Associate content material: Africa’s Enterprise Heroes
The Africa’s Enterprise Heroes (ABH) Prize Competitors, a flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy, will host the seventh ABH Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, on 12–13 December 2025 in partnership with the Rwanda Growth Board (RDB).
The 2-day occasion will convey collectively over 1,000 entrepreneurs, traders, mentors, founders, companions, and trade specialists from throughout Africa and past for studying, networking, and collaboration in celebration of African entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Grand Finale and Awards Ceremony will characteristic reside pitches earlier than a panel of esteemed judges, immersive stage experiences, and performances celebrating African creativity and innovation – culminating within the announcement of this yr’s winners and the awarding of as much as US$1.5 million in grant funding.
The 2025 ABH Grand Finale follows the seventh ABH Semi-Finals, which was held for the primary time in Dakar, Senegal, on 10–11 September 2025. The 2025 High 10 finalists had been chosen from 20 semi-finalists after two days of reside pitches and analysis in Dakar.
Representing various sectors which might be shaping Africa’s future, the 2025 High 10 finalists are:
Wyclife Onyango (Kenya) – Transport and Digital Ticketing, BuuPass
Siny Samba (Senegal) – FoodTech and Toddler Vitamin, Le Lionceau
Mukasahaha Diane (Rwanda) – Textiles and Girls’s Empowerment, DIKAM Ltd
Baraka Chijenga (Tanzania) – AgriTech and Meals Safety, Kilimo Recent Meals Africa
Janet Kuteli (Kenya) – FinTech and Microfinance, Fortune Credit score Restricted
Diana Orembe (Tanzania) – AgriTech and Biotech, NovFeed
Abraham Mbuthia (Kenya) – SME Tech and Digital Instruments, Uzapoint Applied sciences Restricted
Gohar Stated (Egypt) – FoodTech and Provide Chain, Suplyd
Adriaan Kruger (South Africa) – HealthTech and Digital Options, nuvoteQ
Jean Lobe Lobe (Cameroon) – HealthTech and Telemedicine, Waspito
“Our High 10 finalists characterize the perfect of African entrepreneurship, from agritech and fintech to well being innovation and sustainability,” mentioned Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Africa Managing Director, Africa’s Enterprise Heroes. “Their journey to Kigali displays months of dedication, creativity, and progress, and we’re excited to see them take the stage to share their tales and concepts with a pan-African viewers. The Summit and Grand Finale shall be a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the facility of African entrepreneurs to outline the continent’s future, right now.”
As a longstanding accomplice, the Rwanda Growth Board (RDB) continues its collaboration with Africa’s Enterprise Heroes (ABH), with Rwanda as soon as once more internet hosting the Grand Finale for the third consecutive yr – a testomony to the nation’s rising status as a house of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.
“We’re delighted to host the seventh Africa’s Enterprise Heroes Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali,” mentioned Jean-Man Afrika, Chief Government Officer, Rwanda Growth Board. “This partnership with Africa’s Enterprise Heroes displays our shared dedication to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the continent. Rwanda is proud to host the Grand Finale for the third time, reaffirming our place as a hub for enterprise and innovation in Africa. This gathering will present a dynamic platform for traders, founders, and enterprise leaders to attach, study, and discover new alternatives that advance sustainable progress throughout the continent.”
The seventh ABH Summit and Grand Finale
Underneath the theme “Defining Africa’s Future At the moment,” the 2025 Summit will characteristic interactive classes, masterclasses, and reside pitch competitions celebrating visionary entrepreneurs driving Africa’s transformation. Confirmed audio system embrace Mr. Lijun Solar (Chair of the board, Alibaba Basis, President, Alibaba Philanthropy), Mrs. Juliana Muganza (Deputy CEO, RDB), and trade leaders similar to Clare Akamanzi (CEO, NBA Africa), Tara Fela-Durotoye (Founding father of Home of Tara & Constructing Past You Institute), Wandia Gichuru (CEO, Vivo Style Group), and Naa Ashorkor (Journalist and Theatre Producer).
The Grand Finale will even convey collectively a distinguished panel of world enterprise leaders and innovators, together with Dr. Diane Karusisi (CEO, Financial institution of Kigali), and Mrs. Ibukun Awosika (CEO, The Chair Centre Group)
A Pan-African Platform for Partnership
Now in its seventh version, ABH continues to champion inclusive and sustainable progress throughout Africa. Since its inception, it has awarded 70 entrepreneurs with funding and supplied them with coaching and international publicity, serving to them scale impactful companies in sectors similar to agribusiness, fintech, healthcare, schooling, and sustainability. By means of its coaching applications similar to ABH ScaleUp, ABH has supported over 5,000 entrepreneurs, thus far attracting over 160,000 candidates.
The 2025 ABH Summit and Grand Finale are made attainable by Alibaba Philanthropies in collaboration with the Rwanda Growth Board. The occasion is supported by key sponsors – Gebeya, Financial institution of Kigali, Jasiri, and Inkomoko, whose partnership helps amplify the attain and influence of African entrepreneurship. ABH additionally recognises the invaluable contribution of its Outreach Companions, together with Hanga Pitchfest, BPN Rwanda, Influence Hub Kigali, African Management College, Carnegie Mellon College, Africa, Kepler Faculty, and Norrsken Africa, who play a important position in connecting ABH to vibrant entrepreneurial communities throughout the continent. Collectively, these companions replicate the collective effort driving ABH’s mission to encourage, help, and have fun Africa’s enterprise heroes.
Entrepreneurs, traders, and ecosystem gamers are invited to study extra and register to attend the ABH Summit and Grand Finale by way of https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org/en/.
