The University Student Mentorship Program held from 6th to 7th June 2024 at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, brought together university students from leading institutions including United States International University–Africa (USIU), Zetech University, Daystar University, Riara University and the Technical University of Kenya (TUK). 

The initiative is part of KeNIA's mission to cultivate a vibrant national innovation ecosystem by engaging student innovators early and equipping them with the support needed to transform ideas into impactful solutions. The mentorship program focused on nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and exposing students to real-world startup strategies that not only supplement academic instruction but aim to institutionalize innovation as a culture within Kenya’s higher education sector.

As innovation becomes a central pillar of Kenya’s socio-economic development, mentorship emerges as a critical lever for unlocking student potential. The University Student Mentorship Program targets the early formation of ideas, encouraging students to identify gaps in society and develop viable solutions while still within the academic environment. By blending theory with practice and inspiring students with real founder journeys, the program equips youth with the skills, mindset and networks needed to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.

The startup Playbook

The program opened with a compelling session on practical tips for navigating the startup journey led by Enos Masinde Weswa, a renowned expert in lean startups, marketing, and innovation strategy. His session broke down the principles of innovation, distinguishing it from entrepreneurship while rooting both in problem-solving and value creation. Weswa introduced the Lean Startup methodology, highlighting the importance of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), early prototyping and continuous user engagement.

Students learned how to systematically identify challenges in their immediate environment and apply structured thinking to generate scalable solutions. The session emphasized the value of experimentation and iteration, encouraging students to test their assumptions early and often.

Founder journey

Maryanne Gichanga, CEO and co-founder of AgriTech Analytics Ltd and a Presidential Innovation Award (PIA) beneficiary, shared her journey from ideation to execution. Using her AI-powered platform for pest control in agriculture, she illustrated the real-world application of design thinking principles. Her story detailed how she identified pest challenges as a pain point among farmers and turned it into a tech-enabled, scalable venture. Her insights gave students a roadmap for using design thinking not just as a framework, but as a tool for building impact-driven enterprises.

Ecosystem Integration and Future Outlook

Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA, underscored the agency’s aspiration for student-led innovation clubs to be established in every university. He articulated the need for academia to embed innovation into curricula and institutional structures, positioning mentorship as a bridge between education and entrepreneurship. His remarks challenged universities to take ownership of developing internal ecosystems that nurture innovation from idea to impact.

Design thinking

Yvonne Njeri led the afternoon’s ideation workshop, grounding students in customercentric innovation. She guided participants through problem identification, customer needs assesment, feasibility evaluation, networking and maintaining mission alignment

Her session gave students tangible tools to transform vague ideas into concrete ventures and emphasized that empathy, clarity and adaptability are as critical as business strategy in startup development.

Fireside Chat on the Realities of Founding

The mentorship continued with a fireside chat between Samuel Njuguna, CEO of Chumz.io, and Innovation Consultant Yvonne Njeri. Their candid conversation demystified entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges of founder life, including self-doubt, rejection and burnout. Njuguna emphasized personal pace and clarity of purpose, urging students not to compare themselves but to embrace their unique journey. The session provided emotional and practical insights that resonated with student innovators facing uncertainty and pressure to perform.

Legal & Regulatory Frameworks

Day two featured a deep dive into the legal and regulatory frameworks for startups, led by Wangechi Wahome, CEO of Anza Village. Wahome walked students through entity formation, IP protection, contracts and compliance, making complex topics accessible. Her emphasis on documentation and clear agreements as safeguards against future disputes was especially eye-opening for students with limited exposure to legal literacy in innovation.

Founder Journey

Joseph Nguthiru, founder of HyaPak and a PIA recipient, concluded the mentorship, sharing his journey of developing biodegradable alternatives to plastic from invasive water hyacinth, proving that impactful ventures can emerge from everyday observations. His session served as a reminder that successful startups are not only about profit, but also about purpose and resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation must begin with real-world problems and customer needs.
• Design thinking offers a practical framework to move from idea to product.
• Storytelling and founder journeys help demystify the startup process.
• Legal literacy and documentation are essential from the outset.
• Mentorship is not an accessory to innovation, it is core to its success.
• Institutions must create environments that support ongoing experimentation.

The University Student Mentorship Program represents a forward-thinking approach to embedding innovation in education. Through immersive sessions, honest conversations, and real founder stories, students were exposed to the full arc of innovation, from ideation to impact. The event closed with a call to action for universities to operationalize innovation clubs, deepen design thinking instruction and promote student-led ventures.

The mentorship program reaffirmed that with the right support, Kenya’s universities have the potential to become thriving hubs of innovation, capable of nurturing the next generation of startups that will spearhead national transformation.

The journey continues but with students at the center, the future is already in motion.