Two Ghanaian tech companies, Zeepay and Sommalife, have been shortlisted as Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Top 20 finalists.
The top 50 finalists were selected based on their passion for establishing sustainable and impactful enterprises in their communities and beyond, businesses that are anchored on several SDG goals. Geographically, West Africa accounts for 35%, East Africa for 20%, Southern Africa for 20%, and North Africa for 25%. They represent nine countries and span nine diverse industries, including healthcare and financial services. 20% of the finalists are female, while the average age is 35.
Founded by Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Zeepay facilitates cross-border payments and specializes in remittance termination into mobile wallets in Africa. Sommalife is digitizing the shea supply chain, supporting women groups to produce shea butter at scale and connecting them to international markets. The company was founded by Mawuse Gyisun in 2020.
ABH aims to identify, support, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, solving the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. Every year, ten finalists are selected to compete in the final pitch competition and participate in a TV show broadcast across the continent. The finalists compete for a share of US $1.5 million in grant money.
