Jack Ma Foundation - Afrikan Heroes

Three Nigerian Firms Win $480,000 Jack Ma Fund for African businesses

November 19, 2021

Three Nigerian firms won nearly half a million dollars in total in funding provided by the Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, for startups that set out to solve major problems with Releaf, a Lagos-based food processing company, taking the second position in the contest and will receive $250,000. Two other Nigerian firms, Gricd and Publiseer, that were amongst the top 10 finalists, will each receive $100,000 in prize funding.

Additional $10,000 will be allocated to each finalist for a training program to be hosted in Alibaba Group’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China. The grand winner is Egypt-based Praxilab, which will receive $300,000.

Entrepreneurs from Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria made the top three; top 10 finalists pitched live in a virtual grand finale connecting 14 locations across the world.

The 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes winners were announced Wednesday night during a virtual live Grand Finale, with US$1.5 million in grant funding awarded to the top 10 finalists. The top 10 represent seven African countries, with 80% operating businesses in rural areas and half of the finalists are female.

Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is a flagship philanthropic programme established by the Jack Ma Foundation to help foster an inclusive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa. The annual competition, now in its third year, shines a spotlight on talented African entrepreneurs who are working to make a difference in their communities and helping to build a more sustainable, inclusive future. The ABH competition is grassroots oriented as well as age, gender, language and sector agnostic.

This year, over 12,000 applications were received from all 54 countries in Africa. The finalists were chosen after several rounds of rigorous evaluation conducted by over 230 judges. They were selected after demonstrating that they are visionary entrepreneurs who embodied innovation, resilience, growth potential and impact on Africa.

Hundreds of viewers from 49 countries worldwide registered to watch the live online grand finale and visit the virtual exhibition, following the finalists as they pitched their businesses to a final panel of esteemed judges: Ibukun Awosika, Founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group; Victor Williams, NBA Africa CEO; and Joe Tsai, Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group.

The top three Africa’s Business Heroes for 2021 are:

1st – winning $300,000 – Khadija Mohamed Elbedweihy – Founder, PraxiLabs (www.praxilabs.com) (Egypt).

2nd – winning $250,000 – Ikenna Nzewi – Co-founder and CEO, Releaf (www.releaf.africa) (Nigeria).

3rd – winning $150,000 – Navalayo Osembo-Ombati – Co-founder and CEO, Enda Athletic (www.EndaSportswear.com) (Kenya).

“I’m very humbled to be named Africa’s Business Hero. This competition has been an incredible journey. I have learnt important lessons from each judge and from my fellow talented entrepreneurs. I hope that this win inspires many young Africans to believe that we have what it takes to make an impact where we are. It has been a challenging year for many businesses, but challenges are key to build our resilience. PraxiLabs is solving pressing issues around education and training, and we will remain focused and determined to change how Africa learns and teaches science, one virtual lab at a time,” said the winner, Khadija Mohamed Elbedweihy, Founder at PraxiLabs.

The other finalists will each receive $100,000 in prize funding, and additional $10,000 will be allocated to each finalist for a training program to be hosted in Alibaba Group’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.

Ghirmay Abraham – Founder, Aptech Africa (aptechafrica.com) (Uganda)

Oghenetega Iortim – Founder, Gricd (Gricd.com) (Nigeria)

Yvette Ishimwe – Founder and CEO, IRIBA Water Group (www.IRIBWaterGroup.com) (Rwanda)

Charlot Magayi – Founder and CEO, Mukuru Clean Stoves (mukurustoves.org) (Kenya)

Chidi Nwaogu – Co-founder and CEO, Publiseer (Publiseer.net) (Nigeria)

Violet Amoabeng – Founder and CEO, Skin Gourmet (SkinGourmet.com) (Ghana)

Ketshephaone Jacob – Founder and CEO, The Bulb World (https://bit.ly/3Fu2nU4) (Botswana)

The finale judges were impressed with the caliber of the finalists and their businesses, commenting:

“This is the third time I have been a Grand Finale judge for the Africa’s Business Heroes competition, meeting many exceptional business women and men from across Africa. Each year, I’m struck by their sheer talent and the commitment to developing creative, innovative solutions to the challenges we face on the continent. It truly is “Africa’s time” and these outstanding entrepreneurs are the ones who embody its future of growth and relevant solution-based innovation,” said Ibukun Awosika, Founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group.

“I want to congratulate the winners of this year’s Africa’s Business Heroes competition. Entrepreneurship – like sport – is a transformative force for positive social change and economic growth. All of the Africa’s Business Heroes are inspiring leaders who are actively pursuing their passions and helping Africa take its rightful place on the world stage. I look forward to engaging with all of them as they continue their entrepreneurial journeys on the continent,” highlighted Victor Williams, NBA Africa CEO.

