Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, regardless of industry, age or gender, can now apply, in English or French, for a chance to be among the 10 finalists. The competition’s official slogan, ‘Africa’s time has come’, is a bold call to action to all talented African entrepreneurs who are challenging stereotypes associated with ‘Africa’s time’ — creating an impact at the local level and building a better and more inclusive future through their businesses. 2 In the grand finale later this year, the 10 finalists will take the stage to present their companies to a panel of big names in the business world, for a chance to win their share of the competition prize pool and compete. amounting to $1.5 million. Their journey to the Grand Finals will also see them interact with a community of global leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, and gain access to boot camps and training sessions. multidisciplinary to help them take their businesses to the next level.
Today will also begin the broadcast of the 3-episode television series retracing the events of the 2021 edition of the ABH competition. The series invites us to follow the journey of the 10 finalists of the 2021 edition until the grand final of the competition. It aims to provide viewers with a master class in entrepreneurship, allowing them to follow how the best entrepreneurs on the continent prepared their final presentation and how they faced the difficult questions put to them by the big names in the business world. The episodes were filmed in 12 African countries and will premiere on CNBC Africa on March 25, and also across the continent on StarTimes, DSTV, VoxAfrica, as well as a number of local, including Rwandan television. The series will also be available at a later date on the official ABH Contest YouTube channel.
“I was more than proud to have won the 2021 edition of the ABH competition. I hope my victory will inspire many people in Africa and make them feel that it is possible for them to make a difference and have an impact. I learned so much throughout the contest. With these lessons in hand, I hope to continue the growth of PraxiLabs. We remain focused and determined to change the way Africa teaches and learns science, one virtual lab at a time,” Khadija Mohamed Elbedweihy, Founder, Praxilabs. “It is encouraging to see entrepreneurship in Africa experiencing this strong upward trajectory. But there are still so many entrepreneurs whose inspiring stories and impactful businesses need extra spotlight and support. That’s why the Africa’s Business Heroes competition encourages extraordinarily talented entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, regardless of industry, age or gender, to apply in English or French for a chance to win a share of the prize pool. $1.5 million allocated to the competition and gain access to offers for training, mentoring and more.
We want to give a chance to those entrepreneurs who not only create successful businesses, but who also manage these mission-conscious businesses that generate growth for their local communities in all four corners of Africa. If you recognize yourself in this description, join the ABH contest today. Africa’s hour has come”, Zahra Baitie, Head of Partnerships and Programs, ABH. The ABH competition is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitments to supporting and fostering an inclusive and strong African entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over a period of 10 years, ABH will reward 100 African entrepreneurs. This year, the ABH competition changed its identity to better reflect its ethos. The new Logo focuses on the concept of the “hero”, because it is these 3 heroes who are the engine of change in Africa. The interconnected lines symbolize this connectedness which conveys the goal of creating a community of African entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, trainers and business service providers. The Logo also aims to evoke a certain dynamism, which refers to the inherent nature of true entrepreneurship and ABH’s own desire to innovate. Finally, the Logo incorporates geometric designs with an African connotation which are there to remind us of our pan-African orientation and our objective of fostering the ecosystem of African entrepreneurs. ABH has also updated the application system by adding tutorials like videos and tips from old heroes, making it simpler and adding cool and interactive elements like avatars and more. The submission of applications will be open online until June 6th. The semi-finalists will be announced in October and the 10 finalists in November. To apply and for more information regarding the ABH competition, please visit https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/register and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. ABH marked the official opening of the submission of applications by organizing a special event on March 24, online, and in 5 cities on the continent – Kigali in Rwanda, Kinshasa in the DRC, Cairo in Egypt, Johannesburg in Africa South and Lagos in Nigeria. More than 1,600 entrepreneurs from 63 countries and 23 sectors have registered to participate in the various launch events.
Throughout the year, ABH will partner with different organizations to encourage applications, support African entrepreneurs and shine a light on their inspiring work. These partners include the African Women’s Forum for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the African Institute of Management (AMI), Ashesi University, Briter Bridges, the Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship ( MCISE), The Room — an initiative of the African Leadership Group, RiseUp, VC4A and more. As part of the opportunities for ABH competition finalists, many of these partners will provide training programs for our finalists to grow their businesses. For example, some selected finalists will have the opportunity to participate in the management development program offered by the AMI. They will also be able to participate in the Investment Readiness Program, designed and delivered by VC4A, access to “The Room” space and other benefits, not to mention access to key entrepreneurship events on the continent. such as the South African Innovation Summit and the RiseUp Summit.
