Africa’s Business Heroes Spotlights 20 Trailblazing Finalists for $1.5M 2025 Prize

Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is buzzing with promise as the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, backed by Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, unveils its top 20 semi-finalists for 2025. Selected from a record-shattering 32,000 applications across all 54 African nations, these innovators will vie for a share of $1.5 million in grants at the semi-finals in Dakar, Senegal, on September 10–11, 2025.

Spanning nine countries and 10 sectors—including healthtech, fintech, agritech, and sustainability—the finalists showcase the continent’s diverse ingenuity. Notable ventures include South Africa’s Adriaan Kruger with nuvoteQ, revolutionizing healthtech with digital solutions; Tanzania’s Baraka Chijenga of Kilimo Fresh Foods, boosting food security through agritech; Rwanda’s Blandine Umuziranenge of Kosmotive, empowering women via healthtech; and Cameroon’s Jean Lobe Lobe of Waspito, advancing telemedicine. The cohort, with 36% female-led ventures and 10% from Francophone regions, reflects ABH’s push for inclusivity.

“This year’s top 20 highlight Africa’s dynamic innovation,” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, ABH’s Africa Managing Director. “From digital transformation to scalable B2B models, these entrepreneurs are tackling financial inclusion, food security, and environmental challenges with global potential.” The selection process, which whittled down from 50 initial finalists through rigorous interviews and due diligence led by PlusVC, leaned on AI-powered assistant ABi for streamlined screening—a first for the competition.

The semi-finalists, including Nigeria’s CredPal and Senegal’s Le Lionceau, will pitch to a prestigious panel in Dakar, with the top 10 advancing to the Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 12–13, 2025, for a shot at the grand prize of $300,000 and at least $100,000 for each finalist, plus mentorship and global networking. Supported by local sponsors like Wave and Sonatel, the event underscores Africa’s rising entrepreneurial clout, with past Heroes creating 123,000 jobs and serving 37.5 million customers.