See The Top Ten Finalists of Africa’s Business Heroes 2025
The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) Prize Competition, a flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy, is proud to announce the Top 10 Finalists of 2025 following the highly contested Semi-Finals held in Dakar, Senegal on 10–11 September 2025.
Selected from a pool of nearly 32,000 applications across the continent, the Top 20 Semi-Finalists advanced through multiple rigorous rounds of evaluation, including the Top 50 Round 2 interviews, extensive due diligence, and live pitch sessions before a distinguished panel of judges in Dakar.
From this highly competitive group, the Top 10 Finalists have now been chosen, representing Africa’s most innovative and resilient entrepreneurs and embodying the spirit of ingenuity and impact that ABH celebrates each year.
“Our Top 10 Finalists embody the best of African entrepreneurship—visionary leaders building bold, scalable businesses that create meaningful social and environmental impact. Their journeys showcase the ingenuity, grit, and diversity of Africa’s entrepreneurial talent, from healthtech and agritech to fintech, education, and sustainability. We are thrilled to see them advance to Kigali for the Grand Finale, where they will not only compete for funding but also inspire millions across the continent with their stories of resilience and innovation.” — Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Africa Managing Director, ABH
This year’s Semi-Finals marked a milestone: the first time ABH was hosted in a francophone country and the first in Senegal, underscoring the nation’s growing influence as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
With Senegal’s GDP growth at 8.6% and its upcoming role as host of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first on African soil, Dakar provided an inspiring stage for the competition.
The 2025 Top 10 Finalists are:
- Wyclife Onyango – BuuPass (Kenya) – Transport / Digital Ticketing
- Siny Samba – Le Lionceau (Senegal) – FoodTech / Infant Nutrition
- Mukasahaha Diane – DIKAM Ltd (Rwanda) – Textiles / Women & Youth Empowerment
- Baraka Chijenga – Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa Limited (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Food Security
- Janet Kuteli – Fortune Credit Limited (Kenya) – FinTech / Microfinance
- Diana Orembe – NovFeed (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Biotech
- Abraham Mbuthia – Uzapoint Technologies Limited (Kenya) – SME Tech / Digital Tools
- Gohar Said– Suplyd (Egypt) – FoodTech / Supply Chain
- Adriaan Kruger – nuvoteQ (South Africa) – HealthTech / Digital Solutions
- Jean Lobe Lobe – Waspito (Cameroon) – HealthTech / Telemedicine
These Heroes are set to advance to the 7th ABH Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, scheduled for 12–13 December 2025, where they will vie for a portion of US$1.5 million in grant funding. The Grand Prize winner will receive US$300,000, while each of the other finalists will be awarded a minimum of US$100,000, in addition to access to mentorship, storytelling opportunities, and global networks to facilitate their growth.
Those interested are encouraged to subscribe to the Africa’s Business Heroes newsletter to receive updates when registration becomes available.
The judging panel for the Semi-Finals comprised Hasan Haidar (Managing Director, PlusVC), Moulaye Taboure (CEO & Founder, ANKA, and former ABH Top 10 Hero), and Jason Pau (Vice President, Alibaba Group and Executive Director, Jack Ma Foundation). They collectively assessed candidates based on innovation, impact, scalability, and leadership, reducing the number of contenders from 20 to 10.
“As a former ABH Top 10 Hero, I understand the transformative potential of this platform. It is a genuine honor to return as a judge, and I am excited to congratulate this year’s Top 10 finalists. Their innovation, resilience, and impact are truly inspiring, and I eagerly anticipate welcoming them into the ABH community and assisting them as they expand their businesses and influence Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape,” stated Moulaye Taboure, CEO and Founder of ANKA, and the first ABH alumnus to take on the role of judge.
This event was made possible through the support of Alibaba Philanthropy and Senegalese sponsors Wave, Sonatel, and InTouch Group, along with outreach partners such as Haske Ventures, Impact Hub Dakar, SenStartup, Seedstars, and African Leadership University (ALU).
Now in its 7th edition, the ABH Prize Competition continues to honor and empower Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs, enhancing their impact throughout the continent.
