The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has announced the grand prize winner of its sixth annual competition, along with the first and second runners-up, at the latest ABH Summit and Grand Finale.
The ABH Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated the Top 10 finalists, selected from nearly 20,000 applicants to compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize. Under the theme “AI – African Innovation, Insight and Impact,” they pitched their businesses to a live audience and a distinguished judging panel, including Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali and Ibukun Awosika, Founder of the Chair Centre, who were joined by Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies. The event culminated in the awards ceremony, where the winners were unveiled.
The top three Africa Business Heroes for 2024 are:
1st – winning US$300,000 – Henri Ousmane Gueye, Co-founder & CEO, EYONE (https://Eyone.net/) (Senegal)
Eyone is a Senegal-based health-tech company specializing in digital solutions for the healthcare sector. It develops software to streamline medical processes. The company aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and efficiency in West Africa through technology.
2nd – winning US$250,000 – Dr. Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder & CEO, GREEN WATECH (www.GreenWatech.com) (Morocco)
Green Watech company specializes in independent and ecological wastewater treatment and reuse solutions. Their systems are designed to operate without electricity, making them efficient and accessible, particularly for rural and decentralized communities.
3rd – winning US$150,000 – Alexander Odhiambo, Founder & CEO, Solutech Limited (www.Solutech.co.ke) (Kenya)
Solutech Limited company specializes in innovative software solutions to enhance business efficiency and visibility, particularly in field sales operations. The company operates across multiple African countries, streamlining business processes through digital innovation.
Commenting on the win, Henri Ousmane Gueye said, “I am very proud to be announced as the winner of the 2024 ABH Prize Competition. This achievement is the result of a lot of hard work, and I am incredibly proud of my team. It’s a significant milestone for us, and it serves as an encouragement for us to keep working towards solving the problem our innovation addresses. It motivates us to continue tackling the big challenges our country faces.”
ABH Managing Director – Africa, Zahra Baitie-Boateng highlighted the debut of ABi, ABH’s AI co-host, at this year’s Summit and Grand Finale, noting its role in providing insights, sparking discussions and enhancing connections. She emphasized the ingenuity of the Top 10 finalists, whose impact showcases entrepreneurship’s power to address Africa’s challenges. “Congratulations to Henri and all our finalists! As we celebrate their success, we’re excited to launch the 2025 call for applications and continue empowering Africa’s next business leaders.”
ABH announced that Rwanda will host the Summit and Grand Finale for the next four years, reinforcing its role as a hub for entrepreneurship. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) were recognized as key partners, with Bank of Kigali also supporting the event.
A Summit of Entrepreneurial Insights and Thought Leadership
The two-day ABH Summit and Grand Finale brought together 1,606 participants, showcasing thought leadership and top entrepreneurial talent. Discussions explored how entrepreneurship addresses Africa’s key challenges in healthcare, agriculture and education. The event featured live podcast recordings, a debate, TED-style ABHx talks, a financing masterclass and interactive experiences like the ABH Heroes’ Circle business ‘roast’ and Networking in the Dark, a blindfolded networking session.
With over 50 distinguished speakers from 15 countries, the lineup included Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board; Nick Hu, Executive Director of Health Innovation at Sand Technologies; Dr. Brenda Kateera, Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative; Nathalie Munyampenda, CEO of Kepler; and Hasan Haider, Founder & Managing Partner at PlusVC and ABH Semi-Final judge.
In her opening keynote, ABH Grand Finale judge Ibukun Awosika emphasized ‘African Intelligence’ as key to shaping the continent’s entrepreneurial future. She highlighted purpose-driven leadership, lived experiences and local ingenuity in driving impactful solutions. “Africa’s future will be shaped by those who see challenges as opportunities and take action,” she stated.
About the Jack Ma Foundation
The Jack Ma Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2014 by Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group. The foundation focuses on entrepreneurship, education, environmental protection, and public health. It supports initiatives such as the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition, which funds and mentors African entrepreneurs, and various programs that enhance rural education, female leadership, and disaster relief efforts globally.
