In the heart of the African entrepreneurship landscape, Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition (www.africabusinessheroes.org) is celebrating its 5th-year anniversary, and it’s time to celebrate Ghana’s entrepreneurial brilliance.
This philanthropic initiative, sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, is on a mission to recognize, inspire and support the next generation of African entrepreneurs, spanning all sectors.
But it’s not just about honouring outstanding entrepreneurs; it’s about building a sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for the future of our continent. Beyond substantial grant funds for the top 10 finalists, participants gain access to a suite of valuable resources designed to accelerate their businesses.
These resources include targeted and practical business training programs, mentorship from esteemed business leaders, widespread exposure and recognition through media and social media, and networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors from across Africa.
ABH’s mission goes beyond just financial aid; it aims to provide a platform where entrepreneurs can showcase their talents, share their innovative business ideas, and serve as inspiring examples for others considering entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Ghana’s participation in the ABH Prize Competition dates back to the program’s inception in 2019. Over the years, this charitable pan-African initiative has become a beacon of hope for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and it has consistently showcased Ghana’s innovation and talent over the years through spotlighting business leaders that participate in the annual prize competition.
Since 2019, Ghana has produced three exceptional entrepreneurs who clinched a place among the ABH top 10 winners for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. Notably, they’ve secured grants that amount to a total of over US$330,000, equivalent to more than 3.9 million Ghanaian Cedi. These remarkable entrepreneurs, including Mr. Abdulai A. Dasana, Ms. Violet Amoabeng, and Mr. Prince Agbata, have consistently represented Ghana on the pan-African and global entrepreneurial stage.
2023 marks the 5th-year anniversary of this pan-African philanthropic initiative in which Ghana’s entrepreneurial brilliance continues to shine. In this year’s edition, which attracted a record-breaking 27,267 applicants from all 54 African countries, two outstanding Ghanaian entrepreneurs, Mr. Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Founder of Zeepay Ghana Limited , and Ms. Christina Gyisun, CEO and Co-Founder of Sommalife Limited, achieved coveted spots among the top 10 outstanding African entrepreneurs.
Mr. Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Founder of Zeepay Ghana Limited, operates an award-winning FinTech company specializing in remittances, facilitating transfers from partner mobile transfer operators to various destinations across 20 African countries. Zeepay’s wallet system is accessible on basic phones, device and network-agnostic, and fosters financial inclusion. They have created job opportunities for over 60,000 women and youth, serving 20 African markets with a customer base of 1.3 million.
Ms. Christina Gyisun, CEO and Co-Founder of Sommalife Limited, champions a social enterprise in Ghana utilizing cutting-edge software to uplift smallholder farmers. Sommalife improves both the quality and quantity of rural smallholder farmers’ produce, linking them with global food and cosmetic manufacturers offering premium prices. Their software, TreeSyt, guarantees transparency and traceability in all transactions, with revenue stemming from quality and traceable commodities, like shea nuts, shea butter, and soybeans, sourced from 50,000 digitized Ghanaian farmers.
Beyond the remarkable Ghanaian entrepreneurs, Andrew Takyi-appiah and Christina Gyisun, the ABH 2023 top 10 finalists include an impressive array of other innovators from various African nations. These outstanding entrepreneurs are Ms. Bola Bardet, CEO and Co-Founder of Susu from Benin; Mr. Ayman Bazaraa, CEO and Co-Founder of Sprints from Egypt; Mr. Thomas Njeru, CEO and Co-Founder of Pula Advisors Limited from Kenya; Mr. Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and Founder of Chari representing Morocco; Mr. Ikpeme Neto, CEO and Founder of Wellahealth Technologies from Nigeria; Mr. Albert Munyabugingo, CEO and Co-Founder of Vuba Vuba Africa LTD from Rwanda; Ms. Nthabiseng Mosia, CMO and Co-Founder of Easy Solar from South Africa; and Mr. Theo Baloyi, CEO and Founder of Bathu from South Africa. These entrepreneurs have demonstrated exemplary achievements and dedication in their respective countries and industries, shaping the landscape of entrepreneurship in Africa.
In November, the two Ghanaian entrepreneurs; Andrew and Christina, plus the rest of the top 10 finalists will compete for a share of substantial grant of $1.5 million to propel their groundbreaking ventures. It’s a testament to the energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial potential that Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, witnessed during his first trip to Africa in 2017. It’s also an affirmation of the immense entrepreneurial talent that Africa at large has to offer.
A Call to Action: Join the celebration of a pan-African entrepreneurial community at the ABH 2023 Summit and Grand Finale!
The ABH Summit and Grand Finale, scheduled for November 23 and 24, 2023 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda, will be a historic event for Africa and the stage where the two Ghanaian entrepreneurs and the other visionary finalists in the ABH top 10, present their innovative ideas to global business legends. The event will determine who the top 3 winners are, with the 1st place taking home $300,000, the 2nd $250,000, and the 3rd $150,000. The remaining finalists in the top 10 will each receive a share of $100,000, and the prize will further provide $10,000 for each of the top 10 finalists for training programs. It’s an opportunity to witness Ghana’s entrepreneurs, Andrew Takyi-Appiah and Christina Gyisun, pitch their business ideas live to global business legends.
This year’s ABH Top 10 entrepreneurs have been meticulously selected from a diverse pool of applications spanning all 54 African nations. They represent a wide range of industries, including agriculture, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
Ghana has consistently represented itself brilliantly in the ABH Prize Competition, and it’s time for Ghanaians to come together and show their support. ABH calls upon Ghanaians, regardless of your location, to register and be part of this event. It’s also accessible virtually, allowing the entire continent and globe to participate. Register today and be a part of Ghana’s and Africa’s entrepreneurial success: ABH 2023 Grand Finale Registration
The ABH Summit and Grand Finale promises to gather one of the largest entrepreneurial communities from across Africa and beyond. Business leaders, investors, influencers, and industry players from various countries across the continent will attend the physical 2-day event in Kigali, Rwanda on November 23 and 24.
At this year’s Summit and Grand Finale, participants will gain invaluable insights, entrepreneurship tips, and inspiring lessons of resilience and innovation from a wide range of speakers who are experts in various sectors from across the African continent and beyond. It’s a celebration of entrepreneurship, not just for Ghana but for the entire continent.
ABH isn’t just a one-time event; it’s an ongoing initiative for another 5 years. It’s open annually for applications to African entrepreneurs of all ages, genders, and sectors. You can learn more about this initiative here: https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/.
