By any measure, the landscape of youth entrepreneurship is changing fast. Business opportunities for young people today are no longer confined by geography, access to capital, or traditional gatekeepers. Instead, they are increasingly shaped by digital accessibility, sustainability, and flexible, service-based models.

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Across the continent, young Africans are harnessing technology, creativity, and lived experience to build solutions that are not only scalable but deeply relevant to local realities.

The rise of the creator economy, low-barrier e-commerce platforms, and digital tools such as artificial intelligence has fundamentally altered who gets to participate in business—and how. For a generation fluent in digital language, entrepreneurship is becoming less about permission and more about initiative. It is within this broader context that the 2025 edition of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), held at Kigali Convention Centre, stood out as more than a competition. It became a statement about where Africa is headed and who is leading the charge.

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The event closed the year on a high note, celebrating the boldness, creativity, and resilience of African entrepreneurs who are not waiting for ideal conditions to act. Walking into the ABH venue in Kigali, one could immediately sense the energy in the room—an atmosphere charged with ambition, purpose, and belief. This was not simply about polished pitches or prize money. It was about ideas rooted in real problems, driven by founders who understand their communities.

At its core, Africa’s Business Heroes is about ideas, action, and impact. Entrepreneurs from across the continent gathered, each carrying a vision shaped by local challenges but driven by continental—and often global—ambition. From agribusiness and biotechnology to education, logistics, and digital services, the diversity of solutions on display served as a powerful reminder that Africa’s future is already being built by Africans themselves.

What made ABH Kigali particularly compelling was that it went beyond the stage. Beyond the pitches and presentations, the event created space for honest, inspiring conversations between young entrepreneurs and leaders who have already walked the path. These exchanges stripped entrepreneurship of its glamour and presented it for what it truly is: a demanding journey that requires discipline, learning, and resilience.

Among the influential voices present was Claire Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, and Wawira Njiru, the Kenyan founder and CEO of Food4Education (F4E). Their presence was not symbolic; it was instructive. They represented what is possible when vision meets action.

Njiru, whose social enterprise provides affordable and nutritious school meals to children across Kenya, spoke passionately about personal responsibility and access to knowledge. Her message was refreshingly direct. In a world where information is more accessible than ever, excuses are increasingly difficult to justify. Platforms such as YouTube, Google, and AI tools have democratized learning. What remains is the willingness to use them intentionally.

For young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, this was a call to reclaim agency over their own growth. Learning no longer requires formal classrooms alone. Skills can be acquired, refined, and applied in real time. The responsibility, Njiru emphasized, lies with the individual to seek knowledge and put it to use.

Akamanzi’s message cut straight to the heart of youth ambition. She challenged young people to dream beyond what feels reasonable or safe. In words that resonated deeply with the audience, she reminded them that dreams may seem delusional at first, but results have a way of silencing doubt, distraction, and criticism. Progress, she implied, often begins where comfort ends.

This theme—action over talk—was reinforced by one of the ABH judges, who offered a blunt but necessary reminder: business is about doing, not talking. Too often, promising ideas remain trapped in endless conversations. "I have a business idea.” "So do I.” Then time passes, enthusiasm fades, and nothing materializes. The advice to young entrepreneurs was clear: start small, start now, and learn by doing.

History supports this counsel. Many of today’s successful enterprises began as modest experiments—small operations that grew through consistency, adaptability, and persistence. Funding, including support from platforms like Africa’s Business Heroes, often came later, once proof of concept and clarity of impact had been established. Confidence, not perfection, is what gets ideas off the ground.

One of the defining strengths of Africa’s Business Heroes is its pan-African nature. This is not a platform limited by borders or nationality. It is open to all Africans with ideas and the courage to pursue them. In a continent that continues to import many goods and services that could be produced locally, this inclusivity matters. It sends a clear message: the solutions Africa needs can—and must—come from within.

Among Africa’s young population are minds capable of building industries, creating jobs, and transforming communities. What is often lacking is not talent or ideas, but belief, exposure, and the willingness to act despite uncertainty.

Perhaps the most powerful moments of the event came during the presentations by the top 10 finalists—Africa’s Business Heroes for 2025. Entrepreneurs from different countries took the stage under intense pressure, each demonstrating innovation, confidence, and a deep understanding of real-world problems. The quality of the ideas made one thing abundantly clear: choosing a winner would not be easy.

Every pitch reflected energy, resilience, and creativity. These were not abstract concepts or imported solutions. They were grounded responses to challenges in food systems, education, climate resilience, and livelihoods. As the finalists spoke, the room filled with a shared belief that Africa’s challenges are not merely obstacles—they are opportunities waiting for bold, thoughtful solutions.

In the end, one winner emerged. The Africa’s Business Heroes 2025 title went to Diana Orembe, co-founder and CEO of Novfeed, a Tanzanian biotech startup transforming food waste into sustainable, affordable fish feed and organic fertilizer. Novfeed is already impacting more than 3,000 farmers and has set an ambitious goal of reaching 100,000 by 2030.

With a prize of $300,000, Orembe’s vision now has the backing it needs to scale. Her success stands as a compelling example of how innovation rooted in local problems can achieve global relevance. By addressing food waste and agricultural sustainability, Novfeed sits at the intersection of environmental responsibility and economic empowerment—exactly the kind of model Africa needs more of.

Yet Africa’s Business Heroes is not ultimately about who wins. It is about shifting mindsets. It is about reminding young Africans that their ideas are valid, their challenges worth solving, and their dreams achievable through action, learning, and persistence. As 2025 draws to a close, ABH Kigali leaves behind more than memories of a well-executed event. It leaves behind motivation, belief, and a renewed call to build.

Perhaps the most important lesson from Africa’s Business Heroes is this: Africa does not lack ideas. The continent is rich in creativity and ambition. What it needs is more people willing to act—to move from intention to execution, from conversation to commitment.

As we look ahead to 2026, the question facing Africa’s youth is not whether opportunities exist. They do. The real question is what bold step each individual is willing to take to turn an idea into impact.

The author is a professional accountant currently pursuing certification with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).