By Senior Reporter,China Africa News
Kigali-Kigali roared with energy as Africa’s Business Heroes Summit wrapped its 7th edition, leaving no doubt that the continent’s future isn’t just being discussed it’s being built.
Entrepreneurs from every corner of Africa gathered in Rwanda’s capital, and when the final pitches were delivered and judges’ deliberations concluded, it was clear: innovation on the continent is surging with unstoppable force. A record-breaking 32,000+ applications poured in a powerful signal that Africa’s entrepreneurial engine is firing on all cylinders.
When the winners were announced, Tanzanian scientist Diana Orembe took the grand prize with NovFeed, her biotech venture turning food waste into nutritious animal feed addressing both environmental challenges and costly imports burdening farmers.
Kenyan innovator Abraham Mbuthia stood proudly with Uzapoint Technologies, where AI-powered tools help micro and small enterprises leap from manual bookkeeping into the digital era, unlocking access to credit and growth.
South Africa’s Adriaan Kruger landed a top spot with nuvoteQ, a HealthTech platform digitizing clinical research and trials to accelerate medical innovation and broaden access.
Amid applause and celebration, voices in Kigali framed this moment not just as a competition but as a turning point. Yahoo co-founder and ABH judge Jerry Yang rejected the tired narrative that Africa is “catching up,” calling what he saw evidence that the continent is building and leaping forward with homegrown solutions that rival those anywhere in the world.
Behind the summit’s success was a deepening partnership that grows stronger each year. Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group and visionary behind ABH, met with President Paul Kagame to strengthen collaboration around entrepreneurship, youth innovation, and technology adoption underscoring Rwanda’s rising stature as a hub where global business leaders and African founders connect and build lasting partnerships.
At the event, the new ABH x Alibaba Global Initiatives Entrepreneur Training Platform was unveiled, promising entrepreneurs year-round access to learning in financial management, leadership, digital readiness, and investment preparation a sign that ABH’s impact now extends well beyond the stage.
For the third consecutive year, Rwanda hosted the finale but Kigali has become much more than a venue. It’s a meeting ground where investment, innovation ecosystems, public policy, and global networks intersect. Leaders pointed to Rwanda’s strong governance, clear vision for a knowledge economy, and openness to collaboration as reasons founders and investors are drawn to the city. More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and ecosystem builders packed the summit, marking Kigali as one of Africa’s premier entrepreneurship hubs.
For the ten finalists from Kenya, Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa, and Cameroon, the experience offered more than funding it offered validation, visibility, and a platform to scale solutions across transport, nutrition, fintech, sustainable manufacturing, health, and food systems. While the prize money $300,000 for the winner, $250,000 for second, $150,000 for third, and $100,000 for each other finalist was significant, every founder walked away with stories, connections, and momentum.
As the curtain fell on the 2025 ABH Summit, one truth stood clear: Africa’s business heroes aren’t waiting for opportunity they are creating it. And places like Kigali are proving that with the right partnerships and platforms, the next generation of global innovation leaders will proudly bear African roots.
