The grand finale of the 6th edition of the Africa’s Business Heroes competition has concluded, with Henri Ousmane Gueye, Co-founder and CEO of EYONE, from Senegal emerging as the overall winner out of the top 10 finalists. Dr. Salma Bougarrani, co-founder and CEO of GREEN WATECH, from Morocco, and Alexander Odhiambo, founder and CEO of Solutech Limited, from Kenya, came in second and third place, respectively.
The grand finale was held simultaneously with Africa’s Business Heroes summit in Kigali, Rwanda which brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers from across Africa to explore pressing challenges and innovative solutions through the lens of entrepreneurship.
The ten (10) finalists including Maxima Nsimenta, founder of Livara (from Uganda) — who were announced last year in October pitched their businesses to judges; Ibukun Awosika, founder of The Chair Centre Group, Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali, and Fred Swaniker, CEO of Sand Technologies — for a chance to vie a spot in the top three. The finalists were challenged with in-depth questions, leading to an intense and engaging competition — which concluded with Henri Ousmane Gueye, Dr. Salma Bougarrani, and Alexander Odhiambo in the top three.
“I am very proud to be announced as the overall winner of the 2024 ABH Prize Competition. This achievement is the result of a lot of hard work, and I am incredibly proud of my team,” said Ousmane. “It’s a significant milestone for us, and it serves as an encouragement for us to keep working towards solving the problem our innovation addresses. It motivates us to continue tackling the big challenges our country faces.”
Ousmane received a cash prize of US$300,000 (approx. XOF180.4 million, UGX1,.09 billion) for his business Eyone, a medical records backbone designed to create an interconnected healthcare system that links patients with key healthcare stakeholders, including hospitals, clinics, insurers, international organizations, and governments.
Eyone’s primary objective is to place the patient and their needs at the center of this digital healthcare ecosystem by connecting all relevant stakeholders. Meaning “Let’s go together,” Eyone has grown into a network of over 500 healthcare facilities, covering approximately 30 specializations to serve communities. With a clear vision to make medical data accessible to all healthcare professionals, regardless of their location, Eyone is committed to improving living conditions through collaborative efforts.
Dr. Bougarrani came in second place, receiving a cash prize of US$250,000 (approx. MAD2.5 million, UGX915 million) for GREEN WATECH which brings extensive experience in rural and peri-urban liquid sanitation, continuously advancing environmental technologies through dedicated R&D efforts. Specializing in wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigation, GREEN WATECH designs, implements, and operates systems that meet legal, environmental, economic, and social requirements.
GREEN WATECH serves industrial, professional, and individual clients by providing solutions for wastewater from agri-food and domestic sources. The company offers tailored treatment systems for individuals, semi-collective sectors, and decentralized sites, such as agricultural farms, villages, service stations, housing developments, hotels, schools, universities, campsites, and leisure centers, with capacities ranging from 10 to 10,000 people. Their innovative and patented FISO “Filtre à Sol” solution ensures high-quality treated wastewater that complies with direct discharge and irrigation standards, contributing to sustainable water management practices.
Odhiambo came in third place and received a cash prize of US$150,000 (approx. KES19.5 million, UGX549 million) for his business Solutech Limited, a custom software development company that has developed an all-inclusive Sales Force Automation (SFA) software, Solutech SAT, a solution designed to address the needs of small, medium, and large manufacturing and distribution companies, as well as sales and marketing agencies across Africa, enabling them to optimize operations and drive growth.
The remaining seven (7) finalists, Hadeel Fayek, Rasha Rady, Mina Shahid, Clement Owusu-Donkor, Mobolaji Ajayi, Tisya Mukuna, and Maxima Nsimenta each received US$100,000 (approx. US$366 million) to improve and scale their businesses.
The value of the prize goes beyond financial gain. All participants, including the winners and the finalists, will receive global recognition & exposure, access to an exclusive & vibrant entrepreneurship community and network, mentorship, training programs, etc.
Ms. Zahra Baitie-Boateng, ABH Managing Director emphasized the ingenuity of the 10 finalists, whose impact showcases entrepreneurship’s power to address Africa’s challenges.
Zahra congratulated Ousmane emerging as the overall winner and all the finalists at the same time launching the 7the edition of the prize competition.
At the end of the two-day event, Ms. Zahra officially launched the 2025 edition of the prize competition (LINK TO APPLY), inviting ambitious African entrepreneurs to apply for a chance to win a share of US$1.5 million in grant funding. The ABH competition is sector-agnostic and open to entrepreneurs from all industries across Africa.
ABH announced that Rwanda will host the event for the next five years. This move reflects the country’s commitment to supporting the business community. The key partners for the event include the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB), and the Bank of Kigali
ABH competition is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to help support and foster an inclusive and strong African entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program wants to recognize 100 African entrepreneurs over 10 years and allocate grant funding alongside training, mentoring, and learning programs, as well as access to a community of like-minded African business leaders.
The competition empowers entrepreneurs and captivates audiences with the diversity and ingenuity of the business plans submitted. Each business plan tells a unique story of resilience, creativity, and the drive to make a positive impact in Africa. From innovative tech solutions and beauty and fashion to sustainable agricultural initiatives, the business plans showcased in the competition offer fascinating insights into the entrepreneurial landscape across Africa.
Since 2019, grant recipients of the ABH have achieved remarkable milestones, collectively raising over US$153 million in investments. These entrepreneurs have also received US$9 million in prize money, facilitating their operations in 52 African countries.
Notably, their endeavors have created over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing to Africa’s economic development. With a combined reported revenue exceeding US$300 million, ABH grant recipients continue to exemplify the transformative power of entrepreneurship in fostering growth, innovation, and socio-economic impact across the African continent.
ABH strives to foster an inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape in Africa. What sets ABH apart is its grassroots orientation, coupled with its age, gender, and sector-agnostic approach.