“This year’s Top 10 finalists came from inspiring personal stories that is invaluable not only to their teams and communities, but to many would-be entrepreneurs across the continent who are thinking about pursuing this path. The kind of talent and passion I saw among this year’s Africa’s Business Heroes is unrivaled around the world. They are innovators and problem-solvers, but most importantly, they have a driving sense of mission and social impact. Congratulations to all of our winners and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next,” said Joe Tsai, Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group.

The Africa’s Business Heroes TV show will air in 2022. The show will follow the finalists in their exciting journey to the grand finale and features their on-stage pitches as well as behind the scenes moments from the competition. The award ceremony from the 2021 finale will soon be available to watch on ABH official YouTube (https://bit.ly/3oF8j5R).

Applications for the 2022 ABH prize will open in early 2022. For news and updates visit africabusinessheroes.org, subscribe to the newsletter and follow @africa_heroes (https://bit.ly/3DuECdZ) on Twitter.

Africa’s Business Heroes prize competition is the flagship philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the Jack Ma Foundation and sponsored by the Alibaba Foundation, aimed at supporting and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors, building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future of the continent.

Over a 10-year period, ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating grant funding, training programs, and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each year, the ABH prize competition and show will feature ten finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of $1.5 million in grant money.

Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, created the prize after he made his first trip to Africa in 2017 and was inspired by the energy and entrepreneurial potential of the young people he met.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Africa to Encourage Young Girls to Embrace Innovative Tech Skills

November 2, 2021

Jason Pau, Executive Director of the Jack Ma Foundation

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with UN Women, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Government of Cameroon partners to get over 200 young Cameroonian girls between the ages of 12 and 25 to embrace tech skills during a one-day Connected Girls Innovation Fair organised in Yaounde.

The event featured an award ceremony where 22 out of 83 projects were recognised for having demonstrated exceptional skills in robotics and IOT, animation, gaming and web development, turtle stitch,3D printing, business canvas model, and fashion.

Lorna Enow, a group member of one of the winning projects called ‘Learning by Playing,’ said she was “extremely grateful” to ECA for the opportunity to train and present their creative abilities to a wider audience, including government officials and international organisations. The team worked on a website with interactive games to help pre-teens grasp basic STEM concepts in line with SDG4.

The Fair was a follow-up of a coding bootcamp organised by the ECA in July 2021 and attended by about 8500 young females from all over Africa who participated both online and onsite in Buea, Douala and Yaounde in Cameroon.

The Connected African Girls Coding Camps offer girls and young women the opportunity to access foundational knowledge, digital tools and platforms to enable them become innovators, entrepreneurs and tech leaders who develop creative solutions to problems in their communities, while contributing to the UN SDGs.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the ECA, Vera Songwe, deplored the fact that women continue to be under-represented in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). She said affordable, reliable and strong broadband connectivity was crucial to fully unleash the innovative potential of young girls in Cameroon and Africa.

“Africa has the widest digital gender gap in the world with only 22.5 percent of women using the Internet, compared with 33.8 per cent of men. But participants at the Connected African Girls Coding Camp have proven that girls can stand up, raise hands and lead in ICTs.” Ms Songwe noted that “ECA and its partners stand ready to support programmes that enable women and girls to excel in STEM.”

In the same light, Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, said her government has embarked on a series of initiatives to empower women and girls in ICTs and bridge the digital divide.

“COVID-19 has served as an eye-opener to the crucial role digital technologies play in Africa’s digital transformation, and the urgent need to address the gender digital divide across the world and especially in Africa.,” said Ms Likeng.

ITU’s representative to Cameroon, Jean Jacques Massima, lauded the Innovation Fair, stating “ITU remains committed to advance digital transformation and meaningful connectivity through such initiatives and stands ready to support in the follow up activities and engagements.

The role of Africa’s female entrepreneurs as a driving force for the continent’s digital economy was highlighted by Jason Pau, Executive Director of the Jack Ma Foundation, who “was truly inspired by the young female innovators today in Cameroon.” He said, “the Africa Business Heroes program looks forward to deepening our cooperation with the ECA and others to support, show and grow more African female talents.”

UN Women, through a statement delivered on behalf of its representative to Ethiopia, Letty Chiwara, said it was important to “strengthen partnership with ECA, ITU and the private sector under the leadership of the African Union to advocate for policies that advance the mainstreaming of gender and STEM in national curriculum and ensure that African girls are at the forefront of the continent’s development.”

