Grants awarded by the Strengthening Kenya Intermediaries and Innovation Ecosystem (SKIIVE) to six digital solutions in the country enabled them to upscale operations.
The recipients of these funds include the Youth Empowerment Program Initiative Hub, WYLDE Trust International, WISE Hub, SME Support Centre, Northern Innovation Empowerment Hub, Mt. Kenya Hub. Other recipients of the grants include Invest in Africa, Inkomoko, Homeless of Kisumu, Fablab Winam, Emerge CBO- Mandera, EldoHub, The Border Hub and Active Hub Kitale.Each recipient received €10,000 after presenting their unique technological solutions to challenges that they encounter in their respective fields.“The success of the SKIIVE Project underscores the critical role that digital transformation plays in driving economic growth and innovation. By strengthening the intermediaries within Kenya’s digital ecosystem, we are paving the way for a future where SMEs and start-ups can thrive and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive economy,” said the had of the Digital Economy at the Digital Transformation Center programme, Katharina Mengede.
SKIIVE lauded two entrepreneurial support organizations in Kenya that had fostered partnerships between small businesses and startups in four regions in Kenya, allowing them to explore shared opportunities for growth. The Association of Countrywide Innovation Hubs (ACIH) and Association for Startup and SME Enablers (ASSEK) have been instrumental in organizing workshops where brilliant innovators can showcase their solutions.
SOMO Africa, Kayana Create, Baraza Media Lab, LakeHub and Glaxotech E-learning Hub were regarded as crucial intermediaries in the Digital space, giving innovators a platform for recognition and a marketplace to attract funding and investment in useful projects.
It was agreed that strengthening the structural capabilities of innovation hubs would go a long way in improving the quality of solutions offered by small businesses and startups. As the funding drought continues to face the startup ecosystem, founders are sensitized to work with innovation labs that can iterate their ideas to be better before substantial funding is sought for.
Another achievement that was cited is the establishment of The Kenyan Green and Digital Innovation Hub this year. The program received €80,000 to enable small businesses to embrace digitization and sustainable practices.
“We are proud to have been part of this transformative journey and look forward to seeing continued progress and innovation,” Katharina Mengede said.
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