Ten finalists selected by Africa’s Business Heroes for $1.5 M 2025 competition

The ten finalists for the US$1.5 million 2025 competition have been revealed by Alibaba Philanthropy’s flagship philanthropic program, Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

The Jack Ma Foundation’s principal African philanthropic endeavor is Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH). It helps forward-thinking businesspeople in all 54 African nations who are creating sustainable and inclusive economies.

ABH will identify 100 entrepreneurs over a ten-year period and provide them with training, grant funding, and a platform to share their stories. The top 10 finalists vie for a portion of US$1.5 million in a televised pitch finale every year.

With submissions from all 54 African nations, ABH received 32,000 applications this year, the most in the competition’s history. Initially, fifty finalists were chosen, then twenty, and finally the final ten for the December grand finale in Kigali, where they will compete for a spot in the top ten.

In addition to receiving grant funding of between $100,000 and $300,000, these startups will also have access to international networks, mentorship opportunities, and unmatched worldwide visibility.

Here are the 2025 top 10:

1. Wyclife Onyango – BuuPass (Kenya) – Transport / Digital Ticketing
2. Siny Samba – Le Lionceau (Senegal) – FoodTech / Infant Nutrition
3. Mukasahaha Diane – DIKAM Ltd (Rwanda) – Textiles / Women & Youth Empowerment
4. Baraka Chijenga – Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa Limited (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Food Security
5. Janet Kuteli – Fortune Credit Limited (Kenya) – FinTech / Microfinance
6. Diana Orembe – NovFeed (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Biotech
7. Abraham Mbuthia – Uzapoint Technologies Limited (Kenya) – SME Tech / Digital Tools
8. Gohar Said– Suplyd (Egypt) – FoodTech / Supply Chain
9. Adriaan Kruger – nuvoteQ (South Africa) – HealthTech / Digital Solutions
10. Jean Lobe Lobe – Waspito (Cameroon) – HealthTech / Telemedicine