Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), the flagship philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, is deepening its impact across the continent by celebrating and empowering outstanding African entrepreneurs. The programme champions inclusive and sustainable economic growth by supporting visionaries from all 54 African nations.
Over 10 years, ABH aims to identify and support 100 exceptional entrepreneurs. Each year, ten finalists are selected to compete in a high-profile, televised pitch event, vying for a share of a £1.15 million (US$1.5 million) grant fund. In addition to financial backing, winners benefit from world-class training, mentorship, and a platform to scale their impact and amplify their stories.
The 2025 edition of ABH has already broken records. This year, the competition received over 32,000 applications—its highest ever—with entries from every country in Africa. From this impressive pool, 50 ventures have been named finalists for the seventh edition of the programme.
These Top 50 startups represent a vibrant cross-section of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, spanning 16 sectors and originating from 17 countries. Notably, 36% of the finalists are women-led businesses, and 10% come from Francophone Africa, demonstrating ABH’s dedication to inclusivity and its mission to spotlight talent from all walks of life.
As the next step in the competition, the finalists will join the ABH Virtual Bootcamp, an intensive training experience designed to sharpen their business skills and prepare them for the next phases. The bootcamp will feature expert-led sessions on critical areas including building resilient teams, securing investment, leveraging artificial intelligence, and implementing digital marketing strategies. Leading investors, ecosystem builders, and past ABH Heroes will serve as facilitators and mentors.
Zahra Baitie-Boateng, ABH’s Managing Director for Africa, highlighted the strength of this year’s cohort, “The 2025 ABH Prize has raised the bar, yet again. We are seeing greater depth, diversity, and innovation across the span of applications. This record-breaking year speaks to the relevance of ABH in every corner of the continent. These 50 finalists are solving real problems with global potential, and we’re excited to amplify their work.”
In addition to the training, the Top 50 finalists will gain increased media exposure and access to ABH’s dynamic network of alumni, mentors, and partners. They will also undergo a rigorous second round of evaluations, including in-depth interviews with ABH’s judging panel. From there, 22 entrepreneurs will move forward to a due diligence process led by venture capital firm PlusVC.
In August, the top 20 finalists will be announced and will advance to the semi-finals in Dakar, Senegal, this September. The final 10 will then be selected to compete in the Grand Finale, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, this December. At the finale, they will pitch for a share of the £1.15 million prize and the coveted title of Africa’s Business Hero 2025.
Learn more about the 2025 ABH Top 50 finalists and follow the competition journey here.
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