Understanding Venture Capitalists with Alan Mwangi, 500 Global (AOH)
2026-01-29 17:00 - 19:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | Nairobi Garage
Are you pitch ready?
Are your proposals always getting ignored?
Want to know what you’re getting wrong (or getting right)?
Alan M. (Alan Mwangi, program manager at 500 Global) is an experienced hand in the Venture Capital ecosystem with a deep understanding of the technical, financial, infrastructure and personnel needs of growing businesses across Africa.
With a focus on building founder-first supported networks, his insights into creating the right knowledge backed environment for entrepreneurs and innovators has supported multiple companies from initial pitch into sustainable profitability.
Want to connect with a VC accelerator? Sharpen your product pitch? Get in the right rooms with the right audiences? Or just curious about how Venture Capital works?
Join us and get started on the right path.
Date: 29th January 2026
Time: 5pm-7pm
Venue: Nairobi Garage, Pinetree Plaza 7th Floor

After Office Hours // Maureen Bandari, Founder Bandari Beauty
2024-07-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Maureen Bandari at “After Office Hours”
Join us this month as we welcome Maureen Bandari, Founder and Director of Bandari Beauty Limited, to our “After Office Hours” event. Maureen brings over a decade of entrepreneurial expertise and a relentless drive for innovation in the beauty industry.
When: Thursday 25th, July 2024
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5:00 pm-7:00 pm
Maureen Bandari: A Visionary Entrepreneur
Maureen Bandari is not just the founder and CEO of Bandari Beauty Limited; she is a visionary leader who has consistently anticipated trends and seized opportunities in the dynamic world of skincare.
Her journey as an entrepreneur spans over a decade, during which she has demonstrated a profound understanding of consumer behavior and a knack for navigating the complexities of marketing strategies.
Under her leadership, Bandari Beauty has thrived, establishing itself as a prominent player in the beauty market. Maureen’s commitment to innovation is exemplified by the successful launch of her skincare brand, a testament to her visionary thinking and deep industry insights.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Maureen Bandari is also celebrated as a content creator and influencer. Her captivating storytelling abilities have garnered a dedicated following across social media platforms. Through compelling written content and engaging videos, Maureen has solidified her reputation as a trusted voice in skincare and beauty.
Her contributions to the industry have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Pulse Awards 2023 for Business Influencer of the Year and Most Promising Business Icon of the Year at the Consumer Choice Awards 2024.
After Office Hours: A Platform for Insights
“After Office Hours” is a monthly event at Nairobi Garage where industry leaders like Maureen Bandari share their insights and experiences with our community. It’s an opportunity for entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners, and enthusiasts to gain valuable knowledge, network, and be inspired by the journeys of successful founders.
This July, we invite you to join us for an evening of inspiration and learning as Maureen Bandari takes the stage to share her entrepreneurial journey, insights into the beauty industry, and the strategies that have propelled her to success.
Get your tickets in the link HERE >>>> REGISTRATION LINK
Mark your calendars.
Enjoy our previous After Office Hours Sessions.

After Office Hours Session // Akili Network CEO and Co-Founder Akili Network
2024-06-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs and innovation enthusiasts! Join us for an After Office Hours event at Nairobi Garage // Kilimani.This exclusive event features Jeff Schon, the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Akili Network.
Are you curious about what it takes to build a successful Media House in Africa? This is your chance to gain invaluable insights directly from a leader who is making waves in the educational entertainment industry.
What is Akili Network?
Akili Network is a purpose-driven media company with a clear mission: to become the most trusted and cherished educational entertainment brand for families with children under 18 across sub-Saharan Africa. They believe in the power of high-quality content that sparks both imagination and learning.
Akili Kids!: The First of Its Kind
Akili Network’s flagship project in Kenya is Akili Kids!
This is a first and only free-to-air children’s television channel dedicated to creating local content. This innovative platform offers a safe space for children to enjoy engaging and educational programming that parents can trust.
Akili Kids! fosters a love of learning through its vibrant shows and characters, making it a favorite among Kenyan families.
Why You Should Attend
This After Office Hours event is more than just a lecture. It’s your opportunity to:

