@iBizAfrica - @iBizAfrica

22Jul 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

From Idea to Investment: What Makes a Fundable MVP in Kenya

In Kenya’s fast-evolving innovation ecosystem, many early-stage founders often struggle to bridge the gap between a promising concept and a product that attracts funding. One common misconception continues to hold back even the most promising early-stage ideas: “I need to perfect my product before I can pitch it.” The current funding landscape, both venture and grant, does not reward perfection. It rewards proof. In startup terms, that proof often comes in the form of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that is not only usable, but also fundable. This is a version of your product that solves a real problem, engages real users, and shows clear potential for growth and investment. Data from Pariti, a Kenya-founded startup platform, shows the power of traction. Through their Pitch Review system, they evaluate startups…

16Jul 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Why Every Startup Needs to Talk to Its Customer

Accounting

In the rush to build the next big thing, many entrepreneurs fall into the same trap: they assume they know what their customers want without ever asking them. At @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre- Strathmore University, a cohort of young women innovators is doing things differently. Through the Female Founders Academy, a three-month incubation program focused on early-stage ideas in agriculture, climate, and food innovation, a group of 30 university-level founders is learning that the best businesses do not begin with solutions, they begin with questions. And for the past two weeks, those questions have centered on a concept that could determine the fate of their startups: Customer Development. “Don’t solve a problem in your head. Go ask your customer.”— Robert Yawe, Trainer, Female Founders Academy What Is Customer Development? Customer Development…

10Jul 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Scaling with Intention: Lessons from the Futuremakers Women in Tech Learning Series

Accounting, SC Women in Tech

By the time most startups begin thinking about scale, they are already feeling the pressure, whether from clients, users, or investors, to grow fast. But as the founders in Cohort 8 of the Futuremakers Women in Tech Program learned this past week, scaling is not just about growth. It is about readiness. The Learning Series, a two-day blend of in-person and virtual sessions, brought together 60 promising women-led ventures from across Kenya for a deep dive into the building blocks of scalability and investment preparedness. And the message was clear: if you want to scale sustainably, you need more than a good idea. You need systems, strategy, and the right kind of support. Day 1: Is Your Startup Ready to Grow? The first session, held at @iBizAfrica at Strathmore University,…

12Jun 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Resilience is women’s greatest ‘tech stack’ – Changemaker

SC Women in Tech

Entrepreneur Naom Monari, 32, was working as a nurse when she realised something was missing in Kenya’s healthcare system, and she knew she had to do something about it. In 2017, with the support of the Futuremakers Women in Tech programme, she founded Bena Care, a digital platform connecting nurses and physiotherapists who treat patients with life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their own homes. Her enterprise has since expanded across Kenya, and, together with her team, she has served over 25,000 patients (600 patients a month). “When my first patient, a post-stroke gentleman with hypertension and diabetes, was visibly tired and homesick while admitted at a health facility, and his son could not make frequent hospital visits because of his job, Bena Care became a lifesaver. We tended to…

02Apr 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Adapting to Market Dynamics: Pivoting Strategies for Kenyan Startups in Q2 2025

Entrepreneurship, How To's

Q2 is often the reality check for many startups. The buzz of a new year has worn off, pressure is mounting, and founders are either starting to see traction or staring down tough questions about what is not working. For Kenyan startups in particular, this quarter brings unique challenges: fluctuating consumer spending, evolving tech infrastructure, and an increasingly competitive landscape. So, what is the smart move when your original idea does not seem to be hitting the mark? You pivot. Now, let us get one thing straight, pivoting is not quitting. It is a strategic adaptation. A sign that you are listening, learning, and adjusting based on what the market is telling you. In a fast-moving economy like Kenya’s, this kind of agility is necessary. In fact, according to research…

01Apr 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Women in Tech Expands Across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan

SC Women in Tech

As we gear up to launch our 8th Kenyan cohort of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech program, we are proud to be part of something even bigger. What started as a powerful local initiative, is now expanding across borders. Standard Chartered, through its Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator, is extending its reach across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan, in partnership with Village Capital. Together, they are unlocking over $ 1.9 million in catalytic grants, delivering expert training, and building stronger networks for over 400 women entrepreneurs in 12 countries, including Kenya. And yes, that means more opportunities for the women-led startups we champion every day. Shifting the Narrative in 2025 The numbers still tell a hard truth: women founders are consistently underfunded. Less than 3% of global venture…

12Mar 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Why Investors Should Be Backing Women-Led Businesses in Kenya

Entrepreneurship, SC Women in Tech

If you have been following Kenya’s startup scene, you have likely noticed the remarkable strides women-led businesses are making. From innovative tech solutions to social enterprises driving change in underserved communities, women entrepreneurs are proving their value. Yet, they receive less than 3% of venture capital funding in Africa. The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that the financing gap for women entrepreneurs on the continent stands at $42 billion. So, what is holding investors back? The issue runs deeper than just lack of capital. Structural and systemic barriers continue to limit access to funding and resources for women entrepreneurs. Homophily bias in venture capital circles: Investors often fund individuals who mirror their own backgrounds, experiences, or networks. Since the majority of venture capitalists are male, this bias leads to an…

08Mar 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Cradling Innovation: How Hayah is Rocking Maternal Care with AI

SC Women in Tech

Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless questions—yet access to reliable maternal health information remains a struggle for many women. That is where Hayah Cradle to Bloom comes in. Founded by Jael Walukwe, this AI-powered health-tech startup is on a mission to make maternal care more accessible, informed, and empowering. As part of the Women in Tech Incubator Program at @iBizAfrica, Hayah Cradle to Bloom is leveraging technology to reshape maternal health in Kenya. We sat down with Jael to explore the inspiration behind the startup, their journey in the program, and what is next for them. Tell us more about your company and what inspired you to start it. Hayah Cradle to Bloom is a Fem Health Tech company focused on educating women and their support…

04Feb 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

Kenya’s Startup Bill: A Launchpad or a Lockdown for Entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship

In the startup world, regulation is a double-edged sword. It can either fuel innovation or strangle it with red tape. Kenya’s Startup Bill, 2022, has officially landed, branding itself as a launchpad for entrepreneurs. But is it truly the lifeline the ecosystem needs—or just another bureaucratic hoop to jump through? For some, this bill signals a long-overdue commitment to structuring Kenya’s innovation economy, promising clearer pathways to funding, growth, and global competitiveness. For others, it is a potential chokehold, adding restrictions to an industry that thrives on agility. So, where does the truth lie? Is this a turning point for Kenyan startups, or will it become just another well-intended policy collecting dust? What is in the Startup Bill? Kenya’s startup ecosystem has been growing at an unprecedented pace, positioning itself…

03Feb 2025 by @iBizAfrica No Comments

When the Funding Stops: Is it a Curse or a Blessing in Disguise?

Entrepreneurship, Incubation

For years, Kenya’s startup ecosystem has thrived on international aid, with USAID funding key initiatives that have propelled innovation and business growth. Programs like the Kenya Investment Mechanism, which mobilized private capital for SMEs, the USAID Afya Uzazi program, which supported health-tech innovations, and our own Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (WEIP) at @iBizAfrica, which helped women-led businesses scale, have all benefited from this support. But with the sudden suspension of USAID programs, these and hundreds of other initiatives have come to a halt, leaving entrepreneurs at a crossroads. Without this financial cushion, startups that once relied on grants to survive must now rethink their strategies. The question is no longer just about sustaining businesses—it is about whether Kenya’s entrepreneurs can innovate and grow in a landscape where donor support is…

Author: @iBizAfrica