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By Valens Muvunankiko
Rwanda is once again taking center stage as it hosts the 6th Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Summit and Grand Finale, a prestigious Pan African entrepreneurship event. This gathering, known for being one of Africa’s most insightful and diverse entrepreneurship platforms, is set to highlight Rwanda’s growing influence in shaping the continent’s business landscape.
The choice of Rwanda as the host nation reflects the country’s strong commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the years, Rwanda has implemented various policies and initiatives to support startups, small businesses, and large scale enterprises. This supportive ecosystem has not only empowered local entrepreneurs but has also attracted international investors and innovators to set up in the country.
Hosting the African Business Heroes Summit is expected to bring significant benefits to Rwanda’s economy. The event will provide a platform for networking, investment opportunities, and knowledge exchange among Africa’s top business minds. Moreover, it will further position Rwanda as a hub for entrepreneurial excellence, reinforcing its reputation as a gateway for African startups looking to scale and thrive.
Albert Munyabugingo, one of the entrepreneurs whose project was selected for the African Business Heroes competition in 2023, says that some people hesitate to apply or get discouraged if they apply once and are not selected. However, he emphasizes that they should not give up because perseverance and continuous effort are key qualities of an entrepreneur.
He states: “When you apply, you are asked many questions about your project, which helps you understand it even better. When you finally succeed and hear your name being announced, that is when you realize the value of all the hard work you put in. I encourage young entrepreneurs to keep trying and to apply again if they are not selected the first time because the most rewarding achievements often come from the hardest challenges.”
Kwizera Christelle, who is also one of the winners of the Africa Business Heroes awards in its inaugural edition in 2019, says that attending this summit as a young entrepreneur provides a valuable opportunity to meet and learn from other successful entrepreneurs. Moreover, having your business selected is an incredible opportunity because it strengthens your enterprise significantly.
She states: “Participating in the African Business Heroes competition comes with numerous benefits, as you get to connect with other entrepreneurs, network with them, and learn a lot through idea sharing. Additionally, being selected and awarded among the best businesses is a great opportunity to grow your enterprise, as it provides capital support. Those who have won this African Business Heroes competition in the past have gone on to build very successful businesses.”
The Executive Director of Jack Ma Foundation Mrs Jason Pau said that the innovation of this year 40% of all application are women and encourages other entrepreneurs to apply because there are some chances.
He said: “40% of our applications this year are from women. We are inclusive, but we’re not doing it because we feel like women should be at the top or men should be at the top. We let the best entrepreneur win, and the results are speaking for itself. So to all of you, aspiring entrepreneurs, we are open”
Mrs Michelle Umurungi The Chief Investment Officer of Rwanda Development Board stated that Even Afrucan Business Heroes missions, is to empower entrepreneurs across the continent to tackle Africa’s biggest challenges through innovation and business the degrees mandate is to accelerate private sector growth, they are ensuring that Rwanda remains one of the most competitive business environments in Africa.
She stated: “African Business Heroes missions is to empower entrepreneurs across the continent to tackle Africa’s biggest challenges through innovation and business our degrees mandate is to accelerate private sector growth, ensuring that Rwanda remains one of the most competitive business environments in Africa.”
She added: “So you see that this was a beautiful marriage together. We’re building an ecosystem where, as I said, businesses are not just thriving, we’re scaling. Jobs are created and industries are transformed. Eight years ago, African Business Heroes itself was inspired by an idea born here in Rwanda. When Mr. Jack Ma tended Youth Connect at this very venue, he saw the potential of African entrepreneurs and was inspired to launch a platform that would elevate and invest in the continents, continents brightest lights”.
The 6th ABH Summit & Grand Finale is taking place on March 14-15, 2025, bringing
together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers from across Africa to
explore pressing challenges and innovative solutions through the lens of
entrepreneurship
The 2024 edition marked significant strides in gender and regional representation, Female applicants reached 39%, surpassing the five year average of 30%.
North African representation increased to 9%, compared to the five year
average of 5%.
Applications from all 54 African countries underscored ABH’s continental
impact.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Madagascar were represented
in the Top 20 for the first time.
Afrucan Business Heroes hosted its first-ever event in North Africa, with the Semi-Final in Cairo, Egypt,
in September 2024.
