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Rabat – Moroccan entrepreneur Ismael Belkhayat has made it among the 10 finalists in the prestigious Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition for 2023.
Belkhayat is the co-founder of Chari, an e-commerce platform aimed at assisting small retailers throughout French-speaking Africa.
With a deep passion for fostering economic growth and innovation in the region, Belkhayat has been committed to revolutionizing the retail landscape by providing small businesses with the tools they need to succeed.
ABH’s announcement of the finalists follows intense semi-final rounds held on September 1 and 2 at the Norrsken House in Kigali, Rwanda.
The 10 innovative entrepreneurs are now gearing up to compete for a share of the $1.5 million grant prize during the grand finale scheduled for November 23 and 24.
The selection of the ABH 2023 finalists included rigorous interviews and evaluations conducted from a pool of over 27,000 applicants representing all 54 African countries.
The finalists hail from eight different nations, including South Africa, Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Rwanda.
Their startups span a wide range of areas, encompassing agriculture, education and training, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
Read also: Morocco’s Startup Chari Ranks Among Fastest Growing Businesses in Africa
What makes this year’s ABH competition even more significant is the inclusion of Belkhayat, the first Moroccan entrepreneur to make it to the list of finalists, a press release from Chari stated.
Belkhayat has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in his business endeavors.
The finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses to a panel of prominent business leaders during the Grand Finale, which promises to be the most significant edition of ABH to date.
The event, which will take place in Kigali, will also commemorate the competition’s fifth anniversary.
The ABH competition will not only celebrate the achievements of these African entrepreneurs but also provide them with a platform and resources to further develop their ventures and contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of the continent.
“ABH remains committed to uncovering, championing and supporting trailblazing African entrepreneurs who are bringing positive change to their communities,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs at the Jack Ma Foundation, one of the sponsors of the event.
