Ian Korongo

IT Consultant, In love with Manchester United, ICT's for Development, Aspiring daddy to a lovely daughter :p

[Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) @KENIAupdates]

Join us at #CEILSummit2025 for the QuickFire Quiz on sustainable funding for Africa’s universities & TVETs! Dr. Edwell Gumbo (Universities South Africa) & Dr. Kenny Karanja @(University of Minnesota) will spark bold ideas Sept 11, Mombasa 🕛 12:00PM.
Register: https://t.co/xlg50hZUil
#NEILAfrica #ResearchtoImpact #EnablingInnovation

[Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) @KENIAupdates]

Day 2 || Kenya Startup Festival

Breakout Sessions Recap || Research-Based Startups

Moderated by Ian Lugwiri, the session brought together a dynamic panel of startup founders, investors, and research-based startup sector experts to discuss practical pathways to create sustainable startups.

Key Highlights:

✅The critical need for local innovators to tell their success stories as a strategic way to build trust and attract investors into research-driven ventures.

✅Compelling evidence of the growing potential of research-based startups in Kenya was shared, highlighting success cases from the R2C (Research to Commercialization) program.
- Two R2C alumni shared firsthand how structured support, mentorship, and exposure helped them move their ideas from academia into commercially viable businesses.

✅Andrew Benda, of the BioInnovation Institute (BII) offered inspiration by presenting international benchmarks on how Denmark has developed a thriving research-to-commercialization model.

✅Delta40, representing the investor perspective, explored how funders view research-based startups and emphasized the need for strong IP portfolios, clear commercialization pathways, and early-stage investor readiness.

This session reinforced that Kenya’s academic and research institutions hold untapped potential to seed scalable startups and that with the right support and visibility, these ventures can transform sectors and livelihoods.

Join us at CEIL Summit 2025, to continue the discussion and make actionable resolutions.

Register>> https://t.co/xlg50i0s7T

#KenyaStartupFest #R2C #InnovationEcosystem #EnablingInnovation

[Ian Korongo @IanKorongo]

@AduiWaUkoloni @Mr_Guantai @DownloadVideo_

[Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) @KENIAupdates]

Day 3 | Presidential Innovation Challenge & Award 2024-2025 Pitch Festival.

Meet Pitch finalists of the Startup Category.

#PIA #PresidentialInnovationChallengeandAwards #Enablinginnovation

[Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) @KENIAupdates]

Honored to have hosted Paul Ndichu Co-founder of @wapi_pay, The First Africa-Asia Payment Platform. Paul’s journey—from leaving a lucrative banking career to building a startup from scratch—offered invaluable lessons on what it truly takes to succeed in the 21st-century startup ecosystem.

The Wapi Pay story is one of patience, persistence, and overcoming market entry barriers, even in home markets!

Key Takeaways for Startup Founders:
✅ Start today—opportunities won’t always be there.
✅ Fear of failure is real, but taking the first step (zero to one) is the hardest. Growth from one to ten? That’s execution!
✅ Educators should inspire students to fall in love with problems—innovation starts there.
✅ Trust among co-founders is critical. As Paul put it: build relationships, go for dinners, and strengthen your team bond.
#KenyaStartupSchool #EnablingInnovation #whereintheworlddoyoupay #WapiPay

[Dr. Tonny Omwansa, PhD @tomwansa]

In an effort to better understand the evolving #startup ecosystem, & develop interventions and programs to make #Kenya's ecosystem more globally competitive, I am individual startups each week. Caught up with @teshmbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti, to walk through their journey at @MarketForceHQ and @chpter_co, then engage on how we might leverage the @KENIAupdates to build a stronger startup ecosystem. A range of initiatives shaping up including but not limited to #StartupSchool, #SoftLandingPrograms #SpecialEconomicZones #AccessToCapital etc. @KENIAupdates @StateHouseKenya

[Dr. Tonny Omwansa, PhD @tomwansa]

What would it take for ⁦⁦@KENIAupdates⁩ be the massive engine for significant wealth creation? Leveraging #innovation? The next 2 to 5 years will be critical in building the mechanisms and interventions that will build millions of dollar companies. ⁦@obrienkimani⁩

[Victor Otieno @AgollaVictor]

Kenyan Startups Lack Sufficient Funding? I was honoured to debate an elite team of Sheena Raikundalia and Wilfred Njagi together with my team mate Prof Robert Gateru at @KenyaInnovWeek @KENIAupdates @tomwansa @mbuguanjihia @MwangoCapital @BrianGeorgeKE @tanuijohn

[KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H @kipmurkomen]

The youth are the bedrock of our vibrant innovation ecosystem, making Kenya the leading destination for venture capitalism.

