ENTREPRENEURIAL IMPACT REPORT FOR STARTUP AFRICA

2020 IMPACT REPORT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REPORT FROM STARTUPAFRICA TO KENYA VISION 2030 DELIVERY SECRETARIAT

CONTENTS IN A WORLD OF ENTREPRENUERSHIP, WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

03 04

Acknowlegdements

Executive Note

05

Our Impact at a Glance

07

The Milestones

08 15

Impact Stories

Testimonials

STARTUPAFRICA • WWW.STARTUPAFRICA.COM • 2020 REPORT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Startup Africa (SUA) wishes to acknowledge the partnership and technical support from VDS towards the successful implementation and success of the SUA projects on entrepreneurship and economic empowerment across the country to realize the vision 2030 goals.

We also wish to appreciate the different stakeholders who partnered with SUA to ensure the young people, individuals and students in schools and colleges access business and innovation mentorship services more easily.

For the success of this documentation, we appreciate the support offered by different beneficiaries who have directly and indirectly been involved and interacted with SUA programs and volunteered to tell their stories; they all worked tirelessly to support the documentation of this report.

We are greatly indebted to you all.

This report was written and designed by Lizzie Writers Hub---Elizabeth Adisa Kabwoya kabwoyaelizabeth@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE NOTE With the curriculum shift towards a competency based curriculum with the goal of developing skilled individuals who will be innovators and solution givers in the community, the emphasis on STEM cannot be ignored. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are core learning areas especially with TVET colleges at the forefront of nurturing gifts and talents through innovations among students. Guided by the goal of creating opportunities for youth entrepreneurs, SUA is the place aspiring youth entrepreneurs call to make sense of their business ideas and strategies for implementation.

For over 5 years Startup Africa has created a platform to support Africa’s young inventors, entrepreneurs, and future business leaders in the country by supporting community projects. Talent Innovation Competition is one way SUA is helping young innovative entrepreneurs to sharpen their business ideas and get funding. This is the largest entrepreneurship competition for TVET student entrepreneurs in Africa that is a prototype of a real world business concept competition with an educational purpose.

The competition provides Africa’s youth entrepreneurs with the opportunity to make connections and collect feedback on their ideas while competing for startup cash and prizes.

Participating students work in teams to conceive and test new ideas for new businesses and social enterprises. Not only does this help expand the students thinking and creative ability but also helps them to network and come up with splendid entrepreneurial ideas that on implementation transform lives.

Erastus Mon'gare, HSC Director, Startup Africa

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OUR IMPACT AT A GLANCE After signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner with Vision 2030, Startup Africa has successfully accomplished to empower, mentor and train students and women on economic ventures to build their resilience.

Among the major milestones accomplished during the time of partnership includes the following: a. Entrepreneurship Pitch- Competition for High School Students This competition targets High School Students who are encouraged to come up with business concept ideas, innovations and initiatives that solve a customer’s problem and in the process, generate revenue and profit. Students come up with feasible business proposals and pitch it before judges with the winning team getting an opportunity to compete at the international Pitch Challenge. The following National Pitches were successfully conducted: •National Pitch Competition, 2020 conducted at Kisii University in Kisii County •National Pitch Competition, 2019, conducted at Taita Taveta University in Taita Taveta County •National Pitch Competition, 2018, conducted at Maria Soti Girls Education Center in Elgeyo Marakwet County b. Entrepreneurship Exchange Program For students who take part in our mentorship programs and training, the teams with the most innovative and creative pitches get an opportunity to be part of an exchange program to learn from others and build networks. Since 2016, we have had our students’ trainees and part of their teachers travel to the United States of America for a business and entrepreneurship Exchange program at University of Delaware.

