Contest Finalists Announced for Africa's Business Heroes' $1.5 Million 2025 Contest
The Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) competition, a philanthropic initiative of the Alibaba Philanthropy, has announced its top 20 finalists for 2025. This year, the competition received a record-breaking 32,000 applications, marking the highest number in its history.
The finalists hail from nine African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Senegal. They represent 10 sectors, including health-tech, fintech, agri-tech, and sustainability.
In the Healthcare/FinTech category, Moka Lantum from CheckUps Medical Center (Kenya) and Jean Lobe Lobe from Waspito (Cameroon) are finalists. Baraka Chijenga from Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa Limited (Tanzania) and Diana Gerald from NovFeed (Tanzania) are in the running for the AgriTech/Food Security and AgriTech/Biotech categories, respectively.
The FinTech/Digital Solutions category sees Adriaan Kruger from nuvoteQ (South Africa) and Thomas Patrick from Franc Group (South Africa) as finalists. In the FinTech/Credit Access category, Mofehintolu Funso from CredPal (Nigeria) is a contender, while Janet Kuteli from Fortune Credit Limited (Kenya) is in the FinTech/Microfinance category.
The HealthTech/Telemedicine category features Jean Lobe Lobe from Waspito (Cameroon) and Blandine Umuziranenge from Kosmotive (Rwanda). Siny Samba from Le Lionceau (Senegal) is a finalist in the FoodTech/Infant Nutrition category, and Khadija Churchill from Kwanza Tukule Foods Limited (Kenya) is in the FoodTech/Distribution category.
In the EdTech/Skills Training category, Jessica Roussos from BluLever Education Pty Ltd (South Africa) and Louisa Olafuyi from Kunda Kids Ltd (Uganda) are finalists. Gohar Said from Suplyd (Egypt) is a contender in the FoodTech/Supply Chain category, and Racine Sarr from SAWA by Shop Me Away (Senegal) is in the Logistics/Digital Platforms category.
The Mining/Sustainability category has Samwel Ezikiel from Mwamba Mining Limited (Tanzania) as a finalist. In the SME Tech/Digital Tools category, Bundi Mbuthia from Uzapoint Technologies Limited (Kenya) is a contender. Mukashahaha Diane from DIKAM Ltd (Rwanda) is a finalist in the Textiles/Women & Youth Empowerment category.
The semi-finals will take place in Dakar, Senegal on September 10-11. Each year, the top 10 finalists compete in a televised pitch finale for a share of US$1.5 million. Over 10 years, ABH will recognize 100 entrepreneurs and award them with grant funding, training, and a platform to amplify their stories.
Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Africa MD of ABH, stated that the caliber of the 2025 finalists reflects Africa's dynamic innovation landscape. The finalists show strong momentum in digital transformation, scalable B2B and subscription models, and impact-driven businesses addressing challenges such as financial inclusion, food security, and environmental sustainability.
The 20 remaining finalists are one step away from the Grand Finale.