Ms Songwe said the Africa Business Heroes programme, an initiative of Alibaba Group will be awarding selected girls from the innovation fair, the opportunity to pair with a mentor from various role models and leaders.

She also announced the establishment of an Innovation Center for Girls in Buea Cameroon. The innovation Center will seek to empower learners with technical and soft skills so that they can thrive in an ever-evolving digital technology industry.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

West And East African Startups Dominate “Africa’s Business Heroes” 2021 Top 10 Shortlist

October 5, 2021

The top ten contenders for the 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize (https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), a flagship philanthropy program launched by the Jack Ma Foundation, have been announced. These ten entrepreneurs will make their last presentation in November for a chance to earn a portion of a US$1.5 million prize fund at the grand finale.

**Jason Pau, Executive Director of International, Jack Ma Foundation.**

“It’s African time! We have been continuously impressed with all of our 2021 Top 10 finalists, especially their diversity and strength of their businesses. The Top 10 are truly inspiring and are a testament to the talent, resilience, innovation, and passion of African entrepreneurs. In the midst of unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we remain steadfast in our efforts to identify, support and shine a spotlight on African entrepreneurs that are driving positive growth for their communities,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International, Jack Ma Foundation.

Here Is What You Need To Know

The ten entrepreneurs, half of whom are women, were chosen from over 12,000 applicants from 54 African countries and went through several levels of judgment and review.

The top ten companies, with an average age of 32, are based in seven African countries: Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Agriculture, beauty, education, energy, food & beverage, logistics, manufacturing, media & entertainment, and retail are among its important industries.

The companies of 80% of the finalists are located in rural areas.

Africa’s Business Heroes will hold its virtual Grand Finale in November, and the top recipients of the 2021 ABH prize will be announced soon after.

The finalists will refine their pitches over the next two weeks, leveraging the in-depth training, learnings, and insights gained over their ABH journey.

Meet the 2021 Top 10 finalists here:

Ghirmay Abraham, Founder, Aptech Africa (https://AptechAfrica.com) (Uganda)

Ghirmay was born in Eritrea and went to the University of Asmara to study mechanical engineering before working in the renewable energy business. Aptech Africa was founded with only a $20,000 investment. Aptech has grown to be a worldwide company operating in seven African countries, working to bring electricity and water to people all over the continent.

Navalayo Osembo-Ombati, Co-Founder and CEO, Enda Athletic (https://Endasportswear.com) (Kenya)

Navalayo is from a Kenyan community that has produced generations of world-class distance runners. Navalayo created Enda Athletic, a made-in-Kenya running shoe firm that creates jobs, invests in local communities, and promotes economic growth through exports, to maximize social impact in Kenya through sports. She is a London School of Economics graduate.

Oghenetega Iortim, Founder, Gricd (https://Gricd.com) (Nigeria)

Oghenetega has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Communications Engineering from Covenant University. Oghenetega is committed to using technology to address health and food accessibility issues. He is creating cold-chain facilities through his firm, Gricd, to address storage issues in the agriculture and healthcare sectors.

Yvette Ishimwe, Founder and CEO, IRIBA Water Group (https://IRIBAWaterGroup.com) (Rwanda)

IRIBA Water Group is a non-profit organization that provides innovative drinking water solutions. Yvette, the company’s founder, has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has honored her as a YALI Mandela Washington Fellow in appreciation of the impact IRIBA has had on the community.

Charlot Magayi, Founder and CEO, Mukuru Clean Stoves (https://MukuruStoves.org) (Kenya)

Charlot was inspired to create safer cooking technology when his two-year-old daughter was severely burned by a typical burner. Mukuru was founded by her to help keep youngsters safe while also reducing household air pollution and fuel usage. Charlot has been recognized by Global Citizen, the World Bank, and AWIEF as an Echoing Green Fellow.

Khadija Mohamed Elbedweihy, Founder, PraxiLabs (https://Praxilabs.com) (Egypt)

Khadija earned her PhD in human-computer interaction and user experience from the University of Sheffield. Khadija established and currently manages PraxiLabs, which provides virtual scientific labs to educational institutions and schools, based on her belief that technology can improve education and enable equal chances.

Chidi Nwaogu, Co-founder and CEO, Publiseer (https://Publiseer.net) (Nigeria)

Chidi Nwaogu is a software developer and a digital entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Publiseer, a digital content distribution company that aims to support independent and underrepresented African creatives. He is an Acumen Fellow, Alibaba eFounders Fellow, Westerwelle Fellow, and French-African Young Leader, as well as the winner of the Swiss Government’s 2020 Migration Entrepreneurship Prize.

