Moroccan entrepreneur Dr Salma Bougarrani has clinched second place and a $250,000 prize for her groundbreaking water treatment company, Green Watech, at the just-concluded Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition. Her soil-based filtration system is helping rural communities treat wastewater with solar systems and rocks, making clean water accessible while cutting freshwater consumption by up to 70%. Bougarrani is gearing up to scale across North Africa with ABH’s prize award.
Every year, Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) spotlights the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs building businesses and solving some of Africa’s toughest challenges. Since its inception in 2019, the competition has become a benchmark for African excellence. ABH aims to back over 100 entrepreneurs in ten years, with ten finalists from each year selected to compete for a share of $1.5 million in grants.
Previous winners have gone on to scale their businesses across the continent, benefiting from extensive mentorship and access to a robust network. The Jack Ma Foundation founded this launchpad for the next generation of African changemakers, intentionally amplifying African entrepreneurship and ensuring that the best ideas are nurtured well.
When Jack Ma first visited Africa in 2017 as special adviser to UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, he was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the young Africans. This drove his decision to train and support entrepreneurs in Africa.
Each year, winners receive grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, access to industry experts, a platform to scale their impact, and visibility to attract further investment. Additionally, participants are taught how to build inclusive business models that can create jobs and economic opportunities in and beyond their regions. The competition is also making a clear push for gender inclusivity, with 39% of last year’s applicants being women.
The 2024 edition of ABH drew nearly 20,000 applications from 54 African countries, proving once again that Africa is brimming with talent, creativity, and ambition.
Meet the 2024 Heroes
The top 10 finalists for ABH 2024 represented a variety of industries, including health tech, agriculture, beauty, and education. The 2024 finalists list showcased a remarkable 60% female representation, highlighting the significant role of women in the African entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Women are at the forefront of innovation and creativity, addressing challenges in healthcare, sustainability, and business development. In addition to Salma Bougarrani, other female finalists include Tisya Mukuna of La Boite / La Kinoise from DRC, Rasha Rady of Chefaa, Mobolaji Ajayi of Purelife Pharmacy, Maxima Nsimenta of Livara, and Hadeel Fayek, Founder and CEO of Joviality.
ABH’s top 20 categories featured brilliant women contributing to Africa’s economic growth. These women included Jihan Abass of Lami, Matina Razafimahefa of Sayna, etc. The 2024 edition of Africa Business Heroes is completed, and applications for the 2025 edition are now open.
Who will make it to this season’s next top 3 category of the globally acclaimed competition in 2025?
