Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Africa’s Business Heroes Unveils Top 50 Finalists for 2025 Edition Record-Breaking Number of Applications, Spanning all 54 African Nations

Published

on

Business Heroes

The 2025 call for applications not only broke records in volume but also marked an over 300% increase in applications from countries traditionally underrepresented in pan-African competitions

KIGALI, Rwanda, July 24, 2025/APO Group/ –Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), the flagship philanthropic initiative of the Alibaba Philanthropy, is proud to announce the Top 50 finalists of its 2025 Prize Competition—marking a record-breaking year for participation and regional representation.

This year, ABH received 32,000 applications, the highest in the competition’s history, with submissions from all 54 African countries – reinforcing ABH’s status as one of the continent’s largest and most inclusive entrepreneurial competitions.

The 2025 Top 50 provides an overview of Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape. African businesses are increasingly leveraging technology, including fintech, AI, and digital platforms, to transform sectors such as finance, education, and healthcare. Sustainability-driven innovations in agriculture and renewable energy address critical challenges while promoting eco-friendly growth. These trends have significant socio-economic impacts, fostering job creation, financial inclusion, and improved access to essential services. The data underscores opportunities in scalable, tech-enabled, and sustainable businesses poised to drive Africa’s inclusive economic growth.

Now in its 7th year, ABH continues its mission to spotlight and empower entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and building a more inclusive and sustainable future for Africa. Each year, the competition awards US$1.5 million in grant funding to 10 outstanding entrepreneurs. In addition to funding, ABH provides the Top 50 finalists with capacity-building, mentorship, and enhanced exposure.

Dramatic Growth in Reach

The 2025 call for applications not only broke records in volume but also marked an over 300% increase in applications from countries traditionally underrepresented in pan-African competitions, including Algeria, Tunisia, Togo, Gabon, South Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Mauritius. This surge signals the deepening of ABH’s grassroots appeal and accessibility, as well as reflecting the impressive health of entrepreneurship across the African continent.

Bringing ABH to the Continent: 9-City Roadshow

As part of its 2025 campaign, the ABH team embarked on an ambitious 9-city roadshow, connecting in person with entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders in Casablanca, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Kampala, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Abidjan and Dakar—the host city for this year’s Semi-Finale, scheduled for September 10–11.

These on-the-ground engagements reflect ABH’s commitment to being more than a competition—it is a community-builder and ecosystem enabler. The roadshow activated local entrepreneurial ecosystems, engaged past ABH Heroes, hosted info sessions, and facilitated connections between investors, innovators, and changemakers.

These 50 finalists are solving real problems with global potential, and we’re excited to amplify their work

Harnessing Technology to Scale Impact

2025 also marked a milestone in ABH’s embrace of innovation. For the first time, ABH introduced ABi, its AI-powered co-host built on Qwen Turbo and first unveiled at the 6th ABH Summit & Finale held in Kigali in March 2025, to enhance applicant experience and streamline operations. ABi supported the competition by providing real-time customer service to thousands of applicants and assisting in screening the eligibility of submissions—demonstrating how technology can improve both efficiency and inclusivity.

Celebrating the 2025 Top 50

The 2025 Top 50 finalists represent the next generation of African changemakers. They span 16 sectors and hail from 17 countries, with 36% female representation and 10% Francophone entrepreneurs, reflecting ABH’s ongoing commitment to gender and linguistic diversity. These entrepreneurs were selected for their bold solutions, measurable impact, and potential for scale across Africa.

As part of the next stage of the competition, the Top 50 will participate in the ABH Virtual Bootcamp, an intensive training program featuring workshops led by ecosystem leaders, investors, and ABH Heroes. Topics will include building resilient teams, investment readiness, leveraging AI, and digital marketing for growth.

“The 2025 ABH Prize has raised the bar, yet again. We are seeing greater depth, diversity, and innovation across the span of applications,” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Managing Director, Africa at ABH. “This record-breaking year speaks to the relevance of ABH in every corner of the continent. These 50 finalists are solving real problems with global potential, and we’re excited to amplify their work.”

In addition to training and mentorship, the Top 50 will benefit from media exposure and access to a dynamic network of ABH Heroes, alumni, and partners.

Looking Ahead

The Top 50 will now undergo a second round of evaluations through in-depth interviews with ABH Round 2 judges.  22 entrepreneurs will be shortlisted to undergo due diligence led by PlusVC. Those who advance will be revealed as the Top 20 finalists in August, before heading to Dakar for the Semi-Finale in September.

The Top 10 finalists selected in Dakar will then progress to the Grand Finale in Kigali in December, where they will compete for their share of US$1.5 million in grant funding and be crowned this year’s Africa’s Business Heroes.

To learn more about the 2025 ABH Top 50 finalists and the competition, visit www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

Home  Facebook

 

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

Published

on

The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

Continue Reading

Business

Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

Published

on

Etu Energias

As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Business

Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

Published

on

Energy

The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Trending