Kenya received over Kshs. 800M towards Entrepreneurship and Innovation Efforts
UoN hosted Global Entrepreneurship Week Kenya 2024
The University of Nairobi marked Global Entrepreneurship Week Kenya 2024 with a vibrant event that emphasized the theme “Entrepreneurship is for Everyone.” In collaboration with Jasiri, AFRETEC Network, C4DLab, and the Kenya Chambers of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI), the event brought together a diverse mix of aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned innovators, and industry experts for a day of inspiration and empowerment.
The day was characterized by 25 Start-up pitches to a panel of judges, insightful panel discussions on kenya's innovation ecosystem on innovation and inclusivity and keynote speeches. The planning committee announced that they had received applications from 55 start-ups.
Ahmed Farah HSC, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, delivered the keynote address at the event where he underscored the critical role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and job creation. Mr.Farah announced that Kenya has done better than most African countries in innovation efforts. He announced that Kenya received a total of Kshs. 800M last year to scale innovation and entrepreneurship efforts. He urged all the stakeholders to challenge the youth to change their mindsets on investing in entrepreneurship “Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth,” Farah declared, adding, “Supporting young entrepreneurs is crucial for our future.” His address was themed, “Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Economic Growth.”
Dr. Roselyn Marandu-Kareithi, Country Director at the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies, showcased and highlighted their initiatives that support innovation and entrepreneurship; she spoke of Jasiri, an incubation hub “Jasiri supports young entrepreneurs to be courageous and take that step towards creating high-growth ventures,” she stated. She also emphasized early development programmes like Wavumbuzi (an Eastern African entrepreneurship programme), designed to stimulate entrepreneurial mindsets in high school students. Dr. Marandu-Kareithi encouraged attendees to think creatively and be bold in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Her colleague, John Icharia, Program Lead for the Jasiri Growth Accelerator, echoed these sentiments in is presentation on “Market Creating Innovations”, stressing that “Identifying unmet needs is key to innovation,” and “Sustainability should be at the heart of every business model.”
Dr. Samuel Ruhiu, A senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi and mentor at the C4DLab, noted that “Entrepreneurship transcends age, background, and discipline. It’s a path open to anyone willing to dream, create, and persevere,” he said, highlighting the university's efforts in promoting an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem through specialized curricula, incubation labs, and mentorship programs.
A lively panel discussion on building sustainable businesses featured notable experts including Mutie Mule, co-founder and CEO of SoliTech; Mutugi M'Narobi, Managing Director at Made by the People; Susanna Ercolani, venture builder; and Collins Manyasi, founder of Kijiji Hubs. Each shared valuable insights, with Mutie Mule emphasizing transparency and fairness in business practices, and Mutugi M'Narobi advocating for long-lasting, impactful solutions. Susanna Ercolani highlighted the importance of validating business ideas to ensure market relevance, while Collins Manyasi focused on leveraging technology to aid underserved communities.
The afternoon session continued with a panel on inclusivity in entrepreneurship, centered on fostering an entrepreneurial culture from early education, supporting startups and SMEs, and promoting sustainable business models.
The event also showcased innovative startup pitches, with Amicus Friends Talk emerging as the winner for their platform that provides personalized advocacy for gender-based violence survivors using AI and blockchain.
Other notable mentions included Parksby and Wakazi Works, both incubated at the C4DLab, and Roisum, a road monitoring platform leveraging AI for predictive insights. The panelists doubled up as judges at the event.
Professor Francis Mulaa, the Acting DVC, Research, Innovation, and Enterprise at the University of Nairobi, concluded the event by expressing gratitude to participants and emphasizing the university's commitment to nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This is the beginning of many such events. We will have one such event every month,” he announced, encouraging attendees to actively participate and seek opportunities for participation and collaboration.
In this ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, the University of Nairobi stands as a beacon of hope and progress. The future beckons with possibilities that stretch as far as the imagination can reach. The seeds of innovation sown on Friday November 22, 20204, will undoubtedly sprout into the ground-breaking enterprises of tomorrow, propelling Kenya—and the world—into a new era of inclusive and sustainable growth. This is possible if enterprising souls continue to dream, innovate, and build a future where entrepreneurship truly is for everyone.
