Companion content material: Africa’s Enterprise Heroes
Africa’s Enterprise Heroes (ABH), the flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Basis, has opened functions for its eighth version, calling on African entrepreneurs who’re constructing companies defining the continent’s future.
Launched beneath the theme “Defining Africa’s Future Immediately”, the 2026 version reinforces ABH’s position as a founder-first platform supporting Africa-led options with the ambition, scale, and substance to drive lasting financial transformation.
Throughout the continent, entrepreneurs are fixing actual issues with daring, progressive options – from climate-smart agriculture and digital finance to healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and rising applied sciences. Africa’s Enterprise Heroes is dedicated to figuring out these founders, accelerating their development, and elevating their tales to encourage and form Africa’s future.
“Africa’s future is being formed by entrepreneurs who’re addressing the continent’s most urgent challenges and unlocking its financial potential,” mentioned Zahra Boateng-Baitie, Managing Director for Africa at Africa’s Enterprise Heroes. “Past the $1.5 million in grant funding, ABH is a transformational platform that equips founders with the visibility, mentorship, and strategic assist they should scale sustainable companies. Our dedication is to make sure that entrepreneurs are each recognised and empowered to construct enterprises that create jobs, drive innovation, and gas inclusive development throughout Africa.”
In 2026, ABH will deepen its on-the-ground engagement throughout the continent by visiting ten African markets. According to its dedication to being really pan-African and inclusive, the programme will prioritise international locations which have been underrepresented in its High 10 finalists up to now, together with Namibia, Tunisia, and Zambia. These visits will convey collectively native entrepreneurs, ecosystem companions, and buyers by way of community-building occasions, workshops, and tailor-made founder engagements – strengthening native ecosystems and increasing entry to the ABH platform.
As well as, this yr ABH will broaden its recognition pool by asserting High 100 Finalists relatively than a High 50. This displays each the rising demand and curiosity within the competitors and ABH’s ambition to highlight a broader vary of progressive and provoking African companies. Since 2019, functions have grown from roughly 10,000 to over 30,000 yearly. By recognising extra high-potential founders, ABH goals to deepen its impression, present better visibility to rising entrepreneurs, and strengthen its position as a number one platform celebrating Africa’s subsequent era of enterprise leaders.
Extra Than a Competitors
Now in its eighth yr, Africa’s Enterprise Heroes has advanced past a prize competitors into one of many continent’s most revered entrepreneurship platforms. The programme combines grant funding with coaching, mentorship, and long-term neighborhood assist, enabling entrepreneurs to construct companies designed to final.
Every year, ABH awards $1.5 million in grant funding to 10 excellent entrepreneurs. Shortlisted heroes additionally achieve entry to capacity-building programmes and be a part of a rising pan-African community of friends, buyers, and ecosystem leaders.
Previous High 10 finalists even have the chance to take part in a totally sponsored immersive studying expertise at Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou, China. The programme allows entrepreneurs to attach with each other, interact instantly with the Alibaba ecosystem, and achieve publicity to world finest practices in innovation, digital transformation, and scaling technology-enabled companies. The most recent cohort of previous High 10 finalists will journey to Hangzhou in September 2026.
A Confirmed Platform for African Entrepreneurs
The seventh version of Africa’s Enterprise Heroes concluded in December 2025 with Diana Orembe of Tanzania, Co Founder and CEO of NovFeed, named Africa’s Enterprise Hero. Her biotech enterprise transforms natural waste into sustainable protein for animal feed, addressing meals safety and environmental sustainability challenges throughout Africa.
“Profitable Africa’s Enterprise Heroes was transformative for NovFeed,” mentioned Diana Orembe. “The funding will speed up our development, however simply as essential was the enterprise coaching, visibility, and community we gained by way of the programme. ABH challenges you to refine your imaginative and prescient, strengthen your technique, and suppose greater about your impression. It’s not simply in regards to the finale, it’s about turning into a part of a neighborhood dedicated to constructing Africa’s future.”
Final yr’s version attracted over 31,000 functions from throughout the continent and awarded $1.5 million in grant funding to 10 finalists representing 7 African international locations, reflecting the depth and variety of the continent’s entrepreneurial pipeline.
Who Ought to Apply
Purposes are open to founders from throughout Africa who:
Are residents or authorized residents of an African nation
Lead a registered enterprise headquartered in Africa
Have demonstrated 3 years or extra of traction
Present a dedication to constructive societal impression
ABH is a sector agnostic competitors and welcomes functions throughout all sectors crucial to Africa’s future, together with: meals programs, local weather and power, fintech and monetary inclusion, well being, logistics, manufacturing, synthetic intelligence, and extra.
Purposes Now Open
Entrepreneurs defining Africa’s future are inspired to use. Purposes will be submitted in English or French.
Purposes shut on April twenty eighth 2026.
Apply at: https://www.africabusinessheroes.org/en/register
