Jack Ma Foundation's Africa Business Heroes competition has kick-started.

The fifth annual Jack Ma Foundation Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition has kick started and winners will be unveiled later in the year.

ABH is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to helping support and build an inclusive and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa.

Every year since 2019, ABH conducts a continent-wide search with its partners for 10 outstanding, mission-driven entrepreneurs that are striving to make a difference in their local communities.

To date, ABH says, over 72,000 entrepreneurs across the continent have participated in the competition. 

In 2022 outstanding finalists for were chosen from over 21,000 applicants from 54 African countries, representing a broad spectrum of industries including agriculture, consulting, energy environmental protection, healthcare, information and communication technology, and retail.

Announcing this year’s process, the organisers say: “The ABH prize competition is Pan-African, inclusive, sector-agnostic and grassroots-oriented. Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, gender and age group and all levels of society, are encouraged to submit their applications, in either English or French, for a chance to become one of the top 10 finalists to compete for a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.”

Zahra Baitie-Boateng, head of partnerships and programs of ABH, adds: “At ABH, we have long recognised the potential of entrepreneurs as engines of economic and social growth. Now in the fifth year of the competition, we are encouraged to see that ABH has grown into a truly Pan-African initiative that is positively impacting the continent’s entrepreneurship landscape.

“We are extremely impressed with the increasing diversity of our Heroes and how they’ve been taking tangible steps to solve some of Africa’s most challenging issues. We encourage entrepreneurs from all countries, especially those from smaller countries, to seize the opportunity of ABH 2023 to tell and inspire millions more with their unique stories.”