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OUR IMPACT AT A GLANCE

Similarly, students from the USA have also travelled to Kenya to have exchange programs with our trained youths. Some of the exchange programs that have been done include: •The 2017, 2018 and 2019 winning teams participating in exchange programs to USA •USA university students and their professors visiting Kenya for an exchange program in 2017 and 2018 •The Kenyan university students and professors visiting the USA for week long Entrepreneurship Conference in 2016 and 2017 c. Entrepreneurship Pitch- Competition for the youths This competition brings aboard youths from different regions by providing a platform for them to showcase their best innovative business ideas before a panel of judges. The winning teams or business pitch receives support to kick start or roll out their ideas. The major Entrepreneurship Pitch of this kind was done in 2018. It was dubbed, “Startup Africa Nandi County Pitch Competition for Youth Entrepreneurs (2018).”

This was followed closely with Entrepreneurship Mentors Training for University Students in 2019 to raise more business ,mentors. The Startup Africa Mentors Training was done at Kisii University, a gathering that attracted 698 students who received training and were equipped to mentor others. d. Women Entrepreneurship Forum Startup Africa has been intentional about empowering women groups to be economically selfsufficient through their business training and mentorship programs. So far, the following conferences and workshops were coordinated to ensure women find economic niche to become sustainable and self-dependent citizens.

•Startup Africa Women Entrepreneurship Forum for Small Businesses in 201. The Theme for the Forum was, “Igniting Women Entrepreneurship for Inclusive Growth and was held in Uasin Gishu County •Startup Africa Women Entrepreneurship Forum on Small Medium Enterprises in 2018 whose theme was,”Accelerating Women Entrepreneurship through SMEs that was held in Kilifi County.

•Startup Africa Women Entrepreneurship Forum in 2017 themed, “Empowering Women through Entrepreneurship, Launch, Grow and Sustain that was held in Nairobi County.

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THE MILESTONE Startup Africa Signs an MoU to Partner with TVETs to Foster Entrepreneurial Culture Among Students The MoU between Startup Africa (SUA) and Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) and was signed on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 by SUA Executive Director, Erastus Mong’are, the then but now late, CAPA Secretary General, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso and witnessed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Francis W.O. Aduol, Vice-Chancellor, The Technical University of Kenya and Board Member of thE Executive Board, CAPA. Among other witnesses during the signing were Ruth Kirwa, University Secretary, The Technical University of Kenya, Armstrong Ongera, SUA Coordinator, Chrisanto Taxcius Owuor, Director, TVET Programmes and Partnerships, and, Charles Akatch, Chief Principal, Kabete National Polytechnic and expanding its entrepreneurship platform to TVET students.

Following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SUA and the CAPA in 2017, Startup Africa continues to empower students in Tvets through mentorship and training.

The partnership with Startup Africa champions for: Quality and relevant project-based learning curriculum to all public and vocational training (TVET) high schools, with rigorous monitoring and evaluation of this afterschool elective certificate course.

A social network platform to engage students with US-based Diaspora, fellow students, mentors, potential employers, investors and sponsors.

Students' participation in local, national, regional, Pan-African and international business pitch competitions, such as the Diamond Challenge hosted by the University of Delaware.

The partnership ensures that students are connected to business networks and think tanks, mentored and equipped with business skills to empower them towards building sustainabl enterprises, creating jobs, and value addition to the economy. Besides the MoU with CAPA, Startup Africa applied for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Agency call for good practice examples in October 2017 and out of the 264 submissions, only five projects were chosen. Startup Africa was one of the 5 selected to M EE LL HHA BBI IConference which took MAALLAA ALLAA present our project to a wide audience atKK the Africa Talks Jobs place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that same year. This was a big win for Startup Africa and a testament that as small the organization is, its model is working and being recognized as a viable one.

The conference brought together youth, education practitioners, the business community and policy makers to discuss effective approaches in employment oriented and entrepreneurial education and skills development needed to bring African youth into jobs. In this light, after deep engagement and conversations on Startup Africa's mission, Kenya’s Ministry of Education finally signed an MoU with Startup Africa in April 2017 to scale the High School Entrepreneurship program in secondary schools. A staff person was later assigned to work with Startup Africa on the expansion program to see how the mentorship can be inculcated in the students’ time in school even ahead of the paradigm shift towards competency-based curriculum.

