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Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize
Support for African entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship
Last Update: April 21, 2026
Funding available
$ 100,000 - $ 300,000
Timeline
- Closing date : April 28, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
Africa’s Business Heroes offers up to USD 300,000 to top finalists. The program supports African entrepreneurs through grant funding, training, mentorship, exposure, and networking opportunities.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
Timeline
- Closing date : April 28, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Youth (<40)
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Building and growing African businesses with positive community impact.
- Innovative, scalable, and socially impactful entrepreneurship.
- Competition pitches for finalists selected for the Grand Finale.
Documents Needed
- Personal government-issued ID
- Business license or registration certificate
- Proof of 3+ years of operation, if not registered for three years
- Reference details for an independent referee
- Founder introduction video
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Entrepreneurs from all African countries.
- Businesses from all sectors.
- Seed-stage to growth-stage companies with at least 3 years of operation.
- NGOs with revenue history and customers or users.
Who is not eligible
- Applicants who are not of African origin or descent.
- Businesses that are not legally registered in Africa.
- Businesses with less than 3 years of operation.
- Businesses without 3 years of revenue history.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Commercial or security-sensitive information, including passwords and patentable ideas, should not be disclosed in the application.
Eligible geographic areas
- All 54 African countries
Processing and Agreement
- A confirmation email is sent after submission.
- Applications are pre-screened after the deadline for eligibility.
- Eligible applications are reviewed by three judges in Round 1.
- Shortlisted applicants receive a status update in June and feedback.
- Successful applicants are contacted by email for the next stage.
Additional information
- The application is free to submit.
- Applications can be submitted in English or French.
- You can submit more than one application if you have more than one business, but each business must be separate.
- The portal allows you to save progress and edit your application until the deadline.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize?
Africa’s Business Heroes offers up to USD 300,000 to top finalists. The program supports African entrepreneurs through grant funding, training, mentorship, exposure, and networking opportunities.
How much funding can be received?
Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Funds up to $300,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize program?
To be eligible for the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize program, you must:
Founder or co-founder
African origin or descent
3+ years of revenue
What expenses are eligible under Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize?
Building and growing African businesses with positive community impact.
Innovative, scalable, and socially impactful entrepreneurship.
Competition pitches for finalists selected for the Grand Finale.
Who can I contact for more information about the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize?
You can contact Jack Ma Foundation (JMF) by email at info@africabusinessheroes.org or by phone at +250 792 575 614.
Where is the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize available?
The Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize program is available across Canada.
Is the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize is a Grant and Funding