Kenyan Startups Win Big at Sankalp Africa Awards, Claim Three of Five Top Honors
From Left: Rio Fish CEO Angela Odero (Kenya), Sosai Energy Solutions CEO Habiba Ali (Nigeria/Zambia), M-Taka Solutions CEO Benson Abila (Kenya) Malaica AG CTO/Co-founder Victor Murage Ndegwa (Kenya), Somo Africa Trust Partnership Lead Celestine Otieno and CEO Amelia Hopkins Phillips (Kenya) during the Sankalp Africa Awards 2026.
Nairobi, Kenya — Kenyan startups emerged as standout innovators at the 13th edition of the Sankalp Africa Summit, securing three of the five top awards and reinforcing the country’s growing influence as a hub for high-impact, locally driven solutions.
Held on February 25–26 at the Sarit Expo Centre, the summit brought together more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and development leaders from over 50 countries to explore scalable innovations addressing Africa’s most pressing social and economic challenges.
Hosted by the Aavishkaar Group, Intellecap, and Sankalp Forum, the event connected more than 350 startups with funding opportunities, global partnerships, and market access through curated matchmaking sessions and masterclasses.
Kenyan Innovation Takes Center Stage
Kenyan enterprises dominated the awards, underscoring the country’s leadership in building solutions tailored to local realities:
- AgriTech: Rio Fish Ltd, led by Angela J. Odero, was recognized for advancing sustainable aquaculture models that create livelihoods for women and youth.
- Circular Tech: M-Taka Solutions, founded by Benson Abila, won for its digital platform linking households, waste collectors, and recyclers to strengthen urban waste management systems.
- HealthTech: Malaica AG, co-founded by Victor Murage Ndegwa, was awarded for delivering affordable, continuous pregnancy care across Kenya through technology-enabled services.
Other continental winners included Nigeria’s Sosai Renewable Energies Ltd in ClimateTech for expanding clean energy access, and Somo Africa Trust in FinTech for supporting micro-entrepreneurs across East Africa.
Sign of Rising Investor Confidence
Organizers said the strong showing by Kenyan startups signals growing investor confidence in African-built innovation and Nairobi’s emergence as a regional startup powerhouse.
“Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit is rewriting the rules of innovation. What we witnessed is not just startups pitching ideas—it’s founders building futures,” said Karnika Yadav, Partner and Director at Intellecap Africa. “Each winner demonstrates the courage to reimagine systems and deliver impact where it matters most.”
A jury of leading investors and ecosystem builders from institutions including Sayuni Capital, Delta 40 Venture Studio, Visa, Catalyst Fund, and Haba Capital evaluated finalists across five categories: AgriTech, Circular Tech, Climate Tech, FinTech, and HealthTech.
Driving South–South Collaboration
According to Sankalp Forum leadership, the awards highlight how collaboration across the Global South is accelerating innovation that is both locally relevant and globally scalable.
“The Global South is not just participating in the innovation economy—it is rising, leading, and shaping solutions for the world,” said Syna Dehnugara, Director of Sankalp Forum.
Building Africa’s Future Innovation Ecosystem
The summit was supported by a wide coalition of global partners, including Villgro Africa, alongside development agencies, investors, and technical institutions working to strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems across the continent.
By convening startups, SMEs, and capital providers under one platform, the summit aimed to catalyze bold, cross-border solutions in climate resilience, financial inclusion, food systems, and healthcare areas seen as critical to Africa’s long-term growth.
With Kenyan startups claiming a majority of the top honors, the 2026 awards spotlight the country’s expanding role as a launchpad for scalable innovation and impact-driven enterprise across Africa.
