10 entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Kenya and 5 other countries announced as the 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes winners
- The ten finalists are from seven African countries, namely Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, Rwanda and Botswana.
- The sum of $1.5 million will be awarded to the top ten finalists in the form of grants.
- 80% of the selected businesses operate in rural areas and half of them are female-led.
Earlier this week, ten entrepreneurs from seven African countries were unveiled as winners of the 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes competition which was organised by the Jack Ma Foundation.
A statement seen by Business Insider Africa said that the total sum of $1.5 million will be disbursed to the ten finalists in the form of grant money, to help support their businesses. However, the first runner up will receive the highest grant money to the tune of $300,000, followed by $250,000 for the second runner up and then $150, 000 for the third winner.
See below for the full list of the 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes winners. The winners are arranged in a particular order, with number one being the first runner up.
- Khadija Mohamed Elbedweihy, the Founder of Egyptian startup PraxiLabs which facilitates teaching processes for science educators.
- Ikenna Nzewi, Co-founder and CEO of Nigerian agritech startup Releaf.
- Navalayo Osembo-Ombati, Co-founder and CEO of Kenyan sportswear maker Enda Athletic.
- Ghirmay Abraham, the Founder of Aptech Africa, a Ugandan renewable energy startup.
- Oghenetega Iortim, the Founder of Gricd, a Nigerian cold chain solutions provider.
- Yvette Ishimwe, the Founder and CEO of Rwandan startup IRIBA Water Group.
- Charlot Magayi, Founder and CEO of Kenyan social enterprise Mukuru Clean Stoves.
- Chidi Nwaogu, Co-founder and CEO of Publiseer which is a book and music publishing platform in Nigeria.
- Violet Amoabeng, Founder and CEO of Ghanaian skin scare products maker Skin Gourmet.
- Ketshephaone Jacob, Founder and CEO of The Bulb World, a Botswanan LED bulb manufacturer.
Commenting on this year’s competition, one of the judges, Ibukun Awosika, said she was impressed by the entrepreneurs’ commitment to solving Africa’s peculiar challenges.
“This is the third time I have been a Grand Finale judge for the Africa’s Business Heroes competition, meeting many exceptional business women and men from across Africa. Each year, I’m struck by their sheer talent and the commitment to developing creative, innovative solutions to the challenges we face on the continent. It truly is “Africa’s time” and these outstanding entrepreneurs are the ones who embody its future of growth and relevant solution-based innovation,” Awosika said.
Note that this is the third year since the Africa’s Business Heroes initiative was launched in 2019 by the Jack Ma Foundation. Information made available on the organisation’s website said the mission is to identify, train and award grants to outstanding business heroes across the continent over a ten-year period.
