Norrsken East Africa

We are building Africa’s largest hub for entrepreneurs in Kigali, Rwanda.

[AfricaTechAcademy @the_africa22624]

Kigali are yopiu ready! 🇷🇼

Join the @norrskenEA Fintech Series on Sept 25 at Norrsken House.

We're partnering with @mypayaza to shape East Africa's fintech future.

RSVP 👇
https://t.co/bn8XNq7KCP

#Fintech #ATA

[JASIRI @Jasiri4Africa]

#Reminder

Jasiri Talent Investor Connect: Women in Food Systems - Kigali Edition

Happening this Wednesday.

In partnership with @norrskenEA, join us for breakfast with Sharon Akanyana, Founder and Managing Director of @IshyoFoods. We'll be bringing together women founders, operators and technical specialists across Rwanda's food systems for a candid conversation about what building in this space has actually looked like.

📌 23 September 2026, Kigali
🕐 09:30–12:00 CAT
📝 Register: https://t.co/QwhjwyquaS

#Jasiri4Africa #FoodSystems #Cohort9

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Join us for an evening of frank talk with our friends from @mypayaza & Africa Tech Academy on where the financial technology stack in East Africa is headed and how you can be part of the forces shaping that future for good.

RSVP here: https://t.co/1dJwt0LZKd

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

East Africa is the poster child of financial inclusion in Africa. Instant mobile payments made millions in Africa visible to the financial ecosystem, inspired builders worldwide, and helped governments meet financial access targets.

Then progress stalled.

Because building a thriving fintech ecosystem is one thing. Scaling it is another. Products must constantly evolve from good to transformative at scale. And the bar keeps moving.

So if access and visibility are not enough, what do we need to do to make fintech products deliver better financial value for millions of Africans in Africa, and beyond?

How can builders up their ambition and create the fintech stack that will enable businesses and transform economies?

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Last Friday, we hosted The Good Food Mixer together with @_AfricanFood , to close the Africa Food Systems Forum.

Because some of the best conversations and meaningful connections happen outside the conference room.

Good food, good people, and a lot to talk about.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to @_AfricanFood for making it happen.

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

What makes a community isn’t where people meet, but what happens when they do.

Every quarter, we come together over breakfast to reconnect, share what we're building, exchange ideas, and strengthen the relationships that make this community what it is.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this quarter's Members' Breakfast.

Every conversation, every introduction, every connection is part of building something bigger than ourselves.

Want to be part of the solution?

Apply here: https://t.co/OnT4JJs2OL

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Onwards and up ❤️

[GGGI Rwanda @GGGI_Rwanda]

As @GGGI_Rwanda marked #10YearsOfPartnership with the Government of Rwanda, we also took a moment to recognize some of the partners who have helped shape this journey.

From Government institutions and development partners to private-sector actors, each partner has played a role in advancing Rwanda’s green growth and climate resilience agenda.

🏆 Green Growth Leadership Award, recognizing a decade of visionary partnership in anchoring and advancing Rwanda’s green growth journey:

🔹 Ministry of Infrastructure | @RwandaInfra
🔹 Ministry of Environment | @EnvironmentRw
🔹 Rwanda Environment Management Authority | @REMA_Rwanda

🌱 Green Growth Catalyst Award, recognizing partnerships that have helped unlock investment and accelerate action:

🔹 Rwanda Green Fund | @GreenFundRw, for our longstanding partnership in unlocking innovative and sustainable finance for Rwanda’s green growth.
🔹 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, for our collaboration in advancing sustainable waste management and the circular economy.
🔹 Republic of South Korea, for catalytic support to green the New Kigali International Airport and establish a Super ESCO.

💡 Green Growth Innovative Partnership Award, recognizing partnerships that have brought new approaches and solutions to Rwanda’s climate agenda:

🔹 Government of Canada, for supporting the AI-powered IWACU GESI Monitoring Platform, which helps integrate and track gender-responsive climate action under Rwanda’s NDC 3.0 and other climate initiatives.
🔹 Government of Italy, for a longstanding and versatile partnership supporting Rwanda’s sustainable development.

