The Africa’s Business Heroes event brought together 40 entrepreneurs, including top 10 Heroes, finalists, and partners across Africa. Participants engaged in innovative activities at Alibaba’s headquarters during their visit, gaining insights to enhance their entrepreneurial endeavours on the continent.

The Heroes, spanning cohorts from 2019 to 2023, participated in various activities that explored facets of the digital economy, such as cloud computing, AI-driven logistics, and e-commerce villages. 

ABH Heroes participated in activities designed to enhance their businesses, including exploring cloud computing, AI logistics, and e-commerce strategies. The trip facilitated collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants and Alibaba leaders.

Workshops, site visits, and exchanges with business leaders from Alibaba and fellow participants provided new knowledge and perspectives to overcome challenges and scale their businesses.

Diarra Boussou, Founder & Creative Director of Diarrablu and ABH 2020 top 10 Hero, expressed gratitude for the experience, emphasizing the inspiration derived from meeting top African entrepreneurs and gaining insights into Alibaba’s visionary approach.

In response to growing interest, Africa’s Business Heroes has extended the deadline for 2024 entries to June 9, offering selected candidates access to training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. A total of $1.5 million in grant funding will be distributed among the top 10 finalists, with the first prize winner receiving $300,000.

To facilitate broader participation, ABH has hosted information sessions and community events across Africa, enabling an energetic entrepreneurial community. 

Events have been conducted in partnership with local organizations in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, with additional sessions planned for Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Senegal.

Eligibility 

Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries are invited to apply, regardless of sector, age, or gender, through the ABH website. 

How to Apply

Additionally, individuals are encouraged to nominate entrepreneurs creating impactful solutions to challenging issues across the continent. Applications and nominations can be submitted in English or French via the website.

The fifth annual edition of the competition seeks to support entrepreneurial talent who are creating positive impact in their communities and beyond.

ABH is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to building an inclusive and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa. 

Every year since 2019, ABH conducts a continent-wide search with its partners for 10 outstanding, mission-driven entrepreneurs that are striving to make a difference in their local communities. Over a 10-year period, ABH will recognize a total of 100 African entrepreneurs.

Benefits

Top 10 finalists would compete for a share of $1.5 million in grant money.

At the Grand Finale to be held later this year, the 10 finalists will take the stage to present their businesses to a panel of legendary businesspeople. 

The journey to the finale will also include access to a community of international business leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, as well as multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions to help the participating entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level.

Eligibility

Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, gender and age group and all levels of society, are encouraged to submit their applications, in either English or French.

Speaking on the competition, Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships & Programs of Africa’s Business Heroes said:

“At ABH, we have long recognized the potential of entrepreneurs as engines of economic and social growth. Now in the fifth year of the competition, we are encouraged to see that ABH has grown into a truly Pan-African initiative that is positively impacting the continent’s entrepreneurship landscape. 

We are extremely impressed with the increasing diversity of our Heroes and how they’ve been taking tangible steps to solve some of Africa’s most challenging issues. We encourage entrepreneurs from all countries, especially those from smaller countries, to seize the opportunity of ABH 2023 to tell and inspire millions more with their unique stories.”

How to apply

Applications will be open online until May 12, 2023, with the top 50 candidates announced in July, semi-finalists announced in August, and the top 10 finalists unveiled in September. 

This year’s edition received interest from more than 21,000 applicants from across all 54 African countries.

There was a 20% increase in applications from Central Africa, accounting for 9% of the total applications received. Southern Africa accounted for 17%, while East Africa and West Africa accounted for 17% and 43% of all applications respectively. 

Additionally, there was a 26% increase in applications from North Africa compared to last year, accounting for 7% of the total applications received. This year, the number of applications from 34 countries rose by more than 50%. Countries such as Egypt, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Burundi especially saw a tremendous growth in applications, further strengthening ABH’s position as a truly Pan-African initiative.

Women entrepreneurs were well-represented amongst the pool of applicants, making up 31% of applications. The participants also ranged in age from 19 to 72, a demonstration that there is no age limit on being an entrepreneur. Entering its fourth edition, ABH has become a well-recognized philanthropic program in Africa. Most applicants learned about the competition through word of mouth.

A pool of over 60 judges will now interview the top 50 candidates who come from a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Among the top 50, 10% are Francophone, 42% are female and 60% operate in rural areas. For the first time, applicants from Burkina Faso, Somalia, Guinea, and Burundi are represented in the top 50.

“We are thrilled to see that all of the countries and regions of Africa are represented in this year’s competition and to have a more diverse pool of applicants than ever,” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships & Programs, Africa’s Business Heroes. “It is encouraging to see more than 21,000 entrepreneurs throw their hats into the ring from a wide spectrum of industries, regardless of their gender and age.”

“The top 50 finalists of the ABH 2022 competition show what great potential and talent exists in Africa. We are looking forward to spotlighting them and giving them the support they need to grow and generate a positive impact for both their businesses and the communities they serve,” she added.

The top 50 finalists of ABH 2022 recently participated in a virtual boot camp in preparation for their next round of interviews with judges. The boot camp featured sessions led by partners and judges alike.

Topics included using data to better understand markets, identifying opportunities to scale, running effective digital marketing campaigns and selling in the digital age.

In late August, the top 20 will be identified and announced. The top 10 will be announced in October, before they go on to the grand finale where they will pitch live to global business legends and secure their share of the US$1.5 million prize pool.

The official slogan of the competition this year, “It’s African Time,” is a bold call to action to all talented African entrepreneurs who are challenging stereotypes associated with “African time” – by creating local impact and building a better, more inclusive future through their businesses.