Africa's Business Heroes 2025: Record-Breaking Edition Announces Top 50 Finalists
Contest reveals the top 50 finalists vying for $1.5 million in Africa's 2025 Business Heroes competition
After receiving a record-breaking 32,000 applications, the seventh edition of Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) competition has announced its top 50 finalists. This marks the highest participation level in the prize’s history, with entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries taking part.
The finalists represent a diverse and dynamic group of African entrepreneurs driving innovation and inclusive growth across the continent. Hailing from 17 countries, these visionary individuals span 16 different sectors, including technology and fintech, agriculture and renewable energy, and education and health.
The competition, a flagship philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation (Alibaba Philanthropy), aims to empower African entrepreneurs to build inclusive and sustainable economies.
A Diverse Group of Finalists
The 50 finalists include entrepreneurs such as Alaa Afifi from Bekia (Egypt) and Gowhar Zaki from Suplyd. The selection reflects a significant increase in representation from countries previously underrepresented in pan-African entrepreneurial competitions.
Notably, the competition boasts a 36% female representation and 10% Francophone entrepreneurs among the finalists.
Preparing for Success
As part of the competition, the top 50 finalists will benefit from media exposure and access to a network of ABH Heroes, alumni, and partners. They will also attend the ABH Virtual Bootcamp, an intensive training program that features workshops led by ecosystem leaders, investors, and ABH Heroes.
Topics covered in the ABH Virtual Bootcamp include building resilient teams, investment readiness, leveraging AI, and digital marketing for growth.
The Road to the Grand Finale
The top 20 finalists will head to Dakar for the semi-finale in September. Those who advance will be revealed as the top 20 finalists in August. The top 10 finalists selected in Dakar will progress to the grand finale in Kigali in December, where they will compete for their share of US$1.5 million in grant funding.
Each year, the top 10 finalists compete for a share of US$1.5 million in a televised pitch finale. This year's winners will be crowned this year's Africa's Business Heroes.
Over the course of 10 years, ABH aims to recognize 100 entrepreneurs. The public can learn more about the 2025 ABH Top 50 finalists and the competition by going to the provided link.
- For the 2025 edition of Africa's Business Heroes, finalists like Alaa Afifi (Egypt) and Gowhar Zaki (from Suplyd) have been selected, representing a significant increase in representation from countries that were previously underrepresented in pan-African entrepreneurial competitions.
- As part of the competition, the 50 finalists will gain media exposure, access to the ABH Heroes network, alumni, and partners, and attend the ABH Virtual Bootcamp where they will learn about building resilient teams, investment readiness, leveraging AI, and digital marketing for growth.
