Jack Ma Foundation top 10 Africa’s Business Heroes finalists
Jack Ma Foundation releases its top 10 finalists for its ‘Africa’s Business Heroes’ flagship philanthropic program
Business Chief takes a look at the top 10 finalists for the Jack Ma Foundation flagship philanthropic program — ‘Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH)’. Among the ten finalists, 50% are female from eight African countries. The 10 finalists stand a chance to win a share of US$1.5mn.
“I continue to be amazed by the passion, resilience, and vision of Africa’s entrepreneurs, and I look forward to meeting these ten extraordinary businesswomen and businessmen at the finale. I am excited to learn more about how they are driving positive change and progress across the continent,” said Jack Ma, Founder of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Group.
ABH aims to recognise 100 African entrepreneurs, allocating US$100mn over the next 10 years in the form of: grant funding, training, mentoring and learning initiatives, access to key networks, and to develop a vibrant entrepreneur community to support Africa’s future business leaders.
“The 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes competition has been incredible. The quality of the entrepreneurs and their ideas has been exceptional and this is a testament to the talent that exists across the continent. I am extremely excited to follow the rest of the competition and see who will come on top as the 2020 African Business Hero!” added Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, ABH semi-finale judge and Founder of soleRebels, Garden of Coffee and Tefftastic.
Abdulai A Dasana, CEO & COO, Amaati Company Limited
Amaati Company Limited, founded in 2014, is a social enterprise that strives to build sustainable communities with the use of a crop called Fonio.
Abdulai A. Dasana, is an agricultural technologist with experience in finance, banking and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Dasana has a vision to revolutionise agriculture to benefit the vulnerable.
Image source: Amaati Company Limited
Aboubakar Karim, CEO & Founder, INVESTIV
AgTech company INVESTIV, has a vision to improve the livelihoods of local communities with the adoption of appropriate precision agriculture practices. The company is led by Aboubakar Karim, whose mission is to help build the future of African agriculture by leveraging innovative technologies.
Image source: INVESTIV
Axel Emmanuel Gbaou, CEO & Founder, Le Chocolatier Ivorien
Le Chocolatier Ivorien manufactures handcrafted, quality chocolate via sustainable cultivation methods. In addition the company promotes fairer income distribution in the cocoa chain alongside its partner — female growers.
Starting his career in the banking sector, Axel Emmanuel Gbaou has a degree in International Public Law, and a Master’s in Taxation. He began his chocolatier company from his mother’s kitchen.
Image source: Le Chocolatier Ivorien
Chebet Lesan, Founder & CEO, BrightGreen Energy
BrightGreen Energy, founded in 2015 by Chebet Lesan, produces fuel bricks to reduce the cost of cooking for those that are underserved in Africa, as well as help to save forests.
Lesan holds multiple qualifications in Leadership from The University of Cambridge, Product Design from The University of Nairobi, Supply Chain Management from Rutgers School of Business and a Business/Design Fellowship from Massachusetts Institute of Technology D-lab.
Image source: BrightGreen Energy
Cyrille Nkontchou, Founder & Chairman, Enko Education
Enko Education, founded in 2013, strives to “increase access to the world’s leading universities through high-quality international education.” Enko Education has a growing network of African international schools, to increase access to the world’s best universities for those in Africa, as well as developing an innovative model to provide globally recognised qualifications.
Cyrille Nkontchou, is an economist with experience as a fund manager, banker and consultant.
Image source: Enko Education
Ethel Mupambwa, Co-Founder and Executive Director, MoneyMart
MoneyMart, is a microfinance institution that is co-led by Ethel Mupambwa, and strives to “be a leading player in the creation of sustainable wealth” and “to positively transform people’s lives.”
Mupambwa has nine years of experience in the finance sector, and is a Level 2 Chartered Financial Analyst Candidate.
Image source: ManeyMart
Dr. Emma Naluyima Mugerwa, Founder, MST Junior School
MST Junior School, founded in 2010, is a pioneering group of teachers and parents whose ambition is to continue its development of teaching and learning. MST “strives to create a learning environment that is child-centred, child developmental, skills focused, international in perspective, engaging, active and critical. Its ways of working are democratic and decentralised.”
Image source: MST Junior School
Joan Rukundo Nalubega, CEO & Founder, Uganics
Founded in 2016, Uganics provides not only hotels and resorts, but communities too with oils, soaps and repellents for mosquitoes. Uganics focuses on “ensuring that you have the best natural way of repelling mosquitoes and preventing malaria.”
Led by Joan Rukundo Nalubega, a social entrepreneur and survivor of malaria. Nalubega has a vision to fight Malaria — one of the biggest killers in Uganda.
Image source: Uganics
Mame Diarra Bousso Gueye, CEO & Founder, Diarrablu
Diarrablu is a contemporary lifestyle brand, Led by Diarra Gueye. Diarrablu has a mission to “iterate for sustainability while highlighting the African continent’s rich colors and unique patterns through practical and versatile pieces designed using mathematical concepts or algorithms.”
Gueye has experience in finance, mathematics, and design. She has a Master’s from Stanford University which focused on creative mathematics.
Image source: Diarrablu
Oluwasoga Oni, CEO & Co-Founder, Mdaas Global
Mdaas Global founded in 2016, aspires to build Africa’s largest network of physical and virtual diagnostic and primary care facilities, “to provide convenient, high-quality, and affordable healthcare for the continent’s next billion.”
Striving to make modern diagnostics more affordable and accessible, Mdaas Global aims to “enable low and middle income patients to identify health issues earlier, gain access to medical specialists and treatment options, and ultimately live healthier lives.”
The company is led by Oluwasoga Oni who is an MIT trained system engineer.
Image source: Mdaas Global
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