Ikenna Nzewi, Co-founder and CEO, Releaf Marketplace Nigeria (https://Releaf.africa) (Nigeria)

Ikenna earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Yale University in 2017 and co-founded Releaf while still in school. Releaf is an agriculture technology firm that creates hardware and software to help Africa’s food processing industry become more industrialized.

Violet Amoabeng, Founder and CEO, Skin Gourmet (https://SkinGourmet.com) (Ghana)

Violet holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in business administration, with a focus on marketing, supply chain management, and accounting. Violet launched Skin Gourmet in 2014 with GHS 145 (US $45.00). Violet has been profiled in Glitz and EMY Magazine as a growing industry leader, and Skin Gourmet is currently available in over 17 countries.

Ketsheaphone Jacob, Founder and CEO, The Bulb World (https://bit.ly/3FgGU1u) (Botswana)

Ketsheaphone is the founder and CEO of The Bulb World, a firm that makes LED lights. Ketshephaone is passionate about assisting young entrepreneurs and giving back to communities through The Bulb World’s CSR Initiative, which aims to brighten up public boarding schools so that students may learn more effectively.

Africa’s Business Heroes 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes 2021

Egyptian Startup, Swvl, Inspires Three Well-Funded Startups Four Years After

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition Calls for 2021 Applications

March 30, 2021

The Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program, Africa Business Heroes which is an annual award for 10 outstanding finalists with a share of a US$1.5 million grant is calling for applications for the year 2021. Now in its third year, the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition gives African entrepreneurs a unique platform to showcase their talent and grow their businesses; ABH, which is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa, annually awards 10 outstanding finalists with a share of a US$1.5 million grant; Applications are now open in English and French for “heroes” across all sectors and African countries, with special emphasis on those working to achieve the UN SDGs.

The “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program spotlighting and celebrating Africa’s entrepreneurial talent, opened applications for its third annual edition.

Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, age group, and gender will now be able to submit their applications, in either French or English, for a chance to compete for a spot among the Top 10 finalists. The central theme of this year’s competition, “It’s African Time”, is a bold call to action for all talented African entrepreneurs who are challenging stereotypes associated with “African time” through their businesses, to leverage the ABH prize to scale their efforts as well as share their stories of how they’ve driven change and solutions.

ABH is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to help support and foster an inclusive and strong Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period and allocate grant funding alongside training, mentoring and learning programmes, as well as access to a community of like-minded African business leaders.

At the grand finale later this year, ten finalists will take the stage to present their businesses and share their visions to an esteemed panel of judges, to win a share of the US$1.5 million grant. The journey to the Finale will include several rounds of rigorous evaluation panels, as well as access to a community of international leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, through a number of multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions.

In 2020, the ten outstanding finalists (https://bit.ly/3wlDA0G) – half of whom were female – were selected from over 22,000 applicants across all 54 African nations. They represented eight African countries – Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe – and various industries including agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, renewable energy, and financial services.

“I am proud to have been named the winner of the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes prize. The competition was an incredible journey. 2020 was a challenging year that made us refocus from profitability to survival. I hope my win inspires Africans to believe that we have what it takes to make an impact, no matter where we are. The Prize is helping us scale our energy solution across East Africa, and we remain focused to change how Africa cooks, one kitchen at a time,” said Chebet Lesan, Founder and CEO at BrightGreen Renewable Energy.

The journeys of Chebet and her fellow finalists will be featured in the televised ABH show, which will air in four episodes across Africa and online, later this year. The show will give exclusive access to the 2020 edition, following the finalists as they go head to head in the pitch to the final judges. With the show, ABH hopes to provide a masterclass in entrepreneurship and inspire aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses across Africa to pursue their business dreams. The 2019 documentary “Looking for Africa’s Heroes (https://bit.ly/3wjNTlZ)” featuring the first edition of ABH was recently shortlisted by global film festivals including RapidLion – The South African International Film Festival and AmDocs – the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival.

“As we open our third annual pitch competition, we want to recognize Africa’s extraordinary entrepreneurs, whose business ventures not only are successful and profitable but are generating a positive impact on their local communities. Despite the incredibly difficult conditions faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses around the world over the past year, Africa’s entrepreneurship has been experiencing an incredible upward trajectory, showing the magnitude of potential and opportunities yet to be seized. Therefore, Africa’s Business Heroes is excited to join forces with our partners to identify, spotlight and support even more passionate, innovative, and determined entrepreneurs across Africa.” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International, Jack Ma Foundation.