Hear firsthand from Jeff Schon about his entrepreneurial journey, leadership strategies, and the innovative approaches that have driven Akili Network’s success.
Network with fellow industry professionals and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for making a difference.
Gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to your own entrepreneurial aspirations.
Ask questions and engage in a stimulating discussion about the future of educational media and tech startups in Africa.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from the best! Come prepared with your questions, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Let’s make this After Office Hours an evening of inspiration, connection, and unforgettable insights.
When: Thursday 25th, April 2024
Where: Nairobi Garage // Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Reserve your spot here today!

Nairobi Garage X Smart Sales Workshop // The Power of Mindset in Revenue Generation
2024-06-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Nairobi Garage Spring Valley
Nairobi Garage X Smart Sales Workshop // The Power of Mindset in Revenue Generation
Ready to supercharge your sales and watch your business flourish? Join us at Nairobi Garage for a workshop led by our very own member, Mr. Edward Wachira, also known as Mwalimu Wa Sales! Edward Ndegwa is the CEO of Smart Sales KE Limited and a valued member at Nairobi Garage Kilimani.
Smartsales KE is a Kenyan-based sales company dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through enhanced sales strategies and capacity building. The company supports startups in becoming more profitable.
By focusing on increasing their capacity to sell, Smartsales KE helps startups unlock their full potential and achieve sustainable growth.
Smart Sales Workshop // Nairobi Garage Spring Valley Office
This month, Mr Edward Ndegwa will be conducting a workshop at our Nairobi Garage offices in the Spring Valley area of Nairobi.
In this session, Mwalimu Wa Sales will shed light into the power of a positive mindset for driving revenue growth.
This workshop is perfect for entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals looking to take their revenue generation to the next level. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an industry expert
Sign up today HERE and mark your calendars!
DATE: June 13th, 2024
TIME: 10:00am-11:30am
VENUE: Nairobi Garage // Spring Valley, General Mathenge Drive (The Promenade Building)
Edward Ndegwa brings a wealth of experience to the Mastering Business Growth Program. As the CEO of Smartsales (k) Ltd, he has a proven track record of driving sales success.
Over 22 Years of Entrepreneurial and Sales Expertise

Led multiple businesses across various industries, with over 4 held in executive positions.
Achieved remarkable results, growing sales from scratch to exceeding Ksh 100 million within 3-5 years for 3 different sales teams in diverse sectors.
Demonstrated prowess in sales training, having empowered over 8,000 sales professionals in the past 12 years.

Success in Revenue Generation

Contributed to significant revenue growth in one of his ventures, a marketing agency, which achieved over Ksh 1.9 billion in just 5 years.

Extensive Industry Knowledge

Holds experience in more than 25 different sectors, including insurance, banking, telecommunications, and media.

RSVP HERE TO ATTEND WORKSHOP
Member Spotlight // Edward Ndegwa Smart Sales KE
As part of our member Spotlight series, here are the interview excerpts from the CEO of Smartsales KE Limited that you can enjoy as you look forward to the workshop.

Nairobi Garage X CatalyzU Workshop // Building Community For Customer Acquisition
2024-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Nairobi Garage Spring Valley
Nairobi Garage X CatalyzU Workshop // Building Community For Customer Acquisition
In this age of the internet, customer acquisition is a constant battleground.
Businesses are bombarded with advertising options, and consumers are increasingly selective about how they spend their time and money. Standing out from the crowd requires more than just a catchy marketing slogan. It requires building a strong community that fosters trust, loyalty, and ultimately, drives customer acquisition.
Are you struggling to convert leads into loyal customers? Do you wish you had a vibrant community that attracts new leads organically?
Join us for a Nairobi Garage workshop at our coworking office in Spring Valley, led by the Head of Platform & Community at CatalyzU!
CatalyzU
CatalyzU is an organization that vets, trains, and places Africa’s leading non-technical talent at global companies. Learn from an expert how to foster engagement, build brand loyalty, and turn your community into a magnet for new business.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn powerful strategies to build a thriving community that fuels customer acquisition. Our expert speaker is Anthea Hartzenberg, Head of Platform and Community at CatalyzU.
A little over a month ago, CatalyzU launched a comprehensive fellowship designed in partnership with Future Africa, called ‘How to Startup’. This will equip founders, aspiring founders, and startup employees with the essential skills, practical insights, and knowledge needed to build scalable businesses in Africa – from those who’ve done it.
The launch of the program happened at our Nairobi Garage event space in Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza. You can check out the images below.
Also Read: March 2024 Events at Nairobi Garage in Pictures
In our upcoming workshop, our expert speaker from CatalyzU will share their insights on:

