Diverse Group of Entrepreneurs Selected for 2026 Africa’s Business Heroes Top 10

A remarkable cohort of ten entrepreneurs from across the continent has been selected to compete in the 2026 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Grand Finale. Chosen from over 24,000 applications spanning all 54 African countries, these founders represent a wide range of industries and address critical challenges facing communities today.

The finalists emerged after two days of rigorous Semi-Final pitches in Nairobi on August 21–22, where they were evaluated by a distinguished panel based on business strength, leadership, innovation, impact, growth potential, and scalability. The Top 10 represent Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Meet the Finalists:

• Salma Tammam (Egypt) – REME-D Company for Laboratory Equipment and Chemicals (Healthcare)
• Ahmed Shaaban (Egypt) – Simplex for Software Development and Industrial Solutions (Manufacturing)
• Kelvin Umechukwu (Nigeria) – Bumpa (Enterprise Technology)
• Naom Monari (Kenya) – Bena Care Limited (HealthTech)
• Louisa Gathecha (Kenya) – Bottle Logistics East Africa Ltd (Industrial/Logistics)
• Samson Fentaye (Ethiopia) – Thur Biotech Manufacturing Plc (Agritech)
• Jess Roussos (South Africa) – BluLever Education Pty Ltd (EdTech)
• Joseph Paul (Tanzania) – Dawa Mkononi (HealthTech)
• Gildas Zodome (Benin) – BIO PHYTO (Agritech)
• Appessika Adanin Laurent Koffi (Côte d’Ivoire) – GREEN AGRO VALLEY CI (Agritech)

The businesses span crucial sectors including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, enterprise technology, climate solutions, and education.

A Transformative Journey

Naom Monari, founder of Bena Care, shared her experience: “I started applying to ABH four years ago, and this is the first time I have made it past the application stage. Going through the financials section of the ABH application pushed me to take a much deeper look at our model, and today, it reflects not only my conviction in the business, but also its potential for growth.” The ABH process provides valuable mentorship and training that extends beyond the grant funding.

The Grand Finale will be held December 1–2 in Kigali, Rwanda, where the Top 10 will compete for their share of $1.5 million in non-dilutive grant funding.