Participants attend the summit and grand finale of the 7th Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition in Kigali, Rwanda, December 12, 2025. The much-anticipated two-day event, hosted by Alibaba Philanthropies and the Jack Ma Foundation in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board (RDB), brought together top entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to celebrate innovative ideas shaping Africa’s economic future. (Handout via Alibaba Foundation/Xinhua News Agency)
KIGALI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) — Africa’s entrepreneurial talent and innovation took center stage at the summit and grand finale of the 7th Africa Business Heroes (ABH) competition held in Rwanda’s capital Kigali on Friday.
Organized by Alibaba Philanthropies and the Jack Ma Foundation in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board (RDB), this much-anticipated two-day event brought together top entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to celebrate innovative ideas shaping Africa’s economic future.
“Africa has never lacked entrepreneurship. Africans have never lacked problem solvers,” said Sun Lijun, Chairman of Alibaba Foundation and President of Alibaba Philanthropies. “Many of Africa’s development challenges can be explored and solved through African innovation. We believe that a new generation of great African entrepreneurs will transform Africa.”
Mr. Sun highlighted Alibaba’s increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation, stressing that Africa’s future will be “shaped by African entrepreneurs.”
RDB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Juliana Muganza reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to putting entrepreneurship at the heart of the country’s and continent’s transformation.
“Entrepreneurship is not just a tool for development, it is a force for change,” Muganza said. “Young people, women and innovators are no longer waiting for opportunities; they are creating them themselves. Africa is open for business, but importantly, it is ready for smart, patient capital.”
Gao Wenqi, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, said the summit is an exciting gathering of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs and a major platform to foster innovation.
“Past top winners have become inspirational leaders across the continent,” Gao said. “The increase in the number of applicants shows the strength of Africa’s vitality and economic strength.”
According to the ambassador, China-Africa cooperation is expanding into advanced fields such as AI, digital economy, green energy, fintech and sustainable development. “China will continue to expand its market access to Africa,” he added.
The event brought together over 1,700 entrepreneurs, investors, students and industry experts to discuss the future of innovation in Africa.
This year’s grand finale, scheduled for Saturday, will feature live pitches in front of a distinguished panel of judges, immersive stage experiences and performances celebrating African creativity. The top 10 will share a total of US$1.5 million in grants.
The Kigali event follows the 7th ABH Semi-Finals held in Dakar, Senegal in September, where 10 finalists were selected from 20 semi-finalists. This year’s finalists are from Kenya, Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa and Cameroon.
As the flagship initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, the ABH Contest continues to expand its impact across the continent. According to organizers, grant recipients have created more than 120,000 jobs and impacted more than 40 million people through the customers they serve.
More than 150,000 applications have been received to date, the organizers added, reflecting the program’s broad scope and growing momentum. ■
