The Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has identified 130 promising tech startups for potential funding during the upcoming Connected Summit, a major event aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration across Africa’s tech ecosystem. These startups were carefully selected from over 250 applicants registered through the Huduma Whitebox Programme, a joint initiative between ICTA and the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA).
Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of ICTA, emphasized the programme’s commitment to nurturing tech innovators. “We are asking tech innovators to register with ICTA through Huduma Whitebox Programme so that they can be exposed to investors and venture capitalists looking to enter this market. We will take them through incubation, provide business training, mentorship, and connect them with investors to help them scale,” he explained.
Kenya continues to dominate the African tech funding landscape, having attracted Ksh 82.3 billion (approximately $638 million), which accounts for 29% of the total $2.19 billion funding raised across the continent last year, according to Big Deal Africa. The Connected Summit, now in its 16th edition, is expected to host around 2,000 delegates from more than 10 African countries, featuring high-level plenaries, sector-specific breakout sessions, and policy dialogues.
John Tanui, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary, highlighted Kenya’s strategic role in linking regional tech hubs through various initiatives. “We have connections through Lungalunga to Tanzania, programmes linking Ethiopia, and plans to extend these links to Djibouti and potentially Somalia. Connected is a platform for continental collaboration to address challenges no single country can solve alone,” Tanui noted.
A key focus of the summit will be harmonizing data privacy and residency laws across African countries, a move aimed at easing legal barriers for startups expanding into new markets. Kamanguya pointed out the current challenges, stating, “Innovators spend more on legal compliance than on product development. Harmonizing these laws will reduce costs and support scaling.”
Kenya also plans to expand its data sharing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with countries such as Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, building on existing agreements with South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The summit will explore investment opportunities in areas including artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, healthtech, edutech, and digital public services.
The Connected Summit marks a significant milestone for Kenya’s growing tech ecosystem, poised to boost innovation and deepen continental integration.
