The 11th Kenyan cohort in GrowthAfrica’s Acceleration Programme comprises of thirteen innovative and impactful ventures involved in agro-processing, logistics, human capital, food and beverages, medical services, fashion and apparel, digital technology, and insurance. The 6 months cohort based programme focuses on developing and sharpening the entrepreneurs’ skills and capabilities required to scale and growth strategies.
Terryanne Chebet, Founder of Keyara Organics
The ventures were selected based on the potential to scale, degree of innovation, the strength and ambition of the founders and their teams, and their potential to solve key challenges through innovative products or services. The programme is led by experienced in-house facilitators who are experienced entrepreneurs themselves. It also brings on-board speakers, sages and mentors who know the dynamics of running and growing a business and who can provide valuable insights to the entrepreneurs.
The entrepreneurs portray great dedication and willingness to grow, improve and advance their businesses and with this in mind, we are assured that throughout the programme, transformational change will be experienced.
The ventures in the programme are:
Keyara Organics
Keyara Organics produces a line of natural skin and hair care products that are formulated from oils, butters and scents such as shea butter and marula oil sourced locally and from the continent. Keyara products are currently retailing through several stores in Kenya and most recently Uganda through Goodlife Chemists which is a key distributor.
Website: www.keyara.co.ke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KeyaraOrganics/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KeyaraOrganics
Talent Board
Talent Board is a platform that utilises the strengths of crowd sourcing to get the best talent for employers. Through a marketplace for crowd sourced recruitment that provides a medium for employers to post their jobs for the recruitment community to source resumes.
Website: www.talentboard.co.ke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TalentBoardKE/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TalentBoardKe
Burton and Bamber (Sweet Tunda)
An agro-processing company specialising in the preservation and dehydration of fruit and vegetable crops with an objective to reduce currently wasted agricultural produce. Burton and Bamber also exploits the massive increasing global demand for dried fruits and other crops.
Website: www.sweetunda.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweetunda/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sweetunda
Mama Rocks
Mama Rocks is pioneering the African-inspired ‘Gourmet Burger’ and satisfies the ever-increasing number of discerning foodies and globally aware patrons. The company currently operates a food truck business and is in the process of venturing into online orders and deliveries.
Website: www.mamarocksburgers.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mamarocksburgers/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MamaRocks2015
Response-Med
Response-Med deploys portable clinics which are specifically designed to clients’ needs and tailored for extreme environments. Response-Med also offers consulting services in occupational health, pre-employment medicals, health risk assessments, local hospital and health facility audits, remote site reviews and risk mitigation planning. In addition, the company offers 24/7 medical assistance and evacuation management.
Website: www.response-med.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Responsemed254/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/responsemed254
Savvy Riders
Savvy Riders is a social enterprise that aims to professionalise the African motorcycle taxi industry starting with Kenya. The company provides professional rider training, affordable safety gear, and an e-hailing platform where passengers can request riders conveniently.
Website: www.savvyriders.co.ke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SavvyRidersKenya/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Savvy_Riders
Katchy Kollections
Katchy Kollections specialises in designing and fabricating jewellery, fashion accessories and home décor inspired by traditional craftsmanship skills and techniques which are then “manipulated” in the construction of its designs, using beadwork as the main ingredient. The designs are inspired by the rich and colourful Maasai jewellery tradition, each product is adorned with intricate beaded ornaments that have become a signature of the brand.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatchyKollections/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KatchyPr
Africa Collect Textiles (ACT)
A social and environmental impact venture that collects used textiles and footwear for re-use and recycling. ACT leverages strategic partnerships to establish collection points. The collected textiles and materials are then recycled into a variety of new products such as filling material for toys and pillows, sound proof and installation panels, partition boards and ceilings.
Website: www.africacollecttextiles.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfricaCollectTextiles
FunziCard
FunziCard is a pocket money management card. It is used by students within schools and topped up by parents via mobile wallet or bank transfers. It gives parents the flexibility of sending pocket money in small, manageable amounts – eliminating the need for upfront payments. The aim of the product is to curb abuse of pocket money by teens.
Website: www.funzicard.co.ke
Twitter: www.twitter.com/funzicard
Prima Holdings
Prima bridges the gap between investors in transportation opportunities in the corporate world and e-hailing platforms by offering driver recruitment and placement and vehicle management solutions.
Website: www.prima.co.ke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PRIMA-Holdings-LTD-350274118693799/
Royal Brekkers
Royal Brekkers produces ‘Mohawk Kombucha’ – an affordable, healthy alternative to sodas. Kombucha is a variety of fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea drinks. Current flavours include: lime, strawberry and original flavour.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mohawkkombucha/
Surely
Surely, is an end-to-end insurance platform that links underwriters and agents/brokers with insurance intermediaries. The platform allows seamless management of policy sales, management and claims.
Website: www.surely.co.ke
Foods by Likii
Foods by Likii manufactures processed ready to eat precooked frozen red beans, yellow beans, njahi (black beans) githeri (mixed beans and maize), frozen maize, traditional vegetables, peas, carrots, arrow roots as well as processed ready to prepare semi-processed foods such as chipped potatoes, peeled onions, peeled garlic, diced carrots, diced cucumber, de-seeded watermelons. Likii’s frozen foods guarantees availability of food in and out of season.