Global leaders Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens serve on the ABH advisory board. In addition, Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and Founder of the STEM Woman Project, will continue to serve as the official host of “Africa’s Business Heroes” program. This year, ABH will continue to work with its Anchor Partners across the continent – African Leadership Group (www.ALGroup.org), Ashesi (www.Ashesi.edu.gh), Dalberg (www.Dalberg.com), Janngo (www.Janngo.com), and RiseUp (www.RiseUp.co), with more to be announced in due course.

Applications will be open online until June 7 with semi-finalists announced in August, and the top ten finalists for 2021 unveiled in September. To apply and for more information about ABH, please visit: www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org and follow us on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3ddXou2), LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/31trJiD), Instagram (https://bit.ly/3sCcz6C) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3rv6g3H).

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Jack Ma Foundations Names 10 Startups as finalists for $1.5m Africa Netpreneur Prize

October 15, 2020

Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group

The Jack Ma Foundation has listed 10 finalists for its Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) which will offer selected innovative tech startups access to a US$1.5 million prize pool. The project in its second edition was created by Alibaba founder Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017, the initiative aims to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The first edition was won by Nigerian startup LifeBank in November last year.

The 10 entrepreneurs represent eight African countries, and were selected from over 22,000 applications across all 54 African nations. Their businesses span key industries including agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, renewable energy, financial services, and retail.

Two of the finalists are from Ivory Coast – INVESTIV, which leverages innovative technologies to support smallholder farmers; and Le Chocolatier Ivorien, which manufactures handcrafted and quality chocolate – and another two from Uganda, in the shape of MST Junior School, a primary school with a unique approach and earning model; and Uganics, which manufactures life-saving organic anti-malaria soap.

The rest of the list is made up of Ghana’s Amaati, which produces an extinct and neglected crop called Fonio; Kenya’s BrightGreen Renewable Energy, which produces life-saving fuel bricks that reduce the cost of cooking for underserved communities; Cameroon’s Enko Education, the largest single network of private schools in Africa; Zimbabwe’s Moneymart, a microfinance institution that offers tailor-made business loans; Senegal’s Diarrablu, a fashion tech company; and Nigeria’s MDaaS Global, which builds and operates modern, tech-enabled diagnostic centres in clinically-underserved communities. Finalists will compete in the grand finale on November 13-14.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

20 Finalists Makes it to “Africa’s Business Heroes” Competition 2020

August 21, 2020

The pre-final stage of this year’s African Business Heroes competition has been announced by the Jack Ma Foundation. The project which seeks to discover the continent’s outstanding bankable business idea is in its second year and the 20 finalists are made up of over 50% female candidates from 11 key sectors and 14 countries. The 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition, a flagship philanthropic program established by the Jack Ma Foundation’s Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), has shortlisted the top 20 finalists competing for a spot at this year’s finale. The twenty entrepreneurs are one step closer to the finishing line as they impressed the panel of high-profile judges, and now have a chance to become one of the ten entrepreneurs entering the grand finale, and competing for their share of the US$1.5 million prize pool.

According to the organizers, the 20 finalists have impressed the judges with their vision and entrepreneurial prowess, and are ready to progress to the semi-final stage of the competition, for a chance to secure a spot at the grand finale. The Program will now enter the next stage where the entrepreneurs representing a wide spectrum of business sectors compete to showcase the best of their entrepreneurial spirit and drive, scaling a tough selection process ahead for a chance to enter the Top 10 at the grand finale.

In a statement from the organizers, these top 20 entrepreneurs have come a long way from the pool of over 22,000 applications that ABH garnered from all 54 African nations earlier this year. The level of female representation is significant (55%) and the average age of the group is 34. They represent 11 key sectors and industries of the African economy, such as agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, manufacturing, e-commerce, renewable energy, financial services, food & beverage services, retail, transportation, and span 14 countries (Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe).

Jason Pau, Senior Advisor for International Programs with the Jack Ma Foundation, said “As we approach the final phases of the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes competition, I am incredibly impressed by the talent and energy of the entrepreneurs we have met during the selection process. This is no surprise though, as we are aware of the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit of Africa and the unique drive of businesswomen and businessmen in the continent. This strengthens even more the commitment of the Jack Ma Foundation to spotlight today and tomorrow’s African entrepreneurs, supporting them while they build successful businesses and positively impact their local communities”.

On August 18th, the top twenty Africa’s Business Heroes finalists had the opportunity to participate in a second virtual bootcamp, a unique event to exchange and learn from inspiring personalities from the African entertainment, sports and entrepreneurship scene – including Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and ANPI’s Brand Ambassador and Official Host of “Africa’s Business Heroes” program; NBA Hall of Fame inductee and philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo; Sean Tong, Partner at Boyu Capital Advisory and Jack Ma Foundation’s Board Member; and the top three finalists from last year’s debut edition of ABH, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, Omar Sakr and Christelle Kwizera.

