The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, now in its fifth year and sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has announced this year’s top ten finalists following an intense round of semi-finale business pitches and judging held on September 1 and 2 at Norrsken House in Kigali, Rwanda. At the competition’s Grand Finale on November 23 and 24, these ten entrepreneurs will fight for a portion of the final prize of US$1.5 million in grant cash.

See The top 10 finalists are (in alphabetical order, by country):

1. Ms. Bola Bardet, CEO and Co-Founder, Susu (https://apo-opa.info/3Pq49NQ) (Benin)
2. Mr. Ayman Bazaraa, CEO and Co-Founder, Sprints (www.Sprints.ai) (Egypt)
3. Mr. Andrew Takyi-appiah, Founder, Zeepay Ghana Limited (https://apo-opa.info/3sCxgEH) (Ghana)
4. Ms. Christina Gyisun, CEO and Co-Founder, Sommalife Limited (www.Sommalife.com) (Ghana)
5. Mr. Thomas Njeru, CEO and Co-Founder, Pula Advisors Limited (https://apo-opa.info/3L4blfF) (Kenya)
6. Mr. Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and Founder, Chari (www.Chari.co) (Morocco)
7. Mr. Ikpeme Neto, CEO and Founder, Wellahealth Technologies (https://apo-opa.info/3qVGqvr) (Nigeria)
8. Mr. Albert Munyabugingo, CEO and Co-Founder, Vuba Vuba Africa LTD (www.VubaVuba.rw) (Rwanda)
9. Ms. Nthabiseng Mosia, CMO and Co-Founder, Easy Solar (https://apo-opa.info/3LaFf1X) (South Africa)
10. Mr. Theo Baloyi, CEO and Founder, Bathu (www.Bathu.co.za) (South Africa)

The top ten entrepreneurs for 2023 were chosen from 27,267 applicants from all 54 African countries through numerous levels of interviews and evaluation. They are from Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, among others. Agriculture, education and training, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail are among the industries represented by their start-ups.

The ten finalists will present their businesses on stage to a panel of inspiring executives at this year’s Grand Finale, which will be held in conjunction with a summit and will be the largest in ABH’s history to commemorate the competition’s fifth anniversary.

The Summit and Grand Finale will be held offline in Kigali, Rwanda on November 23 and 24, and will be partially livestreamed to reach audiences across Africa. The Summit and Grand Finale will bring together a varied collection of African entrepreneurial ecosystem participants. The event will include fascinating programs such as talks, workshops, an entrepreneurial showcase, and a live pitch competition, among other things. To reserve your seat, go to https://apo-opa.info/3sJzPoa.

“ABH is committed to discovering, championing, and supporting trailblazing African entrepreneurs who are making a positive difference in their communities.” “As we approach the fifth anniversary of our 10-year commitment to this initiative, we are encouraged by the growing and diverse pool of talent among our competitors,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs at the Jack Ma Foundation.

“With November approaching, we wish the best of luck to each of the top ten finalists on their journey, and we encourage the public to attend our Summit and Grand Finale, which promises to be truly special.”

“The ABH competition demonstrated that African entrepreneurship can emerge as a powerful force driving both social and economic progress.” It is a dynamic stage, highlighting inventive start-ups that steer toward solutions, confronting difficulties with an impactful, competitive, sustainable, and additive resonance. Entrepreneurs, I believe, are carriers of HOPE because they can open possibilities that can change the world.

“I am looking forward to the Grand Finale, where the top ten finalists will demonstrate their exceptional business acumen on stage,” remarked Rene Parker, Cofounder and CEO of RLabs and ABH semi-finale judge (2019 – 2023).

The ABH Prize Competition, which debuted in 2019, is Pan-African, inclusive, sector-agnostic, and grassroots-focused. It seeks to find, encourage, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities by tackling the most pressing issues and constructing a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.

More information about ABH 2023 can be found at: https://apo-opa.info/3qVklx5. and join the ABH community on Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3KY3OQs), LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.info/3R1QXQl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3KZTXKa), Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3ylgNE9), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3YDG5bH).