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2020 Top10 Finalist
OVERVIEW
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is dedicated to identifying, supporting, and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are driving impact in their communities, tackling pressing challenges, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

As an inclusive initiative, ABH welcomes applications from entrepreneurs across all African countries, sectors, and age groups. Applications are available in English and French and are open to businesses that are formally registered, headquartered in Africa, and have a track record of at least three years.

Each year, ten outstanding finalists are selected to compete in the ABH Grand Finale pitch competition, where they showcase their businesses for a chance to win a share of $1.5 million in grant funding. Beyond funding, these finalists receive extensive exposure through high-quality video features, media coverage, and influencer collaborations that spotlight their entrepreneurial journeys and the impact they are making.

Finalists also gain lifetime access to an exclusive community of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, business professionals, and mentors. Additionally, they benefit from training programs, networking opportunities, and ongoing support to help scale their businesses and drive even greater impact.
INSIGHTS FROM OUR FINALISTSS
The ABH application process was enlightening, compelling me to delve deeper into our company's numbers and performance. It was an invaluable exercise in precision and clarity, offering new perspectives on our business's impact and potential. For any entrepreneur, this experience is not just about applying but about truly understanding and articulating your venture's value.
Ayman Bazaara
ABH 2023 3rd Prize Winner
Co-founder & CEO of Sprints
The values and diversity of ABH finalists create the ideal platform to get inspired and sharpen your entrepreneurial journey. ABH is creating a platform that emphasizes youth entrepreneurship, collaboration, and impact for Africa, which is exactly what we need to achieve prosperity for our people.
Tesh Mbaabu
ABH 2022 2nd Prize Winner
Co-founder & CEO of Market Force
I’d encourage young entrepreneurs to use ABH as a platform to tell their story. Many brilliant businesses in this continent are yet to get their big break. I encourage every young business if you have built a business, and it’s working, the world needs to know.
Chebet Lesan
ABH 2020 1st Prize Winner
Founder & CEO of Bright Green Energy
No matter how big or small your entrepreneurial dream is, I encourage you to enter the ABH competition and see just how far you really can go. There are just so much learning, networking, and resources that come from ABH, that I wish every African entrepreneur could experience.
Mahmud Johnson
ABH 2019 Top 10 Hero
Founder & CEO of J-Palm Liberia
WHY APPLY? Unlock Exclusive Benefits
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is more than just a competition, it’s a transformational platform designed to equip African entrepreneurs with funding, exposure, mentorship, training, and a powerful network to help them scale their businesses:
Grant funds of up to $300 000
Our Top 10 finalists share a prize pool of $1.5 million in grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. The winner takes home $300,000; The 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up take home $250,000 and $150,000 respectively. All other 7 finalists, take home $100,000. An additional $100,000 is allocated for global immersion training.
Global Recognition and Exposure
ABH shines a spotlight on exceptional African entrepreneurs through press releases, social media campaigns, and media coverage at every stage of the competition. The Top 10 finalists receive extensive PR opportunities, amplifying their brand and business.
Exclusive Entrepreneurial Community & Network
Finalists join an elite community of Africa’s most impactful entrepreneurs, gaining access to networking events, collaboration opportunities, and connections with business leaders across the continent.
Mentorship from Business Icons
ABH finalists receive one-on-one mentorship from global business leaders, investors, and industry experts, both during and after the competition, helping them refine their strategies and scale their businesses.
Targeted and Practical Training Programs
ABH provides tailored training in financial management, marketing, intellectual property (IP) law, investment readiness, and business growth strategies. Finalists gain access to exclusive programs and partner services to strengthen their business acumen.
Valuable Business Insights & Feedback
The application process itself is a learning journey, helping entrepreneurs refine their storytelling and pitching. Participants receive feedback and guidance at each stage from experienced business professionals and industry veterans.
