The top twenty Africa's Business Heroes pose for a group photo with the judges during a press conference at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi.
Twenty entrepreneurs from across Africa have been selected to compete in the semi-final stage of the 2026 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, set to take place in Nairobi on August 21 and 22.
The entrepreneurs emerged from a pool of more than 24,000 applicants drawn from all 54 African countries, underscoring the growing interest in entrepreneurship and innovation across the continent.
The semi-finalists represent 12 countries and 11 sectors, with their businesses collectively generating approximately $85 million in revenue in 2025.
During the Nairobi semi-final, participants will pitch their ventures before a panel of investors, business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs. Ten finalists will be selected to advance to the grand finale in Kigali, Rwanda, later this year.
ABH, a philanthropic initiative of the Alibaba Foundation, provides African entrepreneurs with $1.5 million in annual grant funding, in addition to mentorship, visibility and access to a broader business network.
speaking ahead of the competition, Acumen Angels Global Programme Manager and ABH judge some Oruade-Etim said the changing funding landscape is placing greater emphasis on sustainable business models.
“It forces the question that we no longer need just businesses to solve problems, but only ones that are commercially sound, have strong fundamentals, ones that can demonstrate social impact, environmental protection and, to an extent, can coexist together,” she said.
Oruade-Etim added that Africa requires businesses capable of addressing persistent challenges in sectors such as healthcare, energy, education and technology, while ensuring that innovation is tailored to local realities.
“How do you bring technology to where people are at as opposed to the other way around? I see heroes who make technology relevant to us by solving problems that are relevant for us,” she said.
Abraham Mutian, chief executive and co-founder of Kuza Point and a runner-up in the 2025 ABH competition, advised this year’s contestants to focus on clearly communicating their business models, financial performance and growth prospects.
“Sharpen your story. Know your numbers. Articulate them clearly, and most importantly, make the judges understand your business, the value and your understanding,” he said.
Mutian also encouraged participants to take advantage of networking opportunities offered by the programme.
“Don’t just exchange business cards, build relationships. Your next investor, customer, partner, mentor, market or connection could already be in this community,” he said.
ABH judge and Vivo Fashion Group co-founder and CEO Wandia Gichuru said entrepreneurs should demonstrate the scalability of their businesses and their ability to expand beyond current markets.
“The scale of the business matters. Is this something that you’re building that can take you much wider, much further? Can it go beyond the borders that you’re in now?” she said.
Kenya’s representatives in the semi-final include Ikechukwu Anoke of Zuri Health, Naom Monari of Bena Care, Joseph Mungai of AceleAfrica and Louisa Gathecha of Bottle Logistics East Africa.
Other semi-finalists come from Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Ghana. Their businesses operate across sectors including agritech, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, fintech, education, climate technology and technology.
the programme will culminate in the selection of the Top 10 entrepreneurs, who will proceed to the grand finale in Kigali in December, where they will compete for funding and recognition on one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurship platforms.
