Initiative· Tech
Africa's Business Heroes: inside the $1.5 million prize for African founders
Run by Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, Africa's Business Heroes gives $1.5 million in grants to African entrepreneurs every year. The 2026 round has closed. Here's how to be ready for the next.
- Backer
- Africa's Business Heroes
- Offers
- PrizesVisibility
- Who it's for
- Founders with a registered African business and three or more years of traction
Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) is the flagship African programme of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation. Each year it awards $1.5 million in grant funding to entrepreneurs across the continent.
The 2026 edition
The eighth edition ran in 2026 under the theme "Defining Africa's Future Today". Applications closed in May, and the Top 10 finalists have been announced. If you missed it, you're now preparing for the next round.
Who it's for
ABH is aimed at established founders, not ideas. For the 2026 round, applicants had to:
- be a citizen or legal resident of an African country
- lead a registered business headquartered in Africa
- show at least three years of traction
- show a commitment to social impact
Applications could be written in English or French.
What makes it different
ABH is open to every sector, from agriculture to fashion to software, and it puts weight on the founder's story and impact, not just revenue. Finalists also get a public platform: the finale is broadcast and widely covered across the continent.
Your next step
If you've been trading for three years or more, start collecting your proof now: revenue, customers, jobs created and the impact you can show. Sign up for updates on the official ABH website so you hear the moment the next round opens.
Sources
- #prize
- #founders
- #grants
Your story could be next.
Applying is free, and it starts on your Launchpad.