FAQ

The New Business Challenge Ghana is an unique business case competition where 20 Dutch and 20 Ghanaian students and young professionals work together in mixed teams on business cases from 5 companies. This challenge is all about discovering new sustainable business opportunities for the private sector and maximizing the entrepreneurial potential of the participants.

The NBC has taken place from 2014 to 2019 and will also take place in 2020 and 2021. You can read everything on the previous editions at the News section and at at the Previous section.

At the start of the New Business Challenge five Dutch companies have formulated a business case regarding their activities or plans in Ghana. They need fresh and out-of-the-box insights and solutions of entrepreneurial students and young professionals to take the next steps!

Ten mixed teams, all consisting of 2 Dutch and 2 Ghanaians, will work on implementable sustainable business solutions for the companies. A well-balanced program is in place for participants to arrive at the best possible solution and to maximize their development. The teams go on two study trips full with trainings, workshops and fieldtrips. They will be coached and supported by experts and professionals. All teams present their solutions at the Residency of the Dutch Ambassador in Ghana at the end of the study trip. An independent jury will choose the winning business solution of the NBC !

The NBC doesn’t stop after the final! There is a follow-up which is focused on taking the solutions further and on career development. Participants are part of an online community and have access to internships, job opportunities, start-up incubators, trainings and networking events. Read more on the program

The NBC is open to Dutch and Ghanaian residents (holding a valid Dutch or Ghanaian passport) who are studying or graduated for the maximum of 3 years from a university (or HBO). The age limit is 28 years. You do not need a specific study background as long as you are an entrepreneurial and explorative candidate who can think independently and is motivated to explore entrepreneurial business opportunities in Ghana. You sign up individually for the NBC. Teams will be formed after the final selection (after the Kickoff event) at the beginning of June.

Registration for the 2020 opens in April 2020.

If you are a Dutch or Ghanaian resident who studies at, or has recently graduated from a university (or HBO), you can sign up individually. At registration, we ask you to add a motivation letter, a CV and a copy of your passport. Please be advised that you must be in possession of a valid Dutch or Ghanaian passport to participate in the NBC. Registration is not a guarantee for participating in the NBC, because we will receive more registrations than we have places available. Therefore, candidates will be selected.

Registration for the next edition opens from March 30th.

The selection procedure is divided in two parts, the pre-selection and the final selection. The selection procedure of the 2019 edition is described here. Stay tuned for the updated procedure for NBC 2020.

Pre-selection

In each country, 60 candidates will be pre-selected based on their motivation letter and CV. These 60 pre-selected candidates will be invited by e-mail for the Kickoff event. The Kickoff  takes place on May 24th, simultaneously in Ghana and the Netherlands. The application deadline is the 10th of May.

Please be advised!  The companies will select all participants for the 2019 edition between May 13 and May 17. If you are selected you will receive an invitation by email. Make sure that you respond within 24 hours or your invitation becomes invalid. Please check your email and phone often during these days and do not forget to check your spam folders! As soon as you accept the invitation you commit to come to the Kick-off.

Final selection

The final selection takes place at the Kick-off event May 24th. During this day in your country, you will form a duo with another candidate. Together you get the chance to convince the company. Every company selects 4 candidates individually to participate in the NBC (20 candidates in both countries).

Please be advised! Four days after the Kick-off, you will be informed if you are selected to participate in the NBC. After the selection you will be linked to candidates from the other country to form a mixed team.

The NBC takes place during the summer period with several event days and two unique study trips. We ask participants to be available during these moments. You, and your team, decide for yourself how much time you spend in between these moments. Please be advised that the preparation in June only takes a few hours a week. See the important dates for the 2020 edition below.

• 15 May: Kick-off, Ghana and The Netherlands
• 26 June: Preparation workshop Ghana and The Netherlands
• 11-20 July: Study trip The Hague, The Netherlands
• 4 August – 15 August: Study trip Accra, Ghana

• 18 September: Matching Day, Ghana and The Netherlands

Note that in the two weeks between the two studytrips you have to be available for a few hours a week for preparing the studytrip in Ghana.