Founders Connect Kenya: A Promising Start for Collaboration in the Kenyan Tech Industry

Last Friday marked the beginning of a transformational journey for the Kenyan tech ecosystem. Held at the iHUB , which holds a great historical legacy as one of the birthplaces of tech in Kenya, the inaugural Founders Connect Kenya event took place, heralding a new era of collaboration and shared vision.

The event, borne out of reflections on Nigeria's tech ecosystem, and generously supported by Future Africa , served as a platform for founders, industry leaders, and policy influencers to discuss, deliberate, and determine the way forward for Kenya's tech industry.

Opening the event, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji shared inspiring tales from Nigeria, narrating how the tech community turned feelings of desolation and lack of support into a movement. They embraced the challenges, turning them into opportunities, and through collective efforts, transformed Yaba into a hub of innovation and collaboration. The Open Yaba Manifesto became a symbol of their collective aspirations, demonstrating the power of unity and shared vision. Since those days, the Nigerian tech industry has continued to power ahead and it's a playbook of what can be achieved through collaboration.

Post Aboyeji's inspiring talk, founders dove into brainstorming sessions. In groups, we delved deep into challenges, barriers, and most importantly, solutions for fostering collaboration. The idea wasn't just to identify problems but to set actionable goals and frameworks.

There was a unanimous agreement: to move forward, we must build a robust community, set a collective vision, and chart out a well-defined agenda. The tech sector's future in Kenya should not be about recounting missed opportunities but celebrating collaborative milestones and successes.

This spirit of collaboration wasn't just confined to anecdotes from Nigeria. The Kenyan landscape is ripe for change and progress. Many early founders and pioneers of the Kenyan tech space, like Ory Okolloh and Juliana Rotich , are now in pivotal roles of influence in both government and industry. We're not in this journey alone; there are allies, waiting and willing, in significant places.

Notably, we were honored by the presence of Phyllis Migwi and Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS , members of the newly formed ICT sectoral working group in Kenya. This group, tasked with shaping the digital future of the country, resonates with the collaborative spirit we advocate for. With luminaries such as these on board, combined with the collective vision of the tech community, the horizons seem bright.

The digital landscape in Kenya is evolving. Old laws need revamping, and new policies need crafting with the contemporary digital ecosystem in mind. With allies in the sectoral working group, the tech community has a unique window to influence this change.

So, what's next?

With the insights gained from the event, there's an urgency to define an agenda for the Kenyan tech industry. This will be a collaborative effort, harnessing the collective intelligence and experience of the community. We stand on the brink of an era where, in ten years, we aspire to look back with pride at the immense benefits of collaboration, not with regret at what could have been.

Our shared vision for the Kenyan tech ecosystem is clear. The path, though challenging, is illuminated by the hopes and ambitions of its stakeholders. As the African proverb eloquently states, "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go with others."

We will be starting off the effort to define an agenda for the tech industry by having a number of founder meet-ups to define our aspirations for the industry and what changes we need to happen to realise the potential of the industry. Watch out for upcoming meet up events soon!

The journey has begun, and the tech community in Kenya is ready to embark on this exciting voyage, hand in hand, towards a brighter and more collaborative future.