Top Startups / December 12, 2023
Asaf Fybish

As a growth marketing expert, Asaf helps startups driving scalable growth through data-driven strategies and innovative marketing techniques.

Top Kenyan Startups To Watch in 2024

Kenya is one of the most developed startup nations on the African continent, being ranked number one in the East African region and 62nd globally. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that there are some great Kenyan startups. The country has already been introducing top startups to the world and this trend is likely to continue into the future.

One of the main reasons for the success of Kenyan startups is the fact that they are getting increasing access to VC funding, which is the lifeblood of growth. Despite the economic downturn in 2022, Kenya beat the odds to increase their startup funding from the previous year raising $1.1 Billion, which is a 33% increase from the previous year.

The Kenyan government is also trying to be proactive in the startup ecosystem, highlighted by the launch of the DeveloPPP Ventures startup program which gives talented Kenyan entrepreneurs grants of 100,000 Euros to grow and expand their ventures.


1. BasiGo

Year Founded: 2021

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 1-10

Founders: Jit Bhattacharya, Jonathan Green

BasiGo is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2021 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company works in the transportation sector and aims to provide less expensive and cleaner public transport routes within the country. The company's pilot schemes running their electric buses have been a great success so far.

The business has been very successful in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company raising a total of $6.6 Million in funding during its most recent round to fund EV assembly plans.


2. Zuri Health

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Daisy Isiaho, Ikechukwu Anoke, Titilola Olaolu-Hassan

Zuri Health is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company works in the healthcare sector and aims to improve the state of healthcare in the country by providing convenient and easy access to medical support through a telehealth solution.

The company has done well in sourcing startup funding, with a total of $1.5 Million being raised by the business across a number of funding rounds. This funding was achieved with the support of fourteen investors.


3. Ilara Health

Year Founded: 2019

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Amaan Banwait, Emilian Popa, Hannes Eckmayr, Maximilan Mancini, Sameer Farooqi

Ilara Health is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2019 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company aims to improve the state of primary care in Africa by building a network of health clinics that provide a range of healthcare services for an affordable price, making healthcare more accessible.

The business has been very successful in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company raising a total of $3.75 Million during its most recent funding round in December 2022.


4. Mara

Year Founded: 2021

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: Chi Nnadi, Dearg OBartuin, Lucas Llinás Múnera

Mara is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2021 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company operates in the blockchain market and provides people in Africa with the opportunity to use cryptocurrencies and their ability to earn yields and trading as a way to improve financial freedom in the country.

Mara has been very successful in raising startup funding, with the most recent round undertaken by the company netting it a total of $23 Million to further the growth and development of the company.


5. Kwanza Tukule

Year Founded: 2019

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Khadija Mohamed Churchill

Kwana Tukule is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2019 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company aims to improve the state of supply chains using technology to make supply chains more efficient and effective. This helps businesses to get fresher and safer produce.

The business has seen success in raising startup funding, with the company's funding round in January 2022 being supported by three investors. The exact amount raised is undisclosed at this time.


6. Ed Partners

Year Founded: 2018

HQ: Westlands, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: David Fitzherbert, Lydia Koros

ED Partners is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2018 and is based in Westlands, Kenya. The company aims to improve the state of education in the country by providing flexible and lower cost school loans and partnering with low cost schools to create an environment where Kenyans can always get an education.

The business has seen success in raising startup funding to fuel its mission, with the company raising $1.9 Million in funding during its most recent funding round in June 2021. It is unclear if the business has further funding plans.


7. Shara

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Grant Brooke, Jordan Solomon

Shara is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company operates in the FinTech sector and helps businesses to provide financing on their customer's orders. This helps these businesses to get more sales and more expensive sales too.

The business has seen great success in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company raising $6 Million in total. This funding was achieved with the support of thirteen investors.


8. Watu Credit

Year Founded: 2015

HQ: Mombasa, Coast, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Andris Kaneps

Watu Credit is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2015 and is currently based in the city of Mombasa. The company operates in the FinTech market and aims to help more Africans to become financially independent, they help with the financing of two and three wheel vehicles to improve mobility in the country.

The business has been incredibly successful in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company's most recent funding round netting it $7 Million to fuel its expansion into Uganda.


9. Solar Panda

Year Founded: 2017

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: Andy Keith

Solar Panda is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2017 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company aims to provide access to electricity in rural areas by installing solar panels and allowing communities to pay for these as they use the electricity, helping to improve quality of life in these communities.

The business has been very successful in raising startup funding, with a total of $15 Million being raised across a number of funding rounds. These rounds were supported by a total of five investors.


10. ZUMI

Year Founded: 2016

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Mohamed Nuur, Sabrina Dorman, William McCarren

ZUMI is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2016 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company operates in the E-Commerce market and has created a platform where non-food items can be bought and sold easily on their platform, helping Kenyans to get more money.

The business has seen some success in raising startup funding, with $920,000 being raised by the company since being founded. This funding was made possible through the support of six investors.