The virtual gathering was an extraordinary sharing and networking moment for the participants, who will now have the chance to connect with each other and leverage the synergies while preparing for the semi-finale. Speakers at the bootcamp webinar reminded candidates that despite the current unprecedented circumstances, entrepreneurs who can adapt, be flexible and react quickly will also be able to unlock opportunities. Discipline, passion and dedication are also essential elements to accomplish any dream and goal. Moving forward in the competition, solid communications and storytelling will also be crucial for the finalists to illustrate their business in a compelling and clear way, bringing to life the values that set their business apart and create a positive impact on their communities and across Africa.

Highlighting the investor point of view, Sean Tong emphasized that a great vision should always come with a relentless pursuit of excellence and execution. The digital, connected world we live in makes it an exceptional time for entrepreneurs to launch their ventures, but business leaders are increasingly challenged to learn and adapt fast. He also added: “I am very excited to see the excellent quality of the business projects at Africa’s Business Heroes this year, and the remarkable dedication and passion these entrepreneurs have put into turning them into successful and investable enterprises. While progressing through the competition, it will be very important for the candidates to demonstrate even more clearly the viability of their ventures and how they are able to match their vision with sustainability and profitability. I wish them all the best of luck on this journey and beyond – they are already Africa’s Business Heroes”.

Candidates will now progress to the semi-final stage of the competition, and will face even more intense scrutiny from a 7-judge panel, which will test the solidity of their business plans, their motivation and vision, and ability to clearly articulate why the ground-breaking nature of their ideas can solve pressing problems and catalyze change for society, inspiring others to do the same.The semi-final judges, selected from amongst leading entrepreneurs, VCs and start-up accelerators, and distinguished public figures in Africa, are: Fatoumata Ba – Founder of Janngo, Marième Diop – Investment Manager at Orange Digital Ventures, Hasan Haider – Managing Partner of 500 StartUps, MENA Region,Rene Parker – Director at R Labs,Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard – Founder and Chairman of APO Group,Fred Swaniker – Founder of ALU and Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu – Founder of Sole Rebels & Garden of Coffee.

The selection process to spotlight the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes finalists will continue over the next few weeks. Following the semi-final pitch, the top 10 finalist roster will be revealed this Fall. ABH will culminate in a grand finale show later this year, where the ten finalists will take the stage to pitch to business mavens, including Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, and Strive Masiyiwa.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Top 20 Finalists Emerge From Jack Ma’s “Africa’s Business Heroes” Competition 2020

August 20, 2020

Jack Ma, founder and chairman, Alibaba group

The 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) (https://bit.ly/2M0XmbR) prize competition, a flagship philanthropic program established by the Jack Ma Foundation’s Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), has shortlisted the top 20 finalists competing for a spot at this year’s finale. The twenty entrepreneurs are one step closer to the finishing line as they impressed the panel of high-profile judges, and now have a chance to become one of the ten entrepreneurs entering the grand finale, and competing for their share of the US$1.5 million prize pool.

“As we approach the final phases of the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes competition, I am incredibly impressed by the talent and energy of the entrepreneurs we have met during the selection process. This is no surprise though, as we are aware of the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit of Africa and the unique drive of businesswomen and businessmen in the continent. This strengthens even more the commitment of the Jack Ma Foundation to spotlight today and tomorrow’s African entrepreneurs, supporting them while they build successful businesses and positively impact their local communities,” Jason Pau, Senior Advisor for International Programs with the Jack Ma Foundation, said in a statement.

