A total of 86 innovators participating in the prestigious Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award have this week pitched their innovative startups, seeking funding and technical support from the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA).
The week-long pitch fest, held in Nakuru County, provided an opportunity for the finalists to present their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of expert judges, who provided valuable feedback. The 86 finalists were selected from a highly competitive pool of 481 startups drawn from across the country.
The Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award is a presidential flagship program implemented by KeNIA under the patronage of H.E Dr. William Ruto, the President of the Republic of Kenya. The initiative aims to support startups at different maturity levels, including idea, early stage, and growth stage, with a focus on addressing critical national priorities such as Agriculture and Food Security, Manufacturing, Affordable Healthcare, Digital Transformation, and Gaming and Entertainment. The programme aligns with the BETA Agenda and KeNIA’s broader mission to leverage innovation for job creation and wealth generation.
The 2024-2025 edition of the Challenge has attracted grassroots youth innovators from all 47 counties, student innovators from 22 universities, and 20 early-stage startups from the informal sector. Additionally, 15 advanced researchers, who initially pitched during the Kenya Innovation Week in November 2024, are also part of this prestigious programme.
As part of its innovation support intervention, KeNIA will provide the selected startups with de-risking grants of up to 5 million Kenyan Shillings. Furthermore, the startups will benefit from technical support through incubation and acceleration programs, investor linkages, and exhibition opportunities.
Speaking during the pitch fest, Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA, emphasized the significance of the Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award in fostering a pipeline of investor-ready startups. “KeNIA implements this initiative as a ‘special purpose’ vehicle to create a robust ecosystem of innovative startups ready for investment and commercialization,” he stated.