WHO CAN APPLY?
To be eligible for the ABH competition, you must meet the following criteria:
Founder or Co-founder - You must be the founder or co-founder of the business.
African Identity - You must be an African citizen or a direct descendant (child or grandchild) of an African citizen.
Business Presence in Africa - Your company must be registered, headquartered, and primarily operating in an African country.
Proven Market Traction - Your business must have at least three years of revenue and demonstrated market traction.
If you meet these criteria, apply now and take your business to new heights!
HOW TO APPLY
JUDGING PROCESS
Our multi-stage judging process ensures a thorough and fair evaluation of each applicant:
Round 1: Application Review
Each application is independently assessed by three judges based on our evaluation criteria. The Top 50 Finalists are selected based on the average scores.
Round 2: Video Call Interviews
Each Top 50 Finalist will participate in a 90-minute interview with three seasoned business leaders for an in-depth assessment. The Top 20 Finalists are determined based on their average scores.
Due Diligence
A trusted third party conducts due diligence on the Top 20 Finalists before they advance to the Semi-Final round.
In-Person Semi-Finale
Shortlisted finalists pitch in person to a distinguished panel of investors, business leaders, and industry experts, who will determine the Top 10 Finalists.
In-Person Grand Finale
The Top 10 Finalists will pitch in front of a live audience and a high-profile panel of judges for a share of $1.5 million in grant funding. The event will be broadcast online and featured on our social media platforms.
Throughout the competition, applicants receive valuable feedback and advice from our judges, helping them refine their business strategies and grow as entrepreneurs.
TIMELINE
Learn more about the journey to the Finale
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THE JOURNEY OF OUR FINALISTS
As ABH marks its sixth year, we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Top 10 Heroes from the past five cohorts. These entrepreneurs have gone on to raise capital, build strategic partnerships, increase revenue, and establish a presence in new regions, making a lasting impact in their industries. Below are just a few examples of some of the successes of our heroes since they received their share of the ABH grant:
Temie Giwa-Tubosun
CEO, LifeBank
2019 ABH Grand Prize Winner
  • Leveraged ABH funds expand across Nigeria and launch in Kenya.
  • Diversified LifeBank’s range of services and products to include AirBank, which supplies oxygen to hospitals as well as COVID-19 testing services, and StockBank, which uses collective bargaining and prediction technology to power the future of PPE and consumable distribution across care centers in Africa.
  • Won Global Citizen Business Award; Cartier Global Initiative Africa Laureate Award; and Forbes Woman Africa Award for Technology and Innovation.
  • Revenue has grown by 2X in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
  • Number of lives saved has grown by 5X in 2021.
  • Distributed 14X more products.
Ethel Mupambwa
CEO, MoneyMart Finance
2020 ABH 3rd Prize Winner
  • Revenue grew by 9x between 2021 and 2022
  • The number of customers served grew by 4x in 2022
  • Launched a new product called the MoneyMart Funeral Cash Plan
  • Offered financial literacy training to women in Zimbabwe which has already impacted 100’s women
  • Expanding the business into Zambia
Khadija ElBedweihy
CEO, PraxiLabs
2021 ABH Grand Prize Winner
  • Leveraged ABH funds to develop a native mobile app that also has an offline feature for students in areas with bad infrastructure.
  • 40% increase in the number of staff between 2021 and 2022
  • Revenue grew by 2.7X between 2021 and 2022
  • Working with new partners to expand into the United States, Canada and Dubai.
Ikenna Nzewi
CEO, Releaf
2021 ABH 2nd Prize Winner
  • Leveraged ABH funds to assist with the development of 2 new technologies, namely the Kraken 2 and SITE.
  • The combination of Kraken 2 and SITE allows Releaf to pivot its business model to become farmer-centric. This model will give them more flexibility as they will now be able to first identify farmers and then use the mobile processing technology to reach them when their crops are ready, as opposed to having a static factory.
  • Grew 5x in 2022.
  • Had an oversubscribed $3.3m USD Pre-series A Round that concluded in early 2023.
The success stories of our finalists speak volumes about their determination and the platform the ABH Competition provides. Many have expanded their businesses by opening new locations, driving revenue growth, and attracting key investments. Discover more about their inspiring journeys by signing up for our newsletter, to receive regular updates about not only our finalists but the African entrepreneurial ecosystem more broadly.