In March 2025, Kigali will take center stage as the host city for the highly anticipated Africa’s Business Heroes Summit and Grand Finale, an event that promises to be a groundbreaking celebration of African entrepreneurship. The summit will bring together the continent’s most brilliant minds in business, offering a platform for innovation, collaboration, and growth.
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is more than just an event; it’s a movement that highlights the power of young entrepreneurs who are shaping Africa’s future. This year’s summit, taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre on March 14-15, will showcase the immense potential of African innovation, providing entrepreneurs with valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to elevate their businesses.
The ABH initiative, known for identifying and nurturing the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs, has seen a surge in interest since its inception. As it prepares for its 2025 edition, the excitement is palpable, especially after the postponement of the 2024 event. This year’s gathering will not only honor the talent of Africa’s entrepreneurs but will also stress the importance of sustainable business practices and fostering job creation in an era of rapid economic change.
One of the ABH Summit and Grand Finale most anticipated moments will be the live pitch competition, where the top 10 outstanding entrepreneurs selected in 2024 from a pool of approximately 20,000 applicants will present their groundbreaking business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges to determine who takes what share of the cash prize. The competition, with a grand prize pool of $1.5 million, will award the top 3 entrepreneurs significant cash prizes, including $300,000 for the overall winner, $250,000 for the first runner-up, and $150,000 for the second runner-up. The other seven of the top 10 finalists will each walk away with $100,000, and the remaining $100,000 will also be split among all finalists for additional training programs after the competition.
Beyond the competition, ABH serves as a catalyst for growth, providing finalists with further opportunities for training, mentorship, and networking to propel their businesses to global markets. The summit will feature inspiring speeches, workshops, and discussions on the future of African entrepreneurship, with a focus on tackling the continent’s most pressing challenges, including unemployment, economic instability, and innovation gaps.
As Kigali prepares to host this landmark event, the city will further solidify its role as the heart of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, setting the stage for future business success across the continent. The 2025 summit will not only celebrate African entrepreneurship but will also leave a lasting impact on the future of business in Africa.
Africa’s Business Heroes initiative is organized by the Jack Ma Foundation, in collaboration with various partners. Founded by Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group, the foundation aims to support and nurture the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The ABH competition serves as a key platform for young African business leaders, offering them the chance to pitch their ideas, network with global business leaders, and gain access to mentorship, funding, and resources to accelerate their businesses. This year’s summit is expected to be another significant milestone in ABH’s mission to empower Africa’s entrepreneurial community and foster economic growth across the continent.
The Event will be attended by 54 African countries, as Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is designed to be a pan-African initiative. Entrepreneurs from diverse African nations are encouraged to participate. The event is set to bring together 54 countries, each contributing its unique entrepreneurial culture and innovative ideas. These nations will not only share their own challenges but also highlight the diverse solutions being implemented across the continent. This collaboration is vital for fostering a collective growth mindset and furthering the vision of Africa as a hub of innovation and economic transformation. ABH 2025 will be a reflection of Africa’s unity and resilience, demonstrating how the continent is harnessing its entrepreneurial spirit to solve its own challenges and drive sustainable growth.
