Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), the flagship philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, continues to deepen its impact across the continent. Designed to empower and celebrate visionary entrepreneurs from all 54 African nations, ABH is committed to fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth through entrepreneurship.
Over a ten-year period, the initiative will identify and support 100 exceptional entrepreneurs. Each year, ten finalists are selected to compete in a high-profile, televised pitch competition, where they vie for a share of a generous US$1.5 million grant fund. In addition to financial support, winners receive world-class training, mentorship, and a platform to amplify their stories and scale their impact.
The 2025 edition of ABH has already made history. This year, the competition received a record-breaking 32,000 applications—its highest number to date—with submissions from every African country. From this vast pool, 50 startups have been selected as finalists for the seventh edition of the competition.
These Top 50 ventures represent a diverse cross-section of the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape. They span 16 different sectors and originate from 17 countries, with 36% of the finalists being women-led businesses and 10% representing Francophone Africa. This diversity reflects ABH’s commitment to inclusivity and its mission to spotlight entrepreneurs from all walks of life.
As part of the next phase, the finalists will participate in the ABH Virtual Bootcamp—an intensive training program designed to sharpen their business acumen and prepare them for the next stages of the competition. The bootcamp will feature expert-led workshops on critical topics such as building resilient teams, investment readiness, leveraging artificial intelligence, and digital marketing strategies for growth. Sessions will be facilitated by leading investors, ecosystem builders, and past ABH Heroes.
Zahra Baitie-Boateng, ABH’s Managing Director for Africa, emphasized the significance 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.
Beyond training, the Top 50 will benefit from increased media exposure and access to a vibrant network of ABH alumni, mentors, and partners. They will also undergo a rigorous second round of evaluation, including in-depth interviews with ABH’s panel of judges. Following this, 22 entrepreneurs will be shortlisted for due diligence, conducted by venture capital firm PlusVC.
The top 20 finalists will be announced in August and will proceed to the semi-final round in Dakar, Senegal, in September. From there, the final 10 will be selected to compete in the Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, this December—where they will pitch for their share of the US$1.5 million prize and the prestigious title of Africa’s Business Hero 2025.
Learn more about the 2025 ABH Top 50 finalists and the competition here.
