The Jack Ma Foundation has hosted its first annual Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) grand finale, awarding $1-million in prize money to 10 entrepreneurs from across Africa.
The ANPI is a flagship initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, created by Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017. The aim of the prize is to support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
In its inaugural year, nearly 10 000 entrepreneurs from 50 countries across the continent applied.
The Jack Ma Foundation has committed to running the competition for 10 years.
The finale event, called “Africa’s Business Heroes”, was held in Accra, Ghana, where the top 10 finalists pitched their businesses directly to four prestigious judges including Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation; Strive Masiyiwa, founder and executive chairman of Econet Group; Ibukun Awosika, chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and founder/CEO of The Chair Centre Group; and Joe Tsai, executive vice-chairman of Alibaba.
The top three finalists were:
* Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and CEO of LifeBank ( Nigeria) – First Place, winning $250 000.
* Dr Omar Sakr, founder and CEO of Nawah-Scientific (Egypt) – Second Place, winning $150 000.
* Christelle Kwizera, founder, of Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda) – Third Place, winning $100 000.
“It was an incredible honor to be named Africa’s Business Hero. I was truly inspired by my fellow winners at today’s Netpreneur Summit. The Africa Netpreneur Prize will give me the resources to grow LifeBank and expand our presence in Nigeria and throughout the rest of Africa. I look forward to continuing my journey to solve problems and make a significant impact on the future of Africa,” says Giwa-Tubosun.
The remaining finalists, who each received $65 000, are:
* Waleed Abd El Rahman, CEO, Mumm (Egypt)
* Ayodeji Arikawe, co-founder, Thrive Agric (Nigeria)
* Mahmud Johnson, founder and CEO, J-Palm (Liberia)
* Kevine Kagirimpundu, co-founder and CEO, UZURI K&Y (Rwanda)
* Dr Tosan J. Mogbeyiteren, founder, Black Swan (Nigeria)
* Chibuzo Opara, co-founder, DrugStoc (Nigeria)
* Moulaye Taboure, co-founder and CEO, Afrikrea (Cote D’Ivoire)
“The finalists who competed in ‘Africa’s Business Heroes’ should be an inspiration for Africa and for the world. Each of these entrepreneurs looked at big challenges facing their communities, and saw them as opportunities,” says Ma.
“It is my strong belief that entrepreneur heroes, like these finalists, will change the world – creating companies that drive inclusive growth and opportunity for the continent. Everyone is a winner.”