The Africa’s Business Heroes programme, which annually recognises 10 exceptional entrepreneurs from around Africa with a share of a US $1.5 million prize, is now accepting applications for the fourth year.
The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropy effort focused at helping and motivating the next generation of African entrepreneurs in all industries.
ABH will recognise 100 African entrepreneurs over the course of ten years and pledge to provide grant financing, training programmes, and other support for the building of a better entrepreneurial environment.
Entrepreneurs from all 54 African nations, representing every industry, age group, and gender, may now apply in either French or English for a chance to be one of the ten finalists in the fourth edition of the challenge. “It’s African Time,” the competition’s official tagline, is a strong call to action for all brilliant African entrepreneurs who are defying assumptions about “African time” by generating local impact and a better, more inclusive future through their enterprises.
Ten finalists will take the stage in the grand finale later this year to pitch their enterprises to a panel of business icons for a chance to earn a portion of the US $1.5 million prizes. Access to a network of worldwide leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors, and accelerators, as well as multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions to assist the finalists to take their enterprises to the next level, will be part of the path to the final.
“Entrepreneurship in Africa is experiencing a strong upward trajectory, and it is so encouraging to see. But there are still so many entrepreneurs whose inspiring stories and impactful businesses need a spotlight, and who could benefit from additional support,” said Zahra Baitie, head of partnerships and programmes at ABH.
“We want to enable entrepreneurs that are not only building successful businesses but who are also running mission driven organisations that generate growth for their local communities across Africa. If this sounds like you, join the Africa’s Business Heroes prize competition today. It’s African Time.”
“With the 2X Flagship Fund status, Insitor is committed to investing with an explicit gender lens to ensure at least 30 percent of its portfolio meets the 2X criteria. Insitor further commits to promoting and maintaining gender balance as a fund manager. Insitor is female-founded and led, with 50 per cent female employees in both senior management roles and across the overall employee base,” the firm stated.