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IMPACT STORIES The Goodwill Ambassador Bethuel Kiprotich Bethuel Kiprotich, an Alumnus of Startup Africa is one of the many students who have had the privilege of travelling to the United States of America for a business and entrepreneur exchange programs. Besides pursuing his other endeavors, he continues to walk with other young people and helps them through mentorship and networking for business as a goodwill ambassador for Startup Africa. “In 2017 I participated in a business and entrepreneurial Pitch Competition at Maria Soti Girls and won the competition which granted me an opportunity to travel to the United States of America for an exchange program at University of Delaware.” Not only did the opportunity grant Bethuel a chance to engage with creative thinkers in business but also created a good platform through which valuable networks were created with like-minded individuals. Through the experience, he has given himself effortlessly to walk with students and mentor them on various social enterprises. In 2018, our alumnus was given the honors of giving a mentorship talk to students at Maria Soti Girls to empower the young upcoming entrepreneurs.

Later that year, he was also appointed to be the goodwill ambassador for Startup Africa; a position that saw him traverse through several schools in Kericho and Bomet Counties to mentor and register young entrepreneurs. "Startup Africa has given me a platform to understand and learn more about investment at a young age and opened my mind to explore innovative concepts to provide solutions to problems in my community.”

Besides the business and startup mentorship, Bethuel has been among the many youths who have also benefited from the strategic leadership program that has equipped the alumni with skills to run initiatives and take a lead on business ventures of groups consisting of both the old and young.

“With the training and mentorship from Startup Africa,” he says, “I began my own foundation called LAE Initiative which supports needy students from my community by paying examination fees and school related stationeries.” This is besides the mentorship he does to empower other youths to set up startups as a way of creating self-dependency and resilience. The wealth of knowledge acquired from Startup Africa has equipped many youths in setting up their startups. Like many others, Bethuel attributes his milestones in the LAE Initiative to the skills development and opportunity from Startup Africa exchange programs that saw him interact with global think-tanks.

“I have interacted with influential leaders from outside the country including but not limited to Dean of Engineering School at the University of Delaware, County Executive of New Jersey Hon. Matt Mayor, and County Governor of Delaware State among others.”The networking played a significant role in kick starting the LAE Initiative. In fact, thanks to the exchange program, the alumni was privileged to have Hon. Matt Meyer showed an interest in empowering Kenyan youth. He travelled to Kenya and helped start a business initiative on making shoes out of used tyres in Kibera; a move that has created more opportunities for young people in the area to date.

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Passion for Business Mentorship distinguished the Entrepreneur Teacher of the Year She was an ordinary teacher at a local

Olive Njoroge

prestigious High School doing what she did best; teaching. On her interaction with Startup Africa, her eyes received a new vision beyond the classroom. She envisioned it and pulled herself together to pursue it. She didn’t leave the classroom as such but became intentional about mentoring her students

on business. She walked with her students and in no time, her students were well equipped participating in international Business Pitch Competition. With her resilience, Mrs Olive Njoroge won the Award for the Best Entrepreneurial Teacher for work well done.

She begins by saying this. “Startup Africa was an eye opener to me to the world of entrepreneurship. I was involved as a mentor, guiding the students in generating business ideas and writing business proposals in preparation for the Africa Diamond challenge for high school entrepreneurs.”

As a teacher and a volunteer mentor empowering students, encouraging her students to come up with innovative business ideas that are feasible is a role Mrs. Olive Njoroge played with passion. With her mentorship, Mang’u High School students participated annually in the high school entrepreneurs challenge both nationally and internationally. “After the school emerging winners twice in a row both nationally and internationally, the Startup Africa CEO Mr. Erastus Mong’are, introduced Mang’u High School young entrepreneurs to Mr. Manu Chandari with whom through his initiative, the school was given an opportunity to establish a business innovation and incubation center, she says”.

Chandaria foundation and the Startup Africa gave enormous input in reviewing the students, business proposals and projects and the firm funded a couple of students’ ideas. This greatly empowered the students and more latent creativity and innovations exploded among the students. In fact, the entrepreneurship club in the school became highly coveted by the students and would win an award every year for being the most active club.

