Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), the flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, has officially opened applications for its eighth edition, offering USD 1.5 million in grant funding to African entrepreneurs.
Launched under the theme “Defining Africa’s Future Today”, the 2026 edition reinforces ABH’s mission to support Africa-led solutions with the ambition, scale, and impact to drive long-term economic transformation across the continent.
ABH is calling on founders from all sectors, from climate-smart agriculture and healthcare to fintech, logistics, manufacturing, and emerging technologies, who have at least three years of proven traction and are committed to creating positive societal impact.
This year, the programme will deepen its presence across Africa by visiting ten markets, including historically underrepresented countries such as Namibia, Tunisia, and Zambia. These engagements will bring together local entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners through workshops, networking events, and mentorship opportunities.
In a move reflecting the growing scale and reach of the initiative, ABH will expand its recognition pool to the Top 100 finalists, up from 50, providing increased visibility to emerging businesses and amplifying their stories across the continent.
ABH combines grant funding with training, mentorship, and long-term community support, creating a platform for entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses. Top 10 finalists will also have the opportunity to participate in an immersive learning experience at Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou, China, to gain exposure to global best practices in innovation and technology-enabled business scaling.
The 7th edition concluded in December 2025 with Diana Orembe of Tanzania, co-founder and CEO of NovFeed, crowned Africa’s Business Hero for her biotech venture converting organic waste into sustainable protein for animal feed. The programme attracted over 31,000 applications last year from across the continent, highlighting the depth of Africa’s entrepreneurial talent.
Applications for the 2026 edition are open until April 28th and can be submitted in English or French via www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org.
Africa’s Business Heroes continues to position itself as a founder-first, continent-wide platform, empowering the next generation of African business leaders to drive innovation, create jobs, and shape Africa’s economic future.
