Africa’s Business Heroes Launches 8th Edition for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
If you’ve been building something bold on the continent, this is your moment.
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) — the flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation — has officially opened applications for its 8th edition. Running under the theme “Defining Africa’s Future Today”, the 2026 programme is doubling down on its mission to find, fund, and elevate Africa’s most transformative entrepreneurs.
More Than Prize Money
Yes, there’s USD 1.5 million in grant funding on the table — split across ten outstanding founders. But if you ask past winners, the money is only part of the story.
“Winning Africa’s Business Heroes was transformative for NovFeed,” said Diana Orembe, the 7th edition winner and Co-Founder & CEO of the Tanzanian biotech venture turning organic waste into sustainable animal feed protein. “The funding will accelerate our growth, but just as important was the business training, visibility, and network we gained through the programme.”
Beyond the grants, shortlisted founders gain access to capacity-building workshops, mentorship, and a growing pan-African peer network of investors and ecosystem leaders. Top 10 finalists also earn a fully sponsored immersive learning experience at Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou, China — with the next cohort heading there in September 2026.
What’s New in 2026
This year’s edition comes with some notable upgrades:
- Top 100 Finalists — ABH is expanding its recognition pool from 50 to 100 finalists, reflecting the explosive growth in applications (from ~10,000 in 2019 to over 30,000 annually) and a commitment to spotlighting more high-potential founders.
- 10 African markets visited — The team is going on the ground across the continent, with a deliberate focus on historically underrepresented countries including Namibia, Tunisia, and Zambia. Expect community events, workshops, and founder engagements in each market.
- Applications in English or French — because pan-African truly means pan-African.
Who Should Apply
ABH is sector-agnostic, so whether you’re working in climate-smart agriculture, fintech, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, AI, or beyond — if you’re solving real problems at scale, this is for you.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Be a citizen or legal resident of an African country
- Lead a registered business headquartered in Africa
- Have at least 3 years of demonstrated traction
- Show a commitment to positive societal impact
Apply Before 28 April 2026
Applications are open now at africabusinessheroes.org and close on 28 April 2026.
Africa’s future is being built right now — by founders who refuse to wait. If that sounds like you, apply.