Startup Africa in conjunction with Chandaria foundation initiated and organized many training programs for teachers to equip them with entrepreneurial skills within the school. “It is in these forums that I gained immense knowledge on entrepreneurship which changed my mentality from a casual employee thinker mindset to an entrepreneurial mindset, says Mrs. Olive. The impact of Startup Africa has been felt both by the teachers and students fraternity at large. Mang’u High School excelled

in a Business and Entrepreneurship Competition in the U.S held at the University of Delaware via Skype and emerged as the second Runners up on April 18th, 2013.

As a result of this milestone, Mrs. Olive continued to challenge the learners and mentor them on entrepreneurial skills and on 12 March 2015, she was nominated as the Startup Africa’s Teacher of the year. She received the award during the Entrepreneurs Awards Gala at the Hotel Intercontinental Nairobi organized by Startup Africa. This was in recognition of her efforts in helping Startup Africa advance its entrepreneurship programs in Kenya, and specifically, championing for the implementation of the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs at Mang’u High School.

From an individual point of view, Mrs. Olive says, “Through the business innovation knowledge and skill acquired from Startup Africa training, mentorship program and partnership, I acquired an entrepreneurial mindset, which has enabled me to spot unsatisfied market niches as well as analyze feasibility of my ideas.”

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As a result, she is now established in an apiculture business venture dealing with rearing and harvesting of pure honey running with the brand name- Pericos Pure Honey. She has employed her son who runs the business as the manager.

Before leaving Mang’u High School, she empowered the Entrepreneurship Club Members and guided them in setting up an apiculture business at school.

The money generated from the project was used to pay school fees or buy essential commodities for needy students who were members of the club.

Through exposure with Startup Africa and participating in the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs, Mrs. Olive was convicted to further her knowledge to be more competent and relevant as a mentor to the students.

As such, in 2015, she enrolled for a Bachelor of Science in International Business administration course at USIU-Africa specializing in entrepreneurship which she successfully completed in 2016 after which she enrolled for a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, with specialty in Global Social Sustainable EnterpriseGSSE. Currently equipped with knowledge, skills and passion, she feels better placed to serve and help the youths in identifying business opportunities to set up startups.

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Mentorship Opened my Perspective on Business Startups Mike Ochola

Michael Ochola is one of the student’s alumni who have received mentorship and business insights from interactions with Startup Africa. Not only has Ochola’s outlook of life changed but more importantly his attitude towards employment verses job creation through startups. This is his story. He says, “The one adjective that can explain my experience with Startup Africa is amazing. I participated in the Startup Africa events and mentorship program last year and I came out a better and well informed person than before. The business mentorship not only opened my eyes to opportunities but left me keen and more conscious about my surroundings for opportunities to grow in business and entrepreneurial ventures within the community.”

Like it is for many who have interacted with the organization, Mr. Michael Ochola, reiterates the significant role the training and business mentorship programs by Startup Africa has played in shaping his thinking and perception about utilization of the available resources to come up with sustainable solutions.

He says, "Startup Africa has opened my eyes to an array of opportunities that exist in Africa as a continent and Kenya as a country. There is too much resource around us that is yet to be tapped.” From business entrepreneurship to social entrepreneurship, there is plenty to be uncovered in the field of Entrepreneurship in Kenya and the continent at large. It is this wide array of opportunities represented that saw Mr. Ochola drift from the inclination of getting a formal regular income job to venture into business. “I had a mind shift from the desire to be employed to that of being an employer with the inspiration to exploit my potential and make my life better, improve my livelihood and also those who work with me.”

Startup Africa has not only enlightened students on the business front but also on career paths which is fast shaping many students' approach to life, business, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“With the skills and the knowledge garnered, it will inform the basis of a course I will sign up at the University which will in turn provide me with basic skills to initiate and propel my business operation with ease. The skills I acquired from the mentoring sessions, exchange programs and the competitions have empowered me to come up with a well-defined business plan and strategy to take on the business world once I am comfortable to start my own company.”