♻️ First Mover Sustainability Award

🔹 @SkolRwanda Ltd, for its commitment to reducing environmental impacts, advancing more sustainable packaging through Virunga Water, introduced as Rwanda’s first locally produced water in returnable glass bottles.

🏢 Leadership in Green Buildings Award

🔹 Norrsken, for its commitment to creating a workspace that brings sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship together.

📣 Excellence in Green Growth Communication Award

🔹 @SpruikAgency, for its longstanding collaboration with GGGI in communicating green growth initiatives and helping bring Rwanda’s sustainability story to wider audiences.

To all the partners who have walked this journey with us: thank you for your trust, collaboration and commitment.

The journey continues, and so does our shared work to build a greener, more resilient Rwanda.

#10YearsOfPartnership #10YearsOfImpact #GreenGrowth #GreenRwanda🇷🇼🌿 #ClimateAction

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Investing in Africa’s agri-food systems is how we get stronger and more resilient value chains, improve food security, create jobs, and support the next generation of innovation.

Some of the most consequential conversations about how to do this better are happening at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) this week in Kigali.

And we’re keeping the conversation going after hours.

Join our friends and us at the @_AfricanFood for The Good Food Mixer this Friday to strengthen connections from the AFS Forum, meet new friends and close the week at Kigali's biggest home for the builders creating the next phase of innovation.

Friday, September 4
17:30–20:00
Norrsken House Kigali

Register to attend: https://t.co/75Il7IaezA

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Thinking about your next job in impact?

We’re looking for a Technical Associate to join Norrsken House Kigali for a two-year, full-time role.

You’ll work closely with founders to understand what their ventures need, connect them with the right experts, turn those needs into clear action plans, and keep the work moving.

If you’re organised, curious about startups and investment, comfortable juggling a few moving pieces, and happiest when there’s something to figure out, this might be your kind of role.

Along the way, you’ll build experience across venture support, investment readiness, and blended finance, while working alongside founders and changemakers at Norrsken House Kigali.

If working at the heart of impact sounds like the kind of work you’d like to devote energy to, apply here: https://t.co/9XoKGohh00

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Rwandan builders have always had ambitious goals for the future.

More productive jobs. Stronger industries. Greater exports. Deeper innovation. And more opportunities created through the private sector.

So today, we’re launching Rwanda Transforming — a new way to spotlight the builders making some of the most important contributions to that transformation.

Impact means progress. So we’re looking beyond the obvious signals and digging deeper to find the companies that can answer a more useful question: what has meaningfully changed in Rwanda because this company exists?

Maybe it’s a manufacturer replacing imports with sustainable local production. A business creating hundreds of productive jobs. A company helping farmers increase yields and restore soil health, expanding access to healthcare or finance, building critical infrastructure, or taking a Rwandan product into new markets.

Each year, together with our friends and partners, Rwanda Transforming will identify and profile the businesses whose work tells us something important about where the country is going.

From established companies and high-growth businesses to emerging ventures and unseen operators doing consequential work.

Together, they tell the story of Rwanda’s transformation in practice.

Rwanda Transforming 2026 is now open.

Know a company that should be recognised? Nominate them at https://t.co/tNO08f5waz

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Not every business needs the same kind of capital. And not every founder is ready to raise it.

Yesterday, together with OPX Partners (a leading Nordic management consulting firm working), we brought founders together to unpack what it really means to prepare for investment. We explored the different types of financing available, how to identify the right fit for your stage, what belongs in a pitch deck, and what happens after an investor says "yes." One message came through clearly: investors aren't looking for the most polished slides. They're looking for founders who know their business.

Can you clearly articulate your vision? Does your team have the right capabilities? Do your numbers tell a consistent story? And, most importantly, are you solving a problem people are willing to pay for? The conversation also covered common founder and investor red flags, what to expect during due diligence, and how to build investor relationships that create value long after the funding round closes.

A big thank you to the OPX Partners team for sharing their experience, and to every founder who showed up. More like these to come. Stay tuned.

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Some of the biggest companies in the world today failed. More than once. We know how their stories ended. We rarely talk about what it took to get there.

Failure isn’t the part we usually put on stage. But it’s often the part that does the building.

Last night, we hosted our first F** Up Night at Norrsken House Kigali, an evening for honest conversations about the moments that test entrepreneurs along the way.

