Jack Ma and Jerry Yang Grace Africa’s Business Heroes Ceremony in Rwanda
By The Urban Gazette Business Desk
Kigali,Rwanda
Global technology icons Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, and Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, were among distinguished international guests who attended the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Business Ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda, reinforcing Africa’s growing stature as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The high-profile ceremony, organized by the Jack Ma Foundation, brought together African entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and global business leaders to celebrate outstanding African-led enterprises that are driving economic growth and social impact across the continent.
Held at the Kigali Convention Centre 13th December 2025,the event marked the climax of the Africa’s Business Heroes program, where top finalists from across Africa showcased their ventures and received funding, mentorship, and global exposure.
A Strong Vote of Confidence in African Innovation
Jack Ma, whose foundation launched Africa’s Business Heroes to support African entrepreneurs, was welcomed with enthusiasm as he reiterated his long-standing belief in Africa’s entrepreneurial potential. Jerry Yang joined him at the ceremony, signaling sustained interest from global technology leaders in Africa’s next generation of business builders.
The two tech pioneers interacted with finalists, judges, and ecosystem partners, applauding innovative solutions in sectors such as agribusiness, fintech, healthcare, renewable energy, and logistics.
“This platform is about believing in African entrepreneurs and giving them the tools to succeed,” organizers emphasized during the ceremony.
Celebrating African-Led Solutions
The ceremony honored entrepreneurs whose businesses demonstrate scalability, sustainability, and positive community impact. Finalists competed for a share of the program’s multimillion-dollar prize pool, alongside access to mentorship networks and long-term capacity-building support.
Rwanda’s role as host underscored the country’s rising profile as a regional innovation and investment destination. Government officials highlighted Rwanda’s commitment to entrepreneurship-friendly policies and cross-border collaboration.
Why It Matters
Africa’s Business Heroes is more than an awards ceremony—it is a strategic platform shaping the future of African enterprise.
Global Validation: The presence of Jack Ma and Jerry Yang amplifies global confidence in African startups.
Capital Access: Entrepreneurs gain funding and investor exposure often difficult to access locally.
Ecosystem Growth: Events like ABH strengthen Africa’s innovation infrastructure and talent pipeline.
Youth Empowerment: The initiative inspires young Africans to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
What to Watch
Scaling Winners: How this year’s ABH finalists expand across African and global markets.
Asia–Africa Collaboration: Increased partnerships between African startups and Asian technology ecosystems.
Rwanda’s Innovation Push: Kigali’s growing role as a continental hub for business summits and tech investment.
Long-Term Impact: How ABH alumni reshape industries and job creation across Africa.
About Africa’s Business Heroes
Africa’s Business Heroes is a flagship philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, aimed at identifying, supporting, and inspiring African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period. The program combines prize funding, mentorship, and global exposure to help African businesses scale sustainably.