Here Is What You Need To Know

The top 20 entrepreneurs (https://bit.ly/2Ek48sI) have come a long way from the pool of over 22,000 applications that ABH garnered from all 54 African nations earlier this year.
The level of female representation is significant (55%) and the average age of the group is 34.
They represent 11 key sectors and industries of the African economy, such as agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, manufacturing, e-commerce, renewable energy, financial services, food & beverage services, retail, transportation, and span 14 countries (Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe).
On August 18th, the top twenty Africa’s Business Heroes finalists had the opportunity to participate in a second virtual bootcamp, a unique event to exchange and learn from inspiring personalities from the African entertainment, sports and entrepreneurship scene — including Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and ANPI’s Brand Ambassador and Official Host of “Africa’s Business Heroes” program; NBA Hall of Fame inductee and philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo; Sean Tong, Partner at Boyu Capital Advisory and Jack Ma Foundation’s Board Member; and the top three finalists (https://bit.ly/3iUEhGw) from last year’s debut edition of ABH, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, Omar Sakr and Christelle Kwizera.
The virtual gathering was an extraordinary sharing and networking moment for the participants, who will now have the chance to connect with each other and leverage the synergies while preparing for the semi-finale. Speakers at the bootcamp webinar reminded candidates that despite the current unprecedented circumstances, entrepreneurs who can adapt, be flexible and react quickly will also be able to unlock opportunities. Discipline, passion and dedication are also essential elements to accomplish any dream and goal. Moving forward in the competition, solid communications and storytelling will also be crucial for the finalists to illustrate their business in a compelling and clear way, bringing to life the values that set their business apart and create positive impact on their communities and across Africa.
Highlighting the investor point of view, Sean Tong emphasized that a great vision should always come with a relentless pursuit of excellence and execution. The digital, connected world we live in makes it an exceptional time for entrepreneurs to launch their ventures, but business leaders are increasingly challenged to learn and adapt fast. He also added: “I am very excited to see the excellent quality of the business projects at Africa’s Business Heroes this year, and the remarkable dedication and passion these entrepreneurs have put into turning them into successful and investable enterprises. While progressing through the competition, it will be very important for the candidates to demonstrate even more clearly the viability of their ventures and how they are able to match their vision with sustainability and profitability. I wish them all the best of luck on this journey and beyond — they are already Africa’s Business Heroes”.

Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative Timelines.

Candidates will now progress to the semi-final stage of the competition, and will face even more intense scrutiny from a 7-judge panel, which will test the solidity of their business plans, their motivation and vision, and ability to clearly articulate why the ground-breaking nature of their ideas can solve pressing problems and catalyze change for society, inspiring others to do the same.
The semi-final judges (https://bit.ly/319xWkv), selected from amongst leading entrepreneurs, VCs and start-up accelerators, and distinguished public figures in Africa, are:
Fatoumata Ba — Founder of Janngo Marième Diop — Investment Manager at Orange Digital Ventures Hasan Haider — Managing Partner of 500 StartUps, MENA Region Rene Parker — Director at R Labs Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard — Founder and Chairman of APO Group Fred Swaniker — Founder of ALU Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu — Founder of Sole Rebels & Garden of Coffee
The selection process to spotlight the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes finalists will continue over the next few weeks. Following the semi-final pitch, the top 10 finalist roster will be revealed this Fall. ABH will culminate in a grand finale show later this year, where the ten finalists will take the stage to pitch to business mavens, including Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, and Strive Masiyiwa.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

Jack Ma Foundation Opens Applications for Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative “Africa’s Business Heroes” 2020

April 7, 2020

The Jack Ma Foundation announced today it has officially launched the second edition of the “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition with applications now open to African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, as well as every sector, age group, and gender Applications will also now be available in both French and English.

Here Is All You Need To Know

The ABH prize competition and show is organized by the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa. ABH made its debut last year, and 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 building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
Every year, ten finalists will be selected to compete in a finale pitch competition show that will be broadcast online and across the continent. At this year’s grand finale, all ten finalists will share a prize pool of US$1.5 million, up from $1 million last year, as well as gain access to the ANPI community of business leaders to leverage the community’s shared expertise, best practice, training and resources.
Last year, the prize received nearly 10,000 applications from 50 African countries. The 2019 top ten finalists pitched their business ideas to a prominent judging panel during a televised grand-finale show in Accra, Ghana. The finalists represented a variety of industries — including cloud kitchens, tech agribusiness, healthcare and pharma, e-commerce, consumer goods, and water supply solutions.

“It was an incredible honor to be named Africa’s Business Hero last year. The Prize enabled me to expand to multiple states in Nigeria and become a truly pan-Nigerian business, and I was truly inspired by my experience and by all my fellow winners. I am looking forward to serving as an Ambassador for this year’s prize and to seeing the next group of entrepreneurs come forward to showcase the best of Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit and strength,” said Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and CEO, LifeBank.

Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and CEO, LifeBank. — Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and CEO, LifeBank, Africa’s Business Hero,last year.

“We find ourselves in unprecedented and extraordinary times. Now, more than ever, we need entrepreneurs with courage, initiative, and vision to do what they do best — solve problems for society. With this prize competition, we are looking to inspire and reward African business heroes in all sectors and encourage any aspiring applicants to seize this opportunity to break through barriers and create hope for the future,” said Jason Pau, Senior Advisor for International Programs, Jack Ma Foundation.

