(Yicai Global) Nov. 18 -- The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative, started by Jack Ma, founder of Chinese tech titan Alibaba Group Holding, hosted the final of the African Entrepreneur Prize in Accra, Ghana on Nov. 16.

Ten entrepreneurs have become the first 'African Business Heroes' and split the USD1 million prize, The Paper reported.

The 10 entrepreneurs were picked from among more than 10,000 contestants from Africa's 50-plus countries. The finalists are from all walks of life and started their businesses to solve social problems.

The winner, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, a Nigerian mother who suffered severe birthing complications, founded LifeBank to ease blood shortages. She located healthy sources for hospitals and developed a logistics system that saved thousands of lives by transporting the blood by car, boat, drone and other means.

The runner up helps the continent's scientists build laboratories, while the bronze went to an enterpriser who supply Africans with clean drinking water.

The Jack Ma Foundation that Ma set up and personally funded endowed the initiative with USD10 million in Johannesburg, South Africa on Aug. 8 last year. It will support 100 young entrepreneurs in Africa over 10 years.

Editor: Ben Armour