See the Top 50 Finalists of this year’s Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Competition

Following the receipt of approximately 20,000 applications from all 54 African nations, the Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Prize Competition has announced its Top 50 Finalists for the 2024 edition. This philanthropic initiative, backed by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, aims to recognize and uplift African entrepreneurs. The current year’s competition showcases a notably diverse pool of applicants, reinforcing its status as the largest and most inclusive competition in Africa.

Seven Nigerians on the List of top 50 Finalists of Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Competition 2024

Seven young and enterprising Nigerians made it to the list of the top top 50 Finalists of Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Competition for 2024. They are:

1. Adewale Yusuf of AltSchoolAfrica
2. Eyitayo Ogunmola of Utiva
3. Godwin Benson of Tuteria
4. Mobolaji Ajayi of PURELIFE PHARMACY
5. Ikechukwu Anoke of Zuri Health
6. Najim Abdulrazak of Noba Africa Agro Allied Limited
7. Olubunmi Otufowora of Boomsky Smoothies

Since its launch in 2019, Africa’s Business Heroes ABH has focused on discovering, supporting, and promoting talented African entrepreneurs. Each year, this competition, which spans various sectors, allocates a total grant of $1.5 million to ten deserving entrepreneurs. In addition to financial assistance, Africa’s Business Heroes ABH offers its Finalists and the wider entrepreneurial community valuable exposure, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

“Over the past five years, the Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Prize Competition has experienced significant growth and increased engagement from essential demographics, underscoring our dedication to inclusivity. This year, we are excited to celebrate the remarkable talent and potential of the top Africa’s Business Heroes ABH 50 Finalists, who exemplify the diverse entrepreneurial spirit of our continent. As these entrepreneurs pave the way for a brighter future for Africa and beyond, we take pride in showcasing their innovative accomplishments. Simultaneously, we anticipate the ongoing influence of Africa’s Business Heroes ABH in empowering African entrepreneurs and fostering positive change throughout the continent,” stated Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Managing Director, Africa, Africa’s Business Heroes Initiative.

The 2024 Africa’s Business Heroes ABH application call saw entries from all corners of Africa, showcasing the continent’s dynamic entrepreneurial drive. Notably, female applicants made up 39%, exceeding the five-year average of 30%, and North African representation rose from the five-year average of 5% to 9%.

Building on this progress, the 2024 Africa’s Business Heroes ABH top 50 represents a wide range, covering 14 sectors across 18 countries, with 40% female and 20% francophone representation. Agriculture remains the most prominent sector, with strong showings in Education and Healthcare, continuing trends from previous years. This diversity among finalists reflects the broad range of applicants, highlighting Africa’s Business Heroes ABH’s commitment to inclusivity. Increased participation across regions and demographics reflects a growing group of changemakers making significant local and global impacts.

Benefits for the Top 50 Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Finalists

The top Africa’s Business Heroes ABH 50 Finalists will receive a range of benefits enhancing their entrepreneurial journey as they advance to the next stages of the competition. They will become members of the global Africa’s Business Heroes ABH community, gaining access to a network of like-minded innovators. Additionally, they will benefit from ABH programs, designed to further develop their skills and business acumen. One of the first of these activities is the Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Top 50 Virtual Bootcamp, where Finalists will participate in capacity-building workshops delivered by African business leaders and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including Africa’s Business Heroes ABH partners, judges, and Heroes.

The workshop sessions will cover a variety of essential topics. Dorcas Rutunda, Head of Expansion at ITM Africa Ltd., will lead a session on building a winning team. Ozan Sonmez, an Africa’s Business Heroes ABH, will discuss leveraging AI for business productivity. There will be a session offering insights on hacking growth through digital marketing. Guillaume Darnaudet, an entrepreneur and coach with GD Consulting, will cover business planning. Additionally, there will be a session on investment readiness conducted by Founders Factory Africa.

Finalists will also receive extensive media exposure through press releases, articles, and media interviews which will amplify their business stories and successes.

2024: Highlighting Innovators and Enhancing Community Africa’s Business Heroes ABH

Over the years, Africa’s Business Heroes ABH has showcased outstanding participants through traditional media and social media channels. This has included providing significant exposure to the top 10 Finalists via the Africa’s Business Heroes ABH Show, which recounts their Africa’s Business Heroes ABH journey and entrepreneurial stories through the pitch competition. This year, Africa’s Business Heroes ABH continues to highlight the inspirational narratives behind past Finalists’ entrepreneurial journeys through its ‘Hero Stories’ series on social media.

ABH has also announced an upcoming community-building initiative, in recognition of the continent’s emergence as a hub of entrepreneurial excellence. In addition to its grant and other programs, Africa’s Business Heroes ABH is set to further support trailblazing entrepreneurs reshaping industries and creating global impacts by launching hubs in major African cities, which will be announced soon.

The Top Africa’s Business Heroes ABH 50 finalists.

1. Adewale Yusuf
2. Adriaan Kruger
3. Ady Coulibaly
4. Alexander Odhiambo
5. Amir Tuodor
6. Angelo Pascal Tubibu
7. Bamba Lo
8. Boubacar Biro Balde
9. Clement Owusu-Donkor
10. Daniel Mukisa
11. Denis Karema
12. Elizabeth Njuguna
13. Emmanuel Tuyisenge
14. Eric Onchonga
15. Eya Hammouda
16. Eyitayo Ogunmola
17. Farah Ahmed
18. Godwin Benson
19. Hadeel Fayek
20. Hadeer Soliman
21. Helmy Dear
22. Henri Ousmane Gueye
23. Ikechukwu Anoke
24. Jihan Abass
25. Jolis Nduwimana
26. Judith Marera
27. Laila Hassaballa
28. Lotfi Darragi
29. Louisa Kiwana
30. Maman Abdou
31. Martin Ssali
32. Mathildah Amollo
33. Matina Razafimahefa
34. Maxima Nsimenta
35. Mercy Mwende
36. Mina Shahid
37. Mobolaji Ajayi
38. Muriuki Collins
39. Najim Abdulrazak
40. Olubunmi Otufowora
41. Omar Sefiani
42. Peter Kironji
43. Philippe Nkouaya
44. Rasha Rady
45. Richard Duodu
46. Salma Bougarrani
47. Samuel Munguti
48. Samuel Rigu
49. Tisya Mukuna
50. Victor Maina

The Africa’s Business Heroes ABH evaluation process will see the Top 50 Finalists progress to Round 2. Following a thorough due diligence process by PlusVC, the Top 20 Finalists will be revealed in August and move on to the Semi-Finale in Cairo. Subsequently, the Top 10 Finalists will be unveiled in September and present at the Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda in early December. For more information on the 2024 ABH top 50 participants, kindly visit www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org.