With networking being central to the business of Startup Africa, the alumni of the empowerment and mentorship programs have continued to help the students engage with like-minded business people and continued to learn and develop new ideas.

In conclusion, he says, "Startup Africa has enabled me to build a strong network both in the business world and the real world. I am proud of this network as it taps into the different aspects of life and this means that whenever I am stuck or need a boost, I am able to get one without struggle.” Michael Ochola is passionate about building Kenya and Africa as a whole through innovative business strategies and empowerment in the near future. He believes in the potential that young people like himself have and therefore encourages his friends to join Startup Africa to participate in programs that can transform our nation and Africa as a whole. “Startup Africa has shown the path to an entrepreneurial life and I am already taking steps that will soon turn to miles.” “Thank you Startup Africa, states Michael. “

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My experience as a Business Mentor Joshua Ogoi “My name is Joshua Ogoi, a teacher at Maria Soti Girls Educational Centre in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and a mentor with Startup Africa.”Mr Ogoi came to know about Startup Africa in the year 2017. Being a teacher of Business Studies, he had this innate interest in entrepreneurship and as such developed interest in Startup Africa work and later introduced his students and colleagues in the profession who teach the same subject to Startup Africa. “Since joining the team in 2017,”he says, “I have mentored students to participate in the mentorship program and the Diamond Challenge Africa Competition every year without fail. My students have participated in an international level business pitch competition that was held in the United States of America for the last three years.”

Through this program, the youths have gained good business sense, coined feasible business ideas that can be put into practice and implemented into successful business ventures. The greatest challenge that has been consistent for the young people has been that of ignorance and lack of exposure. Startup Africa continues to play an important role in nurturing young high school entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to share their ideas through pitch competitions.

Most of these young participants have come up with wonderful practical ideas; a clear indication that lots of hidden potentials among the youth lies untapped. Startup Africa has given the youths that platform through which they can showcase their innovative ideas which in turn can be converted into an innovative entrepreneurship venture. Mr Ogoi adds, “As a teacher, Startup Africa has exposed me to entrepreneurship. I have acquired lots of skill and knowledge on matters of entrepreneurship. I have had an opportunity to interact and share with many successful entrepreneurs both young and old locally and internationally about their journey on scaling business heights. This has really changed my thinking and perception about entrepreneurship.

This experience has enabled me to nurture and mentor a good number of my students into people who now believe in their potential as job creators and not job seekers in the society even as they go through their college education. After participating in the startup Africa program most of the students have had a change in mindset about life and business. The students are now able to identify problems in a society and discern opportunities presented by the issues which can be exploited into improving the welfare of the community through social enterprises. "One of my teams has set up a strong foundation whose main goal is to assist the rising number of cancer patients in our community, he states. No doubt, Startup Africa has transformed the lives and thinking of many of my students.”

In conclusion, Mr Ogoi says, “Through startup Africa we have learnt about design thinking which enables one to come up with small business startups and grow them into big and successful ventures. Most of my students who have gone through startup Africa have developed a positive attitude about the opportunities around them in their context that can be translated into positive enterprises. Most of them are now looking forward to starting their own business after school as opposed to waiting to be employed. This gives me a lot of joy because of the overarching problem of high unemployment in our country. There is hope for our students to make a difference besides waiting to be employed. All this is because of the transformation they have gone through courtesy of Startup Africa Entrepreneurship Academy. For this, I am very grateful to Startup Africa.”

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My story with Diamond Challenge Africa Andrew Ceazar Formerly a student at Mang’u High School, Andrew Ceazar was first a recipient of the Startup Africa mentorship but currently mentors other students with the alumni team at the school.

“My involvement with Startup Africa has been both as a participant as well as a mentor. I participated in Diamond Challenge Africa 2013 with Mang’u High School team where we were ranked the best in Kenya.”

It is this success that opened a gateway for the team from Mang’u High School to take part in international business pitch competition in Delaware, USA, via Skype and coming at the second position in the finals stage.