Global leaders Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary- General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens serve on the ANPI advisory board. Over a ten-year period, the ANPI will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating US$100 million in grant funding, training programs, and support for the broad African entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This year, ANPI will work with a select group of Anchor Partners, including Ashesi, Dalberg, Janngo and RiseUp to identify and support African entrepreneurs. ANPI will also partner with Pulse.Africa to highlight stories of African entrepreneur heroes. More partners will be announced in due course. In addition, Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and Founder of the STEM Woman Project, joins ANPI to serve as the official host of “Africa’s Business Heroes” program and Brand Ambassador. Her advocacy for social good reflects the boldness, creativity and strength that the Prize will be looking for in their entrepreneur heroes.

Here Is How To Apply

Applications will be open online from April 6th to June 9th 2020 with semi-finalists announced in August, and the top ten finalists for 2020 unveiled in September To apply and for more information about ANPI, please visit: africabusinessheroes.org and follow @africa_heroes on Twitter.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer.

Jack Ma Foundation Gives Out $1 Million to Entrepreneurs in Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative

November 18, 2019

China’s richest man and entrepreneurial mogul Jack Ma has doled out $1 Million to budding African entrepreneurs to support and inspire the next generation of African businesses that are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. The prize money which was shared among 10 African entrepreneurs was given out last night in Accra Ghana during the Jack Ma Foundation’s first annual Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) .

The ANPI is a flagship initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, created by Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017. The aim of the prize is to support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. In its inaugural year, nearly 10,000 entrepreneurs from 50 countries across the continent applied. The Jack Ma Foundation has committed to running the competition for 10 years.

The finale event, called “Africa’s Business Heroes,” was held in Accra, Ghana, where the top 10 finalists pitched their businesses directly to four prestigious judges including Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation; Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and Founder/CEO of The Chair Centre Group; and Joe Tsai, Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba.

The top three finalists who received half of the $1 Million prize money according to their positions are Temie Giwa-Tubosun of Nigeria who came first and got $250,000. Giwa-Tubosun is the founder and CEO of LifeBank. The second position went to Egypts Dr. Omar Sakr who got the sum of $150,000 and is the founder and CEO, Nawah-Scientific winning, while the third position went to Christelle Kwizera of Rwanda who got $100,000 and is the founder of Water Access Rwanda.

“It was an incredible honor to be named Africa’s Business Hero. I was truly inspired by my fellow winners at today’s Netpreneur Summit. The Africa Netpreneur Prize will give me the resources to grow LifeBank and expand our presence in Nigeria and throughout the rest of Africa. I look forward to continuing my journey to solve problems and make a significant impact on the future of Africa,” said Temie Giwa-Tubosun, Founder and CEO of LifeBank.

The other finalists who received $65,000 each are Waleed Abd El Rahman of Egypt who is the CEO of Mumm, Ayodeji Arikawe of Nigeria who is the co-founder of Thrive Agric, Mahmud Johnson of Liberia who is the founder and CEO of J-Palm, Kevine Kagirimpundu of Rwanda who is the co-founder and CEO, UZURI K&Y ,Dr. Tosan J. Mogbeyiteren of Nigeria who is the founder of Black Swan, Chibuzo Opara of Nigeria who is the co-founder, DrugStoc and Moulaye Taboure of Cote D’Ivoire who is the co-founder and CEO, Afrikrea .

Speaking at the occasion, Jack Ma said that the finalists who competed in ‘Africa’s Business Heroes’ should be an inspiration for Africa and for the world. Each of these entrepreneurs looked at big challenges facing their communities, and saw them as opportunities,” said Jack Ma, Founder of the Alibaba Group and Jack Ma Foundation. “It is my strong belief that entrepreneur heroes, like these finalists, will change the world – creating companies that drive inclusive growth and opportunity for the continent. Everyone is a winner tonight.

Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Group noted that “this competition demonstrates the overwhelming entrepreneurial talent that exists across Africa. I’m very excited about the future of industry and entrepreneurship for this continent,” adding that “the top 10 truly show the limitless potential of African business.”

“What really struck me about the finalists was that they each addressed specific African problems with a specific African solution in a fresh way, leveraging technology that wasn’t available previously,” said Ibukun Awosika, Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and Founder/CEO of The Chair Centre Group. “If this is an indication of the future of entrepreneurship on the continent, then Africa’s future looks bright.”

“Africa’s Business Heroes” will be televised in a two-hour special throughout Africa. The journeys of the finalists as well as their pitches and business insights from the judges will all be included in this exciting television event. The initiative will host a pitch competition where 10 finalists from across the continent will compete for $1 million in total prize money every year through 2028. All entrepreneurs across Africa, are encouraged to apply. Entries for next year’s prize will open in the first half of 2020.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.