Africa’s Business Heroes Takes 40 Entrepreneurs to China, Extends 2024 Application Deadline
By Abdi Ali
Published May 6, 2024
Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition (ABH) has hosted 40 entrepreneurs from across Africa at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.
During the eight-day visit that took place April 20-27, the entrepreneurs explored various facets of the digital economy from cloud computing, AI-driven logistics to e-commerce villages and participated in a series of workshops and site visits, all designed to elevate them to a higher level of success. The Heroes also exchanged knowledge and explored opportunities for collaboration with business leaders from Alibaba and with one another. These activities provided the participants with new knowledge and perspectives that they can potentially apply to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and scale their businesses.
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“This trip was so inspiring in so many ways. First, meeting all these entrepreneurs who are the top entrepreneurs on the African continent and spending a week together was an incredible experience. And second: being immersed in the world of Alibaba and all the companies Jack Ma and his team built over time and understanding the vision behind it was like a dream come true,” Diarra Bousso, Founder & Creative Director of Diarrablu and ABH 2020 top 10 Hero who was among the participants in the trip to China, said if the trip.
In another development, ABH says it has extended its deadline for 2024 entries from May 19 to June 9 to accommodate more entrepreneurs eager to participate in the competition. Candidates selected for the top 50 will gain access to a host of resources, including training, mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as a supportive network of fellow African business leaders. US$1.5 million in grant funding will be distributed among the top 10 finalists; the first prize winner will receive an award of US$300,000.
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This year, ABH says, it has hosted information sessions and community events across the continent to facilitate the application process and nurture a vibrant entrepreneurial community. These events have taken place in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, with upcoming sessions scheduled for Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal. These events are conducted in partnership with local entrepreneur organizations and key ABH stakeholders including judges, Heroes and partners.
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Entrepreneurs from across Africa are invited to submit their applications at https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org/en/apply-now.
Individuals are also encouraged to nominate eligible entrepreneurs who they believe are creating impactful and sustainable solutions to challenging issues at https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org/en/nominate.
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