African Business Heroes (ABH) is a philanthropic programme in Africa put together by the Jack Ma Foundation (JMF) to support entrepreneurs. Their goal is to inspire the African entrepreneurship movement by exposing and encouraging indigenous talents that are making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Every year since 2019, ten lucky small and medium-sized businesses have benefited from a $1.5 million grant which did not only help the business financially but also gave them massive exposure.

On the 12^th of April 2024, they held a summit to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to enter the draw for the grant. During the event, Zarha Baitie-Boateng, African Managing Director for ABH gave a deeper insight of the company and what they do.

She explained their future plans, stating that African Business Heroes aims to boost entrepreneurship and promote made in Africa goods and services not only in the continent but across the globe.

The panel consisted of business owners from various sectors and industries. All five panelists shared business dos and don’ts as well as tips to help grow business with the entrepreneurs that were present at the event.

Prince Agbata of Coliba Waste, a member of the panel and one of the 2022 top 10 CEOs, shared how the grant helped his business two years prior and has boosted it from a thousand cedi business to the million cedi business it is now among other things.

“I started my business in my mom’s garage. I had to pretend to do all the roles of a proper company to convince my customers that I was legit. I even had to pretend to be my personal assistant and my own secretary.”

Among the various businesses and individuals present eager to register for the competition, were Kwabena Poku-Appiah, coordinator for Bond Tech and Co founder for Bond tech who shared his readiness and enthusiasm towards this year’s competition

ABH’s initiative has been welcomed by African business owners all over the continent and in the Diaspora as a business booster and an excellent way to fish out incredible yet hidden business gems in Africa.