The power of community for customer acquisition
Fostering meaningful connections and interactions within your community
Leveraging your community to convert leads into loyal customers
Live Q&A session with the expert

This workshop is perfect for:

Business owners and marketing professionals
Entrepreneurs looking to grow their customer base
Anyone interested in building a strong online community

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best and unlock the power of community for your business!
RSVP Here to Secure Your Spot.

After Office Hours Session with Martin Nielsen, CEO and Co-founder Mdundo.com
2024-04-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours Session with Martin Nielsen, CEO of Mdundo.com
This month at Nairobi Garage, we are focusing on health and innovation. We are creating a healthy workspace across all our 5 coworking offices in Nairobi, where you can make work feel easy and enjoyable. Our members provide a pool of innovative professionals and individuals which a wealth of network that has kept building since the inception of Nairobi Garage.
Innovation is the lifeblood of progress. It’s what drives companies like Mdundo, co-founded by Martin Nielsen, on a mission to revolutionize the music industry across Africa.
Join us for an After Office Hours Session this month at Nairobi Garage // Kilimani with Martin Nielsen, the CEO and Co-founder of Mdundo.
When: Thursday 25th, April 2024
Where: Nairobi Garage // Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Martin’s journey into entrepreneurship started in 2012 when he moved to Kenya as the Entrepreneur in Residence for 88mph, an African investment fund focused on early-stage tech startups.
88mph would later become Nairobi Garage, and Mdundo has been a member since!
Also: Member Innovation News // Fingo Africa Releases New Financial Management Features
Fast forward to today, and Mdundo stands as one of Africa’s leading music services, boasting over 30,000,000 active users monthly from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company aims to provide Africa with easy and legal access to online entertainment and reach millions of people across Africa every month. Mdundo enables artists to keep track of fans, downloads, and royalties paid in July and January every year. They now work with +150k musicians across Africa and have a licensing deal with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Believe Digital, and Tunecore.
During our After Office Hours session this April, Martin will share valuable insights gained from his entrepreneurial journey. From navigating the intricacies of the music industry to fostering innovation in a competitive market, Martin’s experiences offer a wealth of knowledge for aspiring entrepreneurs and industry enthusiasts alike.
Beyond poeeking into his entrepreneurial journey, Martin will also touch on Mdundo’s innovative approach to providing music lovers with easy and affordable access to a large library of music. With partnerships with major global players, Mdundo’s reach and impact continue to expand, shaping the future of music consumption in Africa.
If this is a space you would like to be in, here is a free invite to the session.
Join us! RSVP Your Attendance Here

After Office Hours with Tom Osborn
2023-08-31 17:00 - 18:00
After Office Hours with Tom Osborn
In our fast-paced and demanding modern world, there is an ever-increasing recognition of the paramount importance of mental health. Its profound impact resonates through every aspect of our lives, including our professional well-being.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sheds light on the alarming statistics, revealing that approximately one in four people worldwide will encounter a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. These conditions transcend age groups and cultures, affecting individuals from all walks of life.
Among the prevailing mental health disorders globally, depression stands as a formidable foe. An astonishing 264 million people, spanning all ages, are grappling with this relentless challenge, and shockingly, many cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.
As these numbers continue to surge with time, it becomes increasingly crucial to address mental health issues, particularly conditions like depