ABH 2023: The 10 Finalists have been announced.
The ABH Top 10 Entrepreneurs of 2023 were selected through various rounds of interviews and evaluation from 27.267 applications from all 54 African countries.
The Africa's Business Heroes ( ABH ) Competition Award , a philanthropic program sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba 's philanthropic department now in its fifth year, announced the 10 finalists for 2023, following an intense round of business presentations, the semi-final and judging held on September 1st and 2nd at Norrsken House in Kigali, Rwanda.
These 10 entrepreneurs will compete for their share of the final prize pool of US$1.5 million in grant funding in the Grand Final of the competition scheduled for November 23rd and 24th.
Grand final
The 10 finalists will present their businesses in an on-stage demonstration at this year's Grand Final to a panel of inspiring entrepreneurs that will take place in conjunction with a summit, the largest in the history of ABH, in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the competition.
The event will be held offline in Kigali, Rwanda on the 23rd and 24th of November and will also be broadcast partially live, on Television and the internet, to reach audiences across the African continent.
The Summit and Grand Final will bring together a diverse group of entrepreneurs from various sectors of the African ecosystem. The action-packed event will include exciting sessions, including speeches, workshops, an entrepreneurial presentation, and a live presentation competition, among other activities. Register HERE to secure your place.
Selection
The ABH Top 10 Entrepreneurs of 2023 were selected through various rounds of interviews and evaluation from 27.267 applications from all 54 African countries. They hail from eight African countries including Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa.
Its startups were chosen from a wide variety of sectors, including agriculture, education and training, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and retail.
The 10 Finalists Are
- Bola Bardet, CEO and Co-founder, susu (Costa do Marfim)
- Ayman Bazaraa, CEO and Co-Founder, Sprints (Egypt)
- Andrew Takyi-appiah, Founder, Zeepay Ghana Limited (Ghana)
- Christina Gyisun, CEO and Co-Founder, Sommalife Limited (Ghana)
- Thomas Njeru, CEO and Co-Founder, Pula Advisors Limited (Kenya)
- Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and Founder, Chari (Morocco)
- Ikpeme Neto, CEO and Founder, Wellahealth Technologies (Nigeria)
- Albert Munyabugingo, CEO and Co-founder, Vuba Vuba Africa LTD (Rwanda)
- Nthabiseng Mosia, CMO and Co-Founder, EasySolar (Sierra Leone)
- Theo Baloyi, CEO and Founder, Bath (South Africa)
The 10 finalists will present their businesses in this year's Grand Final to a panel of inspiring entrepreneurs in an on-stage demonstration.
Five Years ofBH
"The ABH remains committed to discovering and supporting innovative African entrepreneurs who are bringing positive change to their communities."
"As we reach the fifth anniversary of our 10-year commitment to this initiative, we are excited about the expansion and diversity of talent among our competitors."
"With November in sight, we wish all 10 finalists the best on their journey and encourage the public to join our Summit and Grand Final, as it promises to be truly special."
“ We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the distinguished panel of judges for the Semifinal: Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of the African Leadership Group; Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner of Plus Venture Capital; Ken Njoroge, co-founder of Cellullant; and Rene Parker, co-founder and CEO of RLabs.”
Said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs at the Jack Ma Foundation.
"The ABH competition has shown that African entrepreneurship can emerge as a powerful force driving both social development and economic progress."
“It is a dynamic stage that highlights ingenious startups looking for solutions, facing challenges with impact, competitive, sustainable and additive”.
“I believe that entrepreneurs are carriers of hope, as they can unlock possibilities that can change the world”.
"I look forward to the Grand Final, where the 10 finalists will demonstrate their remarkable business acumen on stage."
Said Rene Parker, Co-Founder and CEO of RLabs, ABH semi-final judge (2019 – 2023).
Originally launched in 2019, the ABH Prize Competition is Pan-African, inclusive, sector-agnostic and grassroots-oriented. It aims to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, working to solve the most pressing problems and build a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
For more information about ABH 2023, visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
About ABH
The Competition, Africa's Business Heroes Prize, is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba's philanthropy department. It aims to support, inspire and assist the next generation of African entrepreneurs in all sectors who are building a brighter future for the continent.
The award offers grant funding, training programs and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The 10-year project is in its fifth year and each year the ABH Prize Competition and program features 10 entrepreneurial finalists who submit their business to win a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.
Conclusion
The 2023 Africa's Business Heroes Prize Competition once again demonstrated the richness of entrepreneurship and innovation across the African continent. With 27.267 applications from 54 countries, the ABH attracted an impressive diversity of entrepreneurs with visions and innovative ideas to solve Africa's most pressing challenges.
ABH 2023 is more than a competition, it is a testament to the African entrepreneurial spirit and the positive impact that entrepreneurs are having in their communities and the continent as a whole. We look forward to seeing how these finalists will continue to shape Africa's future and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
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See also:
ABH 2023 announced the 50 best candidates
2023 African Business Heroes Award
Picture: © 2023 ABH
