After two previous attempts, Senegalese entrepreneur Henri Ousmane Gueye has finally claimed the spotlight as the grand prize winner of the 2024 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a major continental initiative recognizing entrepreneurs driving positive change across Africa.
Henri, a trained software engineer with a clear vision for digital transformation in healthcare, leads Eyone, a health-tech company revolutionizing access to medical records in Senegal. His win is not just a personal milestone—it’s a victory for innovation in African healthcare.
A Vision Rooted in Purpose
Henri’s journey to entrepreneurship was deeply personal. Motivated by the loss of a loved one in 2017 due to gaps in the medical system, he set out to build a solution that could make healthcare delivery more efficient, connected, and life-saving. His response? A digital health records platform that ensures medical information is accessible to doctors and hospitals in real time.
Today, Eyone—which translates to “Let’s go together”—serves more than 500 healthcare facilities across Senegal, offering services in over 30 medical specializations. The company enables medical professionals to manage appointments, issue invoices, and securely access patient records digitally, improving healthcare access for rural and urban communities alike.
A Triumph of Persistence
Henri’s path to winning the ABH competition was not without hurdles. He had applied to the prize in two previous years without success. But rather than walk away, he refined his approach, strengthened his business model, and returned with a sharper vision. In 2024, his perseverance paid off.
Selected from nearly 20,000 applicants, Henri emerged victorious among ten finalists who pitched their businesses at the ABH Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, competing for a share of $1.5 million in grant funding. His story resonated with judges and the audience, aligning perfectly with this year’s competition theme: “AI – African Innovation, Insight and Impact.”
Other winners in the 2024 Africa’s Business Heroes competition include:
- Moroccan entrepreneur Salma Bougarrani, co-founder and CEO of GREEN WATECH – first runner-up position and took home US$250,000.
- Kenyan entrepreneur Alexander Odhiambo, co-founder and CEO of Slutech Limited – second runner-up position and took home US$150,000.
- Remaining seven innovators each received $100,000
Tackling Africa’s Big Challenges with Tech
Senegal’s healthcare system, like many in Africa, faces several challenges—staff shortages, rural access barriers, and outdated manual recordkeeping. Eyone’s digital solution is bridging those gaps, offering scalable infrastructure for hospitals, clinics, and patients.
Henri described the win as a “significant milestone” for Eyone, affirming the importance of their work and fueling their ambition to grow. “It serves as encouragement to keep working towards solving the problem our innovation addresses,” he said.
A Growing Platform for African Changemakers
Henri now joins the ranks of entrepreneurs recognized by Africa’s Business Heroes, a philanthropic initiative by the Jack Ma Foundation. The program, which runs until 2030, will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs, offering grant funding, training, and support to scale their impact.
As applications open for the 2025 ABH Prize, Henri’s story stands as inspiration for others solving Africa’s biggest challenges through innovation, resilience, and purpose.
