Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), the flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, has announced the 10 finalists for its 2025 entrepreneurship competition, underscoring a record-breaking year for the continent’s premier start-up contest.
From a pool of 32,000 applications spanning all 54 African nations, the highest in the program’s six-year history, these entrepreneurs will converge in Kigali, Rwanda, this December to compete for a share of the US$1.5 million grant funding.
“This year’s submissions reflect Africa’s unstoppable spirit of innovation,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs at Alibaba Philanthropy.
“We are inspired by the diversity and resilience of these entrepreneurs who are shaping inclusive and sustainable economies.”
The grand finale, a televised event watched across Africa and beyond, will feature high-stakes pitches as the 10 founders make the case for their ventures before a panel of global business leaders and investors.
How ABH Works
Established in 2019 by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Africa’s Business Heroes is a decade-long program designed to identify and empower 100 exceptional entrepreneurs from every corner of Africa.
Each year, ABH invites applications from innovators in all sectors, with judges reviewing entries through several rounds of screening and interviews.
The process begins with a top 50 shortlist, narrows to 20 semi-finalists, and finally produces the 10 finalists who present their ideas in a live pitch competition. Beyond prize money, the initiative offers mentorship from world-class executives, bespoke business training, and access to international networks.
ABH is televised across major African broadcasters and digital platforms, creating a high-profile stage for entrepreneurs to showcase their solutions to pressing social and economic challenges.
The Prize and What ABH Plans to Achieve
The competition awards a total of US$1.5 million in grants each year, with individual prizes ranging from US$100,000 to US$300,000. These funds are non-equity grants, meaning entrepreneurs retain full ownership of their companies.
Over its 10-year span, ABH aims to inject at least US$15 million directly into Africa’s start-up ecosystem, while indirectly attracting further private investment.
Since its launch, ABH has supported 60 entrepreneurs across 20 countries, who collectively report creating more than 5,000 jobs and raising over US$150 million in follow-on capital.
“Our mission is to spotlight African entrepreneurship as a driving force for job creation and economic transformation,” said Jack Ma in a past statement. “By sharing their stories, we hope to inspire millions more to innovate for a better Africa.”
2025 Competition and the Road to the Final Stage
The 2025 edition of ABH has already made history, drawing a record 32,000 applications, an increase of 18 percent from last year’s 27,000. Entrants represented every African nation, reflecting a growing appetite for entrepreneurship despite global economic headwinds.
After rigorous assessments of business viability, impact, and leadership potential, the field was whittled down to 50, then to 20 semi-finalists, and now to the final 10 who will pitch live in Kigali this December.
The finale promises not only monetary rewards but also intense media exposure, as millions tune in to watch the continent’s brightest founders articulate their visions for Africa’s future.
Meet the Top 10 Finalists
Wyclife Onyango (Kenya) – co-founder of BuuPass, a digital bus ticketing platform launched in 2016 that now serves more than 1.5 million users across East Africa.
Siny Samba (Senegal) – Founder of Le Lionceau, started in 2018 to produce locally sourced, nutrient-rich baby food and reduce childhood malnutrition.
Mukasahaha Diane (Rwanda) – Leads DIKAM Ltd, a textile company established in 2020 that trains and employs women and youth to produce eco-friendly apparel.
Baraka Chijenga (Tanzania) – Heads Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa Limited, founded in 2017 to connect smallholder farmers to urban markets and cut post-harvest losses.
Diana Orembe (Tanzania) – Founder of NovFeed, a 2019 biotech venture that converts organic waste into sustainable fish feed for aquaculture.
Janet Kuteli (Kenya) – Established Fortune Credit Limited in 2016 to provide microloans to small businesses and farmers, disbursing over US$5 million in credit.
Abraham Mbuthia (Kenya) – Created Uzapoint Technologies Limited in 2018 to equip SMEs with digital tools for sales, inventory, and payment management.
Gohar Said (Egypt) – Launched Suplyd in 2021 to streamline restaurant food supply chains with real-time inventory and cost controls.
Adriaan Kruger (South Africa) – Founder of nuvoteQ, a 2014 health-tech company offering cloud-based digital solutions for hospitals and labs.
Jean Lobe Lobe (Cameroon) – Started Waspito in 2019, a telemedicine platform providing instant video consultations to over 500,000 users.
Why ABH’s Charitable Project Matters
Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is growing rapidly: the African Development Bank projects that small and medium-sized enterprises contribute more than 60 percent of jobs and 40 percent of GDP on the continent.
Yet access to funding remains a critical bottleneck, less than 1 percent of global venture capital flows to Africa, according to Partech Partners’ 2024 report. Initiatives like ABH help fill this gap by providing not just capital but visibility, a factor many investors say is as crucial as seed funding.
To date, past ABH winners have collectively scaled operations to reach over 10 million customers and increased annual revenues by an average of 35 percent within a year of winning.
“Initiatives like ABH are more than competitions; they are catalysts for systemic change,” noted African Union Commissioner for Economic Development Albert Muchanga in a recent forum.
By empowering founders who tackle issues from food security to digital health, ABH is reinforcing the continent’s capacity to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals and drive long-term economic resilience.
This year’s finale in Kigali will not only crown the next generation of African business icons but also reaffirm the power of philanthropy-led investment in unlocking the continent’s entrepreneurial potential.