To consolidate this gain and address the problem of unemployment, we must continuously push for creative solutions that not only offer the much needed jobs but also inspire a culture of innovation and self-employment.

Honoured to join H.E the President @WilliamsRuto and innovators, creative minds, entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders at the 4th @KenyaInnovWeek - Africa Edition, which is underway at the Edge Convention Centre, Nairobi.

The premier forum is run by the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), which identifies and supports innovations with the aim of commercializing them. The innovation week is an annual convention to energise our innovation ecosystem.

To ensure innovators and creators get reasonable returns from their innovation and solidify our position as the leading startup destination in Africa, we are finalizing the national intellectual property policy.

Big up to the organisers and innovators for the wonderful exhibitions and incisive presentations.

[Egerton University @egertonunikenya]

Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage signed the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization masterplan with the Kenya National Innovation Agency and the award of the Entrepreneurial Leaders Training Program (ELTP) during the Kenya Innovation Week 2024-Africa Edition.

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

#KIW2024 | “Re-imagining Africa’s Future: Kenya’s Innovation Spark”

#KIWAfricaedition2024
#InnovationForAfrica

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

Florence Kimata- Innovation & SME Policy Champion @kimataflorence, and Josephine Mugure, the Chief Manager of @Kenya revenue authority, confirmed that there are existing clear policies and regulations accessible to the public that protect startups from over-taxation.

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

The CEO of @KENIAupdates highlighted that this year, the #KIW2024 is focused on three key areas:
1. access to funding—ensuring that the innovation plan includes details of access to funding to scale them.

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

"The Start-Up Summit is all about creating partnerships and pushing innovations and associations between start-ups for a common goal - economic growth, improve livelihoods, and drive sustainable development" - @tomwansa CEO of @KENIAupdates .

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

2. innovation ecosystem approach—all partners in different sectors work together.
3. Human capital - achieved through the ELTP for university institutions and the Kenya Network of Entrepreneurial Institutions' Leaders that builds capacity for leaders

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

#KIW2024 has officially opened. Conversations on deals and agreements to improve the country's innovation ecosystem continue.
One agreement involved forming strategic collaborations to improve access to market and innovation.

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

In the opening ceremony, the President of Kenya, HE @WilliamsRuto, acknowledged that innovation is the driver for sustainable development.

#KIW2024 #KIWAfricaEdition #AfricaInnovation

[Vice-Chancellor @ UoNBI @vcuonbi]

This marks a bold step towards driving commercialization in our universities. Together, we’re building a brighter, innovative future. #InnovationLeadership #PartnershipsForGrowth #KIW2024

[Prof. Laban P. Ayiro @ayiro_p]

14 Vice-Chancellors in the historic launch of the Innovation Funding Toolkit, a model designed to guide Kenyan universities in securing funding for innovation. Also closure ceremony of the 5th Entrepreneurial Leadership Training Programme at the Kenya Innovation Week 2024, held at the Edge Convention Center.
I am grateful to the Kenya Innovation Agency and its partners, including the British Council Kenya, the Lemelson Foundation, and UK International Development, for the immense support provided to us and the other 13 universities over the past year.
@DaystarUni @KenyaInnovWeek @tomwansa

[Kenya Innovation Week 2024 @KenyaInnovWeek]

"Innovation Agencies in Africa(IAA) network recognizes the power of diversity, providing a platform for collaborative innovation across the continent"- Dr. @ChirchirEmmy highlights the network's role in championing diversity in African Innovation.