Nairobi: Conecta Africa, a new initiative aimed at redefining the support landscape for early-stage businesses across Africa, has been launched in Nairobi, signalling a major shift in how the continent nurtures its entrepreneurial potential. The Pan-African initiative is led by the entrepreneurship platform Bridge for Billions and brings together Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs), policymakers, funders, and corporate leaders from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa to build stronger, more inclusive ecosystems for startups.
According to Kenya News Agency, the launch themed ‘The goal: to build inclusive, resilient, and collaborative ecosystems that better serve startups, especially those led by youth, women, and rural innovators’ was held in Nairobi, marking the conclusion of a three-day summit that brought together over 100 key stakeholders. At the heart of the gathering were 25 ESOs who collaborated on strategies for long-term sustainability, cross-border collaboration, and inclusive economic growth.
Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary (PS) for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Susan Mang’eni announced that the government endorses Conecta Africa since the initiative aligns closely with the government’s agenda. ‘Our youth need more than just encouragement; they need tools and skills to create their own jobs,’ she stated. Further, Mang’eni announced plans to explore partnerships with Bridge for Billions to develop digital learning content tailored for MSMEs.
She also highlighted four ongoing national programmes focused on youth and small business support, inviting deeper collaboration with Conecta Africa to upscale impact. ‘The ongoing preparations for the next phase of the Hustler Fund, which will focus on scaling up enterprises with a strong credit history, include access to larger credit facilities, sector-specific growth solutions, targeted mentorship and business development, and direct linkages to value chains and global markets,’ highlighted Mang’eni.
The PS also urged corporate organisations to unite in supporting SMEs with viable products by helping them access their most critical needs, including capital, markets, and the technical expertise required for scaling. Concurrently, Dr. Maxwell Okoth, Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) for Nairobi County’s Health Sector, also endorsed the local innovation by sharing how his team engineered advanced medical infrastructure using local resources at a fraction of the typical cost.
‘We have the talent and tools. What we need now is the belief in our own capabilities and the funding to match it. If we fail to support local solutions, we risk a new wave of economic recolonisation where we build for others, not ourselves,’ implored Dr. Okoth. In her remarks, the Co-founder of Bridge for Billions, Julie Murat, while reimagining Startup Support as a public good, noted that entrepreneurs are resilient and resourceful, but they should not have to take unnecessary risks to succeed.
‘Just as education has become a public right, entrepreneurship support must become a public good accessible, equitable, and embedded in robust systems,’ she asserted. Additionally, Chaitali Sinha of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) observed that many organisations are doing excellent work but in isolation; hence, Conecta Africa offers a path to shift from fragmented aid efforts to sustainable, locally rooted support models.
Meanwhile, Conecta Africa plans to support the first phase of 1,500 SMEs, starting with focused work in healthcare entrepreneurship and youth- and women-led enterprises. The initiative will also expand research, policy, and investment partnerships to amplify its long-term goals. The Key findings presented during the summit developed in collaboration with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) revealed five critical gaps stalling Africa’s startup ecosystems, including limited ESO funding, fragmented collaboration frameworks, weak inclusion of vulnerable populations, poor data sharing, and disjointed support pipelines.
Conecta Africa is backed by major institutions, including the IDRC, UNIDO, Strathmore University, JP Morgan, and the KNCCI, among others, demonstrating a robust commitment to transforming Africa’s entrepreneurial future. As the continent grapples with economic uncertainty and the aftermath of global disruptions, this initiative offers a promising roadmap to build more connected, inclusive, and thriving startup ecosystems rooted in African realities and driven by African ingenuity. Participants urged investors and donors to look beyond flashy tech startups and channel resources into sectors like health, agriculture, housing, and manufacturing areas that directly impact everyday lives.