The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, announced the grand prize winner of its sixth annual competition at its Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda.
Why it matters
The competition, which attracted nearly 20,000 applicants, spotlights Africa’s top entrepreneurial talent and provides funding to scale impactful businesses.
This year’s event, themed “AI – African Innovation, Insight and Impact,” showcased how startups are tackling key challenges across the continent.
The winners
- 1st place ($300,000): Henri Ousmane Gueye, Co-founder & CEO, EYONE (Senegal)
- 2nd place ($250,000): Dr. Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder & CEO, GREEN WATECH (Morocco)
- 3rd place ($150,000): Alexander Odhiambo, Founder & CEO, Solutech Limited (Kenya)
What they’re saying
- “I am incredibly proud of my team. This achievement motivates us to keep tackling the big challenges our country faces,” said Gueye.
- ABH Managing Director Zahra Baitie-Boateng praised the ingenuity of the Top 10 finalists and announced the launch of the 2025 call for applications.
Zoom out
- The ABH Summit featured 1,606 participants, 50 speakers from 15 countries, and interactive sessions, including a business ‘roast’ and blindfolded networking.
- Rwanda will continue to host the event for the next four years, solidifying its role as a hub for entrepreneurship.
What’s next
Applications for the 2025 ABH Prize Competition are now open, offering African entrepreneurs another shot at a share of $1.5 million. More details: ABH 2025 Applications.