"Thinking of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Startup Africa introduced me to a whole new world where I could view real opportunities and challenges of business, entrepreneurship, and self-employment. I feel extremely humbled to have benefited from the mentorship and training sessions offered by Startup Africa.”

Like many others who have positive stories to tell in light of their interaction with Startup Africa, more students' stories continue to tell of the impact of the organization across the student bodies, teaching fraternity and communities through mentorship and training to sharpen thoughts and implement ideas. “The greatest lesson I have learnt in my interaction is the inspiration to become more, to do more, and to be a leader in every situation I find myself says Andrew Ceazar.”

“I have since appreciated the ingenuity of young people. Young Kenyans are enthusiastic about the future, and are very hardworking; given the right support, they will amaze anyone with their limitless abilities to create.”According to Andrew, Startup Africa has provided a platform for networking which continues to grow by day. He says, “My network-base has also increased greatly. With Startup Africa, you get to meet young people from all walks of life, and the exchange is invaluable.”

With the business knowledge and skill acquired, the young people continue to explore new business opportunities around them by utilizing the resources within their proximity to improve their lives and of those around them. Some begin startups and take off, while others try severally before gaining their footing.

Andrew Ceazar is one such beneficiary. “After the Diamond Africa Challenge in 2013, our team was more than ready to set up a business and get moving; something that did not happen as we had envisioned. After we failed to launch our business in 2014 after winning, that wasn’t then end for me, I gathered my lessons and promised to use them as a stepping stone for where I want to be, states Andrew.” For any entrepreneurial venture, he says, You don’t need funding to start a business, but to grow, to scale up the venture.

What makes you a leader is how you step up when it is time to step up; how you power your disposition, and how your approach changes and remains constant with the time. Consistency.

There’s a business we want for the ego, and there’s a business we want because we can do it; do not mistake and confuse these two.

“Having many round tables deliberations on strategies and ideas with friends and colleagues have helped them incredibly in their ventures, says Andrew.”Today, Andrew is working on a not-for-profit organization, Uplife Africa, through which he envisages a culture of children and young people who grow into a moral community based on self-sufficiency,dignity, harmony and fulfillment. His mission is to create pro-social connectedness among young people and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values and attitudes in order to bring out the power in them and convert it to positive energy. He is also a founding member of the newly formed Think Tank of Mang’u alumni working towards setting up different start-ups for inclusive growth and solutions to social problems as well as empowering the young people in East Africa. In the end he says, “The truest success story is not mine but that of Startup Africa itself. Startup Africa has done great things in Kenya and I’m sure it is the same for each and every participating country.”

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My Experience with Diamond Africa Challenge as a Mentor Margaret Ondeng’ Youths are the greatest innovators that we have and as such, there is a need to tap into that potency in them as early as in primary or secondary schools.

More often than not, we tend to overlook them.

Margaret Ondeng’ who has served in the capacity of an organizer and a judge for both the High School and TVET Diamond Africa Challenge Competition, shares her experience with Startup Africa.“Through the various Startup Africa initiatives, we have found amazing ideas from high school students. “ She says, “Some of the students have even got exposure to international audiences, funding and partnership opportunities that have enabled them implement their solutions within the school and the community at large.”

“Being able to reach out to students in the marginalized areas has been my greatest impact. Through Startup Africa, I have worked with students from as far as West Pokot who to my pride ended up winning one of the competitions, she states."

It is resilience and desire to make a change through mentorship of young minds that drives such teachers. Recalling her first visit to Schools in West Pokot, Margret says, "During the first school visit, we had to hold our meeting under a tree as the students did not have a hall. Despite all the challenges, they ended up winning one of the competitions after two years of constantly reworking on their innovative business idea.”

Today, she is a Business Advisor to several startups who works with other organizations and innovation hubs as a coach and mentor. These opportunities have not only enabled her to work with others as they grow their businesses and careers but also presented the opportunity to learn from them.

In conclusion, she says, “Working for Startup Africa gave me the management skills I did not have.

