The annual African Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition has selected 50 finalists from 20 African countries, to compete in the fifth edition of the initiative. 

Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy are the main sponsors of the programme which seeks to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are trying to  make a difference in their local communities.  

In the competition, judges will narrow down to ten finalists, who will showcase their businesses at the Grand Finale, to a panel of experienced business professionals. 

The ten finalists will further compete for US$1.5 million in grant money.

However, the African Business Heroes finalists will access training and networking opportunities. 

They will also join an exclusive community of like-minded entrepreneurs, business professionals, investors and mentors. 

How African Business Heroes promotes diversity

In a recent interview, Zahra Baitie-Boateng, head of partnerships and programmes at African Business Heroes stated that they are happy to see the increasing diversity in the heroes.  

“At ABH, we have long recognised 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,” she stated. 

In addition, she encouraged entrepreneurs from every country to seize the opportunity ABH is providing, and be a source of inspiration to millions of people all over the globe. 

Chebet Lesan, the Founder and CEO of Bright Green Energy who’s also the 2020 ABH winner from Kenya stated that there are many brilliant businesses in Africa, and ABH provides a great platform for them to grow. 

“I’d like to encourage young entrepreneurs to use ABH as a platform to tell their story. If you have built a business and it’s working, the world needs to know,” she said.