We opened with a fireside chat with Dr. Helen Gizachew, Co-founder of Ambucycle, and Uwase Christella, Founder of Bountiful Farmers' Markets, moderated by Sangwa Sabine Chelsea, Project Manager at Impact Hub Kigali. They shared the realities behind building startups, the challenges, setbacks, and moments that shaped their journeys.

Then, the open mic brought to light the realities of running out of money because financial fundamentals were missing, trusting the wrong people, borrowing from their own businesses without a plan to recover, building products for years without charging customers, and learning the hard way that a great product still needs great marketing.

Different stories. Different journeys. One shared reality: failure is part of building.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened, and shared their F** Ups.

And a special thank you to our partners @WSH_Kigali, @Jasiri4Africa, and @ImpactHubKigali.

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Norrsken House Kigali got a very special visit this Tuesday.

As he's touring #Rwanda to learn more about the country's progress in health, agriculture, and digital public infrastructure, @BillGates stopped by for a conversation with some of Kigali's most ambitious builders, leaders, the institutions shaping Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem, and our partners at the Ministry of ICT & Innovation, Rwanda, and the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A big thank you to Bill for his curiosity and visit to our ecosystem.

[Ministry of ICT and Innovation | Rwanda @RwandaICT]

The delegation also toured live demonstrations showcasing the future of digital innovation in Africa @norrskenEA ; before joining a conversation with MoS @yves_Iradukunda, @AmbucycleRW's Founder Dr Loza and @DUmuganda CEO @n_audace, on the transformative potential of AI. Addressing the young founders and entrepreneurs in the room, Bill Gates shared insights on building impactful innovations and harnessing AI, partnerships, and local talent to create solutions that drive inclusive growth.

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

@PascalMurasira 🚀🚀🚀

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

This summer, there's plenty happening at Norrsken House Kigali. Here's what's coming up over the next few weeks.

AI Product Management | 17–18 July

Join Stephan Babou for a two-day, hands-on training on AI product management. Together, we'll explore how AI is changing the way products are built, tested, and shipped. The training is designed for tech professionals looking to build practical skills, with 100 participants joining the programme.

Apply to attend: https://t.co/qXLowHCXiz

Community F** Up Night | 29 July

Everyone has a story about something that didn't go to plan.
Together with @WSH_Kigali, we're bringing F** Up Night to Norrsken House Kigali for an evening of honest conversations about failure, and what we'd do differently. Come listen, share, and maybe save yourself from making the same mistakes.

Apply to attend: https://t.co/z3zzhjXCLM

Thursday Fusion: Open Mic Night | 20 August

Join us for an evening of music, poetry, comedy, and spoken word as some of Kigali's favourite creatives take the stage. Come to perform or simply show your support. We'd love to have you with us for an unforgettable evening, together with our friends at Nexxus Rwanda.

Apply to attend: https://t.co/apRNlQmRUe

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

AI is no longer a future advantage. It’s a tool entrepreneurs can use today.

Join us for Office Hours with Chris Kagabe — AI Engineer, Founder of Lian Pay, and former Expert AI Trainer at OpenAI.

In this hands-on session, Chris will break down how startups can leverage AI to work smarter, move faster, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

Together, we'll explore:

→ Building tailored AI-powered tools and workflows
→ Automating repetitive tasks to save time
→ Making AI work optimally for your startup
→ Monetization pathways and business opportunities with AI

It's okay if you're completely new to AI or already experimenting with it; you'll leave with practical insights you can apply immediately.

Apply to attend: https://t.co/YLAT5I3XWq

[Norrsken East Africa @norrskenEA]

Cairo tells it as it is—unfiltered.

Whether it's about who's building real, tangible solutions with AI, or who's just riding the hype wave.

Last week, we convened 150+ of the brilliant minds who work in one of Africa's most dynamic innovation ecosystems, for an evening of sharp conversation, good food, and meeting new friends/co-builders.

Special thanks to our partners for helping bring this to life.

Up next? Deep Layers of Progress at Impact Sessions Lagos, Africa's startup capital?

#AnaraImpactCapital | @GlobalVC_MENA, @wegrowwithc3 | @Delta40_Studio