With this, I was able to get a management role after years of practicing as a software engineer. Interacting with students and teachers from different backgrounds as well as organizing events with over 500 attendees is a management school on its own. I am proud to be part of Startup Africa.”

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Baking Pastries for Livelihood

Tracy Jepkemboi

After her mentorship with Startup Africa, Tracy Jepkemboi was quick to get on her feet. She wanted to utilize the pool of information and wealth of knowledge acquired to make something out of herself. She started off with a business of selling fresh farm produce which she did for a while. Later, she opted to take another risk and this time with a chain of shopkeepers’ network, her baking pastry business was born. Today, she distributes baked pastries in several local shops at a profit which helps her to make her ends meet. She shared her story with Startup Africa.

“I was first involved with Startup Africa last year when I got a chance to participate in the National Diamond Challenge competition held in Taita Taveta County. I was among the top contestants and as a result, I was granted an opportunity to proceed for the Entrepreneurship mentorship program in the United States of America. My interaction with Startup Africa opened me into unimaginable heights that saw me pushed to explore opportunities I never envisioned.

Not only have I learned about setting up my own startup business but also appreciated the knowledge and skills on risk perception management on matters business. It is part of the entrepreneurial mindset shift that learning from others has shaped into my thinking.

The mentorship and exchange program has equipped me to be more confident about myself and confidence in business decision making. Before joining Startup Africa, I was not confident enough to stand before a huge audience, something that I do now with passion as I seek.”

The knowledge and skill acquired from the training and exchange programs by Startup Africa is what led Miss Tracy into starting her own small business which is so far growing progressively.

She is not only kept busy by the baking activities which she does single-handedly but also enjoys monetary returns from the venture.

Testimonial One "They say the greatest asset we all have is the power to choose and attending the Startup Africa forum exposed my mind to a world of infinite possibilities. I now have the courage to believe in my dreams and desires as a young woman. Startup Africa gave me a platform to network with brilliant minds, some of whom continue to be a blessing in my life. I got financial aid during my time at school that made life easier. Now, I have completed my undergraduate studies and now taking my baby steps in drawing my path in business. Startup Africa is a chance to restore hope, ignite dreams, fuel desires, provide support and walk the talk in empowering women to go for that which they aspire to be and do." Grace-Faith Mwendwa, Pwani University Alumni

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Testimonials Continue...

Testimonial Two "I first heard of Startup Africa through my participation in the Pitch Africa Entrepreneurship Competition; a community-based competition that allows young people to identify the problems in their communities and come up with feasible solutions. My participation in this competition was life changing as I got an opportunity to travel to the United States of America for the International Competition at University of Delaware. This opportunity opened a doorway for networking with people from all over the world and listening to their ideas. I also learned the basic tenets of developing a business plan and the things to consider when thinking of a viable business venture.

Not only did Startup Africa open up doors for me to travel and pursue my university education in the United States but also opened my mind to a world of many business possibilities. I am eternally grateful to Startup Africa for the opportunities it opened up for me and its initiative to involve young people and giving them an opportunity to help their communities."

Shalom Wanyonyi, Alumni, Maria Soti Girls Educational Center, Elgeyo Marakwet

Testimonial Three “I was involved in Startup Africa through participation in mentorship programs to train learners on important projects that can change the society around them. Startup Africa has positively changed my outlook on entrepreneurship as well as business innovations and in essence fostered my understanding of entrepreneurship as a key pillar to the economy. I have volunteered in training students to recognize opportunities and resources that can be utilized and innovated to improve communities’ wellbeing.

One major area of concern for me as a student trainer is guiding learners on building careers and improving lives of a few in the society as well as engaging in entrepreneurial culture through knowledge transfer and mentorship through academia. As a teacher of business, after being equipped by Startup Africa, I encourage my students to set up new projects in the society and invest in profitable but cheap entrepreneurship using the acquired knowledge and skills.

So far, my greatest success story is having nurtured young talents who can compete favorably in the national as well as global level in an entrepreneurship summit by proving their ideas through innovation which when supported financially results in solving environmental and community problems.” Joseph Korir, Teacher