For the first time ever, Kenyan startups have a direct line to one of the world’s most competitive and prestigious pitch events, the Startup World Cup.
In early June, ten promising Kenyan startups pitched live at the Kenya Startup Festival, the local qualifier for the Startup World Cup, a global competition run by Pegasus Tech Ventures (the VC firm backing global giants like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Airbnb).
The event, hosted in Nairobi and powered by Silicon Xchange, KeNIA, and NaiBAN, saw mobility tech platform BuuPass emerge as the winner. The startup will now represent Kenya at the global finals in San Francisco, competing for a $1 million investment.
“We’re creating a direct pathway for local founders to plug into a global investment ecosystem,” said Ashley Njoroge, Founder of Silicon Xchange. “It’s a moment to reframe how African innovation is represented and recognized.”
Meet the Top 10 Kenyan Startups That Pitched for the Global Stage
These are the startups that made it to the final stage:
- BuuPass (Winner) – Digital ticketing platform simplifying long-distance transport across Africa.
- Sio Valley Technologies – Building local capacity in advanced manufacturing and electronics.
- Ndovu Wealth – A micro-investing platform helping Africans grow their wealth via global markets.
- Neural Labs Africa – Developing AI-driven solutions for smarter cities and infrastructure.
- Jahazii – Connecting the informal marine economy through tech-enabled logistics and finance.
- LeafyLife – Turning used diapers and sanitary waste into clean fuel and upcycled materials.
- PaydHQ – Providing real-time salary access and financial wellness tools for workers.
- Melanin Kapital Neobank – A neobank bridging African SMEs to impact investors globally.
- Zerobionic – Building affordable assistive and rehabilitation robotics.
- VunaPay – A digital payment platform tailored for farmers and agribusinesses.
This diverse cohort represents the depth and breadth of innovation happening in Kenya.
“This milestone reflects the passion, grit, and commitment our team has poured into building a seamless transport booking experience for millions across Africa,” said Wyclife Omondi, co-founder of BuuPass.
Winning in Kenya is just the start. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, BuuPass will compete against finalists from 70+ countries.
“This initiative helps solve that by shining the spotlight on the founders and their innovations,” said Nick Vilelle, Founder of NaiBAN. “The tech coming out of Kenya is world-class. But sometimes the world doesn’t see it.”
The Startup World Cup Kenya finals were not just a startup story, they were a signal that Kenya’s ecosystem is maturing and that government, investors, and ecosystem players can collaborate in powerful, practical ways.
“We’re moving beyond policy into action,” said Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA. “This is part of our broader strategy to reimagine how the government supports startups—by working directly with private sector players like Silicon Xchange and NaiBAN to create global opportunities.”
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