Nairobi

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Mettā

Make-IT in Africa

Nairobi is a thriving cosmopolitan hub, the center of Kenya’s government and home to most of the country’s major businesses. Known as the Green City in the Sun, it was founded in 1899 as a camp for the Uganda Railway. Nairobi was the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate and became the capital of the Republic of Kenya when the nation gained independence in 1963. Today, it’s home to over four million people, many from elsewhere in Kenya and a significant portion from overseas.

Beyond the skyscrapers, congestion and roadside markets is the Nairobi National Park, which is home to wild animals and unique plant life. Plains, cliffs and forest are within reach, and the city is a base for tourists setting out on safari. Nearby attractions include the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (sheldrickwildlifetrust.org) and Giraffe Centre (giraffecentre.org). In recent years, Nairobi has become established as a tech hub, in part due to a series of undersea fiber-optic cables providing fast internet to the region and an exceptionally young workforce (the average age in Kenya is eighteen). One of the first and most successful innovations was the mobile money app M-Pesa, which paved the way for a flood of fintech products. The region shows no signs of slowing down. Tatu City is a mixed-use development on the outskirts of Nairobi that has Special Economic Zone status, and, further out, Konza Technology City is being constructed as a part of Kenya’s national development plan. 

Nairobi Startup Ecosystem Overview

Before you arrive

Cost of Living and Accommodation

Starting a Company

Moving to Nairobi

Culture and Language

Getting Around

Meeting People

Living in Nairobi

COMMUNITY LETTER

Mettā Nairobi

Ajua

BuuPass

Food4Education

Hope Tech Plus

Safi Analytics

Sanivation

Sendy

Sokowatch

Taimba

A few interesting, newly developed businesses usually under five years old.

Startups

Nairobi is East Africa’s economic capital and the sixth-wealthiest African city.

Did you know?

1Million Startups 

Antler

GrowthAfrica

Pangea Accelerator

Village Capital 

The ambitious accelerator and incubator programs in the city that help startups become established.

Programs

Popular coworking hubs, both new and well established, where entrepreneurs can work and grow successfully.

Spaces

Discover more startup ecosystems

Leveraging Technology to Overcome Adversity

Become Investor-Ready and Raise Your First Round

Insight from the “experts” — established organizations that can Aid and provide advice to young entrepreneurs.

Experts

Hilda Moraa

Jessica Colaço

Samuel Gikandi and Bilha Ndirangu

In-depth Q&A’s with seasoned entrepreneurs, who have founded or cofounded companies and share their experience, insights and advice.

Founders

Amani Institute

Moringa School

Strathmore University

The Technical University of Kenya

University of Nairobi

A collection of well-known schools, colleges and educational programs specifically tailored towards entrepreneurship studies.

Schools

Global corporations including IBM, Facebook and Google have active bases in Nairobi.

AHL Venture Partners

Chandaria Capital

HEVA Fund

Kepple Africa Ventures

Novastar Ventures

Safaricom Spark Fund

ViKtoria Ventures

Villgro Kenya

A description of the investor and finer points such as, how much they typically invest and who they invest in.

Investors

City Essentials

Data Overview

Funding

Directory

Kenya’s capital is home to one of Africa’s most mature startup ecosystems and is globally recognized as a major tech capital and a leader in mobile technology. Nairobi boasts a strong private sector, healthy infusions of outside investment and lots of governmental support. Over the past decade or so, a strong ecosystem has developed here, with innovation in mobile payments, logistics, e-commerce, health and blockchain leading the way. The city is also a hub for impact innovation, with initiatives in agtech, sanitation and education.
 
Startup Guide Nairobi is packed full of valuable resources and inspiring stories of impact-driven initiatives. It also features exclusive interviews with the founders, experts and investors who have helped Nairobi become a major tech hub.
 
*As part of our partnership with One Tree Planted, the purchase of the paperback copy of this guidebook (or any of our other guidebooks) contributes toward the planting of a tree.
 
Note: When you purchase a paperback version of the book, you also receive the digital version in your inbox. 
 
Published January 2021

Startup Guide Nairobi

Known as Silicon Savannah, Nairobi is home to one of the most mature startup ecosystems in Africa. The city and region are leading in mobile platform technology.

Known as the Silicon Savannah, Nairobi is home to one of the most mature startup ecosystems in Africa and is a leader in mobile technology. It’s also home to a growing number of impact-focused startups using tech for social and environmental good.

Startup Guide

Nairobi

SAP

Mettā

GIZ

Make-IT in Africa

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