Tech in Africa
The Jack Ma Foundation has announced its top 10 finalists for the Africa Business Heroes contest, which is part of the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative. Pitches will be made on Nov 13 and 14, where they will compete for an opportunity to share in the $1.5 million prize pool.
The top 10 finalists were arrived at after combing through 22,000 applications from the 54 African countries. This was after several rounds of rigorous evaluation. The average participant age is 34 years, and 8 African countries are represented in the top 10 line-ups.
The diversity of the startups range from fashion, education, renewable energy, healthcare, financial services, agriculture, to financial services. Judges at the final will be Jack Ma, Zimbabwean entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, Joseph C Tai, and Ibukan Awosika.
Here are top 10 finalists that made the list
Oluwasoga Oni CEO & Co-founder at Mdaas Global – operates tech-enabled healthcare facilities.
Cyrille Nkontchou, from Cameroon the founder of Enko Education – the largest group of IB organization accredited schools focused on providing access to quality education.
Axel Emmanuel Gbaou, Côte d’Ivoire entrepreneur founder of Le Chocolatier Ivorien – provides handcrafted and quality chocolate via sustainable cultivation.
Chebet Lesan, founder of Bright Green R. Energy – Produce fuel bricks that make cooking food affordable.
Aboubakar Karim, CEO and Founder at INVESTIV – an Ivorian AgTech company.
Joan Rukundo Malubega, founder of Uganics – manufactures organic mosquito repellent products.
Dr. Emma Naluyima Nugerwa, the founder of MST Junior School – aims to provide students with skills targeting malnutrition, food insecurity, and waste mismanagement.
Mame Diarra Bousso Gueye, founder of Diarrablu – a Senegal tech fashion company.
Abdulai A Dasana founder of Amaati Company Limited – A Ghanaian social enterprise focused on the production of Fonio.
Ethel Mupambwa co-founder of Moneymart – A Zimbabwean mico-finance fintech.
