Kigali is set to host the seventh edition of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) on December 12 and 13, bringing together some of the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs. ABH, an initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy, was inspired by Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s first visit to Africa in 2017, during which he attended Youth Connect in Kigali and visited Nairobi. His interactions with young people and entrepreneurs motivated him to support Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, leading to the creation of ABH as a philanthropic programme. ALSO READ: Three entrepreneurs shine at Africa's Business Heroes grand finale in Kigali The competition, formally launched in 2019, offers African entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for a share of $1.5 million in grant funding, with individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. Beyond funding, ABH provides mentorship, training, coaching, access to a broad network, and visibility to help entrepreneurs share their stories, attract investment, form partnerships, and expand into new markets. This year’s competition attracted 32,000 applications from across the continent. The 10 finalists are: from Kenya, Wyclife Onyango of BuuPass works in transport and digital ticketing, Janet Kuteli of Fortune Credit in fintech and microfinance, and Abraham Mbuthia of Uzapoint Technologies in SME tech and digital tools. Rwanda’s Diane Mukasahaha leads DIKAM Ltd, a textile company empowering women and youth. Tanzania is represented by Baraka Chijenga of Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa in AgriTech and food security, and Diana Orembe of NovFeed in AgriTech and biotech. Other finalists include Siny Samba of Le Lionceau from Senegal in FoodTech and infant nutrition, Gohar Said of Suplyd from Egypt in foodtech and supply chain, Adriaan Kruger of nuvoteQ from South Africa in HealthTech, and Jean Lobe Lobe of Waspito from Cameroon in HealthTech and telemedicine. Abraham Mbuthia, CEO and co-founder of UzaPoint, a Nairobi-based digital bookkeeping platform, said the software helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate more efficiently. “About 50 per cent of SMEs don't make it past their fifth year. What we are doing at UzaPoint is equipping them with the tools and resources to manage their cash resources optimally,” he explained. Reflecting on his journey to becoming an ABH finalist, Mbuthia called it “intense but rewarding.” ALSO READ: ABH: African entrepreneurs must prioritize continent's market - experts “The best ABH experience has been the community it builds, interacting with powerful, brilliant entrepreneurs across different markets and creating synergies on how you can create impact together.” Preparing for the finals, he said, “Even as top 10 finalists, there’s pressure to see who comes out on top. We’re focused on making our story clear for everyone.” Diane Mukasahaha, CEO and founder of DIKAM Ltd in Rwanda, leads a garment and textile manufacturing company focused on empowering women and youth through industrial textile training and job creation. DIKAM produces over 10,000 garments per day and is pioneering fully made in Rwanda products, developing the full value chain from raw cotton to finished garments and distribution. On her preparations for the finals, she said: “I’m preparing to present our business clearly to the judges within the limited time. I am also preparing psychologically and emotionally so that I can pitch my project exactly as it is and ensure it is fully understood.” She emphasised that winning at the ABH competition goes beyond funding, offering personal growth and the opportunity to positively impact the community while learning to run a business effectively. Adriaan Kruger, Founder and CEO of NuvoteQ, said his company is focused on transforming clinical research across Africa through digital solutions. Speaking about his journey in the competition, Kruger said, “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that telling our story can be quite complex because we work in a highly technical industry. I’ve learned the importance of simplifying the impact we are making across the continent and refining my pitch so that people outside our industry can easily understand it.” On preparing for the finals, Kruger acknowledged the demanding nature of the period but remained optimistic. “The most important thing is to have a positive mindset. Just being part of the top 10 is amazing because of the financial support that will help us grow our business. We already feel like winners for making it this far,” he said. Diana Orembe, Co-Founder and CEO of NovFeed, said her company is transforming food waste into sustainable agricultural inputs to support farmers. “Our goal is to redefine how fish and crop farmers can produce sustainably and profitably.” Orembe said being named among the top 10 has been exciting, as it provides valuable networking opportunities and greater visibility for her business through a global platform. “I’m getting ready for the event and really looking forward to learning from other founders, their journeys, struggles, and how they overcame challenges,” she said. Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Managing Director of ABH, noted that funding remains a major challenge for African entrepreneurs, but is far from the only hurdle. “Access to talent is a big one, because often, startups are not able to afford the talent that they need,” she said. She also pointed to regulatory challenges, noting that high taxes and bureaucracy in some countries slow down startups, while small teams struggle to navigate these hurdles. Scaling across Africa can also be difficult, as varying laws and small local markets limit expansion opportunities. ABH provides ongoing support for its finalists beyond funding. “Last year, for example, we took all our past finalists, those who were available, on a sponsored trip to the Alibaba headquarters in Hangzhou for them to learn from the ecosystem,” Baitie-Boateng said. “We provide them with training frequently, have one-on-one sessions to understand their business growth and the challenges they’re facing, and determine how we can support them.” Alumni are given platforms to share their stories at events and through ongoing online and offline visibility, ensuring that ABH support extends beyond a one-time grant. Looking ahead to the finals Participants at the 2025 ABH Summit and finals can expect two days of in-depth conversations on key issues and solutions facing African entrepreneurs. “They can expect a celebration of entrepreneurship and excellence on a world-class level. Our events tend to be very engaging. We have innovative formats and are very purposeful in how we design them,” she said. She urged entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem enablers, and other stakeholders to join the ABH movement, attend the summit, and be part of a platform that celebrates and empowers African entrepreneurship. To register, follow this link: https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/the-community/2025-abh-grand-finale
