By Michel Nkurunziza.
The 2025 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy has been opened.
The announcement was after the 2024 competition celebrated the Top 10 finalists, selected from nearly 20,000 applicants to compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize in Kigali on March 15 where grand prize winner of its sixth annual competition, along with the first and second runners-up, at the latest ABH Summit and Grand Finale were announced.
The event closed with the official launch of the 2025 call for applications, inviting African entrepreneurs to apply for the next edition of the competition and stand their chance to win a share of $1.5 million USD. Full details for interested applicants can be found at: https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/register
The deadline for the 7th edition submissions is May 23, 2025.
The application is divided into six sections.
“There’s no need to complete the application all at once. We recommend starting early and reviewing all the questions in advance, so you can gather everything you need, such as the customer testimonial video, references, and financial details. This way, you’ll be well-prepared,” reads the announcement.
“For your convenience, you can download the application form and complete it at your own pace, even when you’re offline. This allows you to work on it whenever it’s most convenient for you, without the need to be connected to the internet. Simply download the form, gather the necessary information, and return to the application when you’re ready to submit.”
To complete your application, you will need to upload two to three essential documents.
Make sure to have scanned or digital versions ready for easy upload.
You’ll need one form of personal ID, such as a passport, national ID card, or voter’s card.
Business License/Registration Certificate confirms the legal registration of your business with the government.
If your business has not been registered for three years, provide alternative proof of operation for that period.
Acceptable documents include bank statements from your company’s account, rental agreements, or similar records.
Ensure you answer all questions marked with an asterisk (*) as mandatory. While you can skip them initially, these questions must be completed before you can submit your application.
As part of your application, you are required to upload one mandatory video of yourself, the founder.
Additionally, you have the option to upload two additional videos, one from a customer sharing why they purchased your product or solution and one of your team.
These testimonials will help strengthen your application by providing a real-world example of your business’s impact.
2024 ABH Prize competition winners
The ABH Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated the Top 10 finalists, selected from nearly 20,000 applicants to compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize.
Under the theme “AI – African Innovation, Insight and Impact,” they pitched their businesses to a live audience and a distinguished judging panel, including Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali and Ibukun Awosika, Founder of the Chair Centre, who were joined by Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies.
The event culminated in the awards ceremony, where the winners were unveiled.
The top three Africa’s Business Heroes for 2024
1st – winning US$300,000 – Henri Ousmane Gueye, Co-founder & CEO, EYONE (Senegal).
2nd – winning US$250,000 – Dr. Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder & CEO, GREEN WATECH (Morocco).
3rd – winning US$150,000 – Alexander Odhiambo, Founder & CEO, Solutech Limited (Kenya)
Commenting on the win, Henri Ousmane Gueye said, “I am very proud to be announced as the winner of the 2024 ABH Prize Competition. This achievement is the result of a lot of hard work, and I am incredibly proud of my team. It’s a significant milestone for us, and it serves as an encouragement for us to keep working towards solving the problem our innovation addresses. It motivates us to continue tackling the big challenges our country faces.”
ABH Managing Director – Africa, Zahra Baitie-Boateng highlighted the debut of ABi, ABH’s AI co-host, at this year’s Summit and Grand Finale, noting its role in providing insights, sparking discussions and enhancing connections.
She emphasized the ingenuity of the Top 10 finalists, whose impact showcases entrepreneurship’s power to address Africa’s challenges.
“Congratulations to Henri and all our finalists! As we celebrate their success, we’re excited to launch the 2025 call for applications and continue empowering Africa’s next business leaders.”
ABH announced that Rwanda will host the Summit and Grand Finale for the next four years, reinforcing its role as a hub for entrepreneurship.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) were recognized as key partners, with Bank of Kigali also supporting the event.
A Summit of Entrepreneurial Insights and Thought Leadership
The two-day ABH Summit and Grand Finale brought together 1,606 participants, showcasing thought leadership and top entrepreneurial talent.
Discussions explored how entrepreneurship addresses Africa’s key challenges in healthcare, agriculture and education.
The event featured live podcast recordings, a debate, TED-style ABHx talks, a financing masterclass and interactive experiences like the ABH Heroes’ Circle business ‘roast’ and Networking in the Dark, a blindfolded networking session.
With over 50 distinguished speakers from 15 countries, the lineup included Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board; Nick Hu, Executive Director of Health Innovation at Sand Technologies; Dr. Brenda Kateera, Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative; Nathalie Munyampenda, CEO of Kepler; and Hasan Haider, Founder & Managing Partner at PlusVC and ABH Semi-Final judge.
ABH Grand Finale judge Ibukun Awosika emphasized ‘African Intelligence’ as key to shaping the continent’s entrepreneurial future.
She highlighted purpose-driven leadership, lived experiences and local ingenuity in driving impactful solutions. “Africa’s future will be shaped by those who see challenges as opportunities and take action,” she stated.