11. Fingo Africa

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Gitari Tirima, Ian Waiguru, James da Costa, Kiiru Muhoya

Fingo Africa is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in Nairobi. The company operates in the FinTech market and focuses on providing youths in the country with bank accounts. This helps Kenyans to get key financial literacy skills from a young age, which will help them later in life.

The business has seen a lot of success in raising startup funding since being founded, with a total of $4.1 Million being raised by the company. This funding was achieved with the support of five investors.


12. AI Wakforce

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: Moses Njau

AI Wakforce is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company aims to help with the development of AI in the country and abroad by providing dataset training services to assist others in developing their AI.

The business has gone through a single round of startup funding since being founded, with the company's Pre-Seed round netting it an undisclosed amount of funding.


13. Africa Data Centres

Year Founded: 2018

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Unavailable

Africa Data Centres is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2018 and is currently based in Nairobi. The company works in the technology market and aims to help other businesses in Africa to grow and improve through the use of advanced technology and data management services.

The business has been incredibly successful in raising startup funding since being founded, with a total of $83 Million being raised by the company from a single investor. This represents one of the biggest ever Kenyan VC deals.


14. Badili

Year Founded: 2022

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 1-10

Founders: Rishabh Lawania

Badili is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2022 and is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. The company offers services allowing users to get smartphones for lower than average prices, if a user has a broken phone but can't afford a new one, they can even get their old phone fixed.

Despite the relative infancy of the company, it has been incredibly successful in raising startup funding. Since being founded, the company has managed to raise $3.9 Million from ten investors.


15. Koa

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Alexis Roman, Delila Kidanu

Koa is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company operates in the FinTech market and uses APIs to help other businesses to offer savings services to their customers. They plan to modernize the financial system in Africa.

The business has seen good success in raising startup funding since being founded, with the total raise reaching $2.7 Million from four investors. It is unclear whether the business has further plans for funding in the immediate future.


16. RFH Healthcare

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: Maxwel Okoth

RFH Healthcare is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company offers a range of affordably priced and high-quality medical services for people in the country, with the ultimate goal of making healthcare in Kenya a leader on the continent.

The business has gone through a single round of startup funding since being founded, with the round netting the company an unknown amount of funding. It is unclear whether the company has additional plans for funding.


17.  Amitruck

Year Founded: 2019

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Mark Mwangi, Timothy Mwangi

Amitruck is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2019 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company operates in the logistics market and aims to improve the state of the market in the country through the provision of a digital logistics marketplace, increasing efficiencies for everyone.

The business has seen good success in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company raising a total of $5.2 Million being raised from eleven investors. This funding has helped the company to continue towards its goals.


18. Lapaire

Year Founded: 2018

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 101-250

Founders: Jérôme Lapaire

Lapaire is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2018 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company works in the healthcare market and currently provides affordable eyeglasses to people in seven countries across the continent. Glasses are expensive and can price out many people in Africa, not anymore.

The business has gone through a number of funding rounds since being founded, with the company raising a total of $1.2 Million. This funding was achieved with the support of a pair of investors.


19. Wowzi

Year Founded: 2019

HQ: Kileleshwa, Kenya

Size: 51-100

Founders: Hassan Bashir, Mike Otieno

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Wowzi is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2019 and is currently based in Kileleshwa, Kenya. The company helps businesses to improve their marketing in Africa by easily connecting them with African social media personalities that can then advertise their products for them.

The business has been through a number of funding rounds since being founded, with a total of $3.2 Million being raised. This funding was achieved with the support of nine investors.


20. Kapu

Year Founded: 2022

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 11-50

Founders: Sam Chappatte

Kapu is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2022 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company aims to decrease the cost of living in Africa by providing their online kiosk where goods can be purchased at lower prices, leading to savings that people can use for other expenses in life.

The business has seen great success in raising startup funding so far, with a total of $8 Million in funding being raised. This funding was achieved with the support of twenty investors.


21. Kotani Pay

Year Founded: 2020

HQ: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

Size: 1-10

Founders: Brian Kimotho, Daniel Kimotho, Felix Macharia, Samuel Kariuki, Stephen Kiarie

Kotani Pay is a Kenyan startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in the city of Nairobi. The company works in the blockchain market and allows users to connect their DApp, Wallet or Blockchain to the traditional financial ecosystem in Africa. This helps improve financial freedom on the continent.

The business has seen success in raising startup funding since being founded, with the company raising a total of $1.4 Million in funding. This funding was achieved with the support of eleven investors.


FAQs

How Many Startups Are There in Kenya?

There are currently more than 300 tech startups in Kenya.

What is the Average Investment in Kenyan Startups?

The average Seed Round in Kenya is worth $175,00 and the average Series A is worth $1.9 Million.

What Startup Industries Are The Strongest in Kenya?

The strongest startup industries in Kenya are FinTech, FoodTech and Energy.

Top Kenyan Startups To Watch...
Asaf Fybish

As a growth marketing expert, Asaf helps startups driving scalable growth through data-driven strategies and innovative marketing techniques.

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