By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Cameroon’s Waspito, an innovative African telemedicine platform, has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for the prestigious 2025 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize. Waspito is the only company from Cameroon to make the list, which features nine other innovative businesses from across the continent.
The announcement made recently following a highly competitive semi-final round held in Dakar, Senegal, from September 10–11. The ABH Prize is a flagship philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy that aims to support and celebrate African entrepreneurs.
The Road to the Grand Finale
The selection process was rigorous, starting with a pool of nearly 32,000 applicants. The top 20 semi-finalists advanced through multiple rounds of evaluation, including extensive due diligence and live pitch sessions before a distinguished panel of judges.
The judges—Hasan Haidar (Managing Director, PlusVC), Moulaye Taboure (CEO & Founder, ANKA), and Jason Pau (Vice President, Alibaba Group)—evaluated the candidates on their innovation, impact, scalability, and leadership.
“Our Top 10 Finalists embody the best of African entrepreneurship—visionary leaders building bold, scalable businesses that create meaningful social and environmental impact,” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, ABH’s Africa Managing Director. “Their journeys showcase the ingenuity, grit, and diversity of Africa’s entrepreneurial talent.”
Competing for a Share of $1.5 Million
The top 10 “heroes” will now head to the seventh ABH Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 12-13, 2025, where they will compete for a share of US$1.5 million in grant funding. The grand prize winner will receive US$300,000, while the other finalists will each take home at least US$100,000. All finalists will also receive access to mentorship, global networks, and storytelling opportunities to help accelerate their growth.
Moulaye Taboure, a former ABH finalist, returned as a judge for the first time. “As a former ABH Top 10 Hero, I know the transformative power of this platform,” Taboure said. “I am thrilled to congratulate this year’s Top 10 finalists. Their innovation, resilience, and impact are inspiring.” The competition, now in its seventh year, continues to celebrate and empower Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs.
2025 Top 10 Finalists:
Wyclife Onyango – BuuPass (Kenya) – Transport / Digital Ticketing
Siny Samba – Le Lionceau (Senegal) – FoodTech / Infant Nutrition
Mukasahaha Diane – DIKAM Ltd (Rwanda) – Textiles / Women & Youth Empowerment
Baraka Chijenga – Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa Limited (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Food Security
Janet Kuteli – Fortune Credit Limited (Kenya) – FinTech / Microfinance
Diana Orembe – NovFeed (Tanzania) – AgriTech / Biotech
Abraham Mbuthia – Uzapoint Technologies Limited (Kenya) – SME Tech / Digital Tools
Gohar Said – Suplyd (Egypt) – FoodTech / Supply Chain
Adriaan Kruger – nuvoteQ (South Africa) – HealthTech / Digital Solutions
Jean Lobe Lobe – Waspito (Cameroon) – HealthTech / Telemedicine
