes through
How to create a nominee poster
NOTE: Only nominees can create postersStep 1. Visit soya.foya.africa and click signup
Step 2. Key in your details, select you are a nominee and answer prompted questions
Step 3: Login and navigate the nominee list to find your name.
Step 4: Click upload picture and follow the prompts
Step 5: Go back to your name and click download poster
Step 6: Navigate to your download folder to find the PNG poster ready for use
How to download a nominee poster
NOTE: Any user can download postersStep 1: Login and navigate the nominee of your choice
Step 2: Click download poster
Step 3: Navigate to your download folder to find the PNG poster ready for use
AWARD CATEGORIES:
A. Startup of The Year - Overall Winner in any category or stand-alone
B. Social Enterprise of The Year - Business or NGO with demonstrable impact in the society or section of the society like children, the young, women, handicapped or promotes environmental conservation
C. Tech startup of the year – Business with over 50% reliance on technology in its model
D. Fashion startup of the year – Salon, Barbershop, Make Up Artist, Apparel/Clothing Designer, Cosmetic Shop (Makeup Kit, Hair, Nails, etc)
E. Most Promising startup of The Year – very early stages of the start-up, clearly defined market opportunity and well-thought-out solution and execution strategy, high potential for growth
F. Agribusiness of The Year – Agribusiness (Farming, Produce brokerage, Farming ingredient/Raw material supplier)
G. Real estate startup of The Year – Real estate agency, Land and property developer, Architect, Land surveyor, Quantity surveyor
H. Education startup of The Year – Business with education programs, School proprietor, School materials supplier (Text Books, Transport Services), School books author
I. Hospitality Founder of The Year – Catering, Restaurant, Food delivery service
J. Health startup of The Year – Wellness, Fitness, Nutrition, Medical services and products, Health products supply
K. Entertainment startup of The Year – Businesses in performing arts, Comedy, Music, Film
L. Media startup of The Year – Photography, Videography, Blogging, Vlogging,
M. Manufacturing startup of The Year – Business with manufacturing elements utilizing plants or other processing machinery.
Voting process
>>> Visit soya.foya.africa
>>> For the first time, Sign up. If already signed up, log in
>>> Your account will allow you to vote once per day
>>> Navigate to either categories or countries to start voting
>>> Navigate to Buy Bundles to purchase voting points that will allow you to vote more than once a day
What do I do if I exhaust my voting points?
* Once you exhaust your one vote a day or purchased bundles and still want to continue voting, you can navigate to Buy Bundles to purchase more voting points
* Depending on how many voting points you buy, you will be able to vote as many times as you want
Who can buy voting points
∆. Anyone can buy voting bundles subject to our terms and conditions be it a nominee or friends and family
How can I buy tickets for the award ceremony
1. Visit our website soya.foya.africa 2. For the first time, Sign up. If already signed up, log in 3. Navigate to Events 4. Select an event of your interest 5. Select the type of ticket 6. CheckoutVoting phases
Startup of the Year Awards 2022 Africa has 2 voting phases
A. Top nominees per country, per category
B. Top nominees from each category, per country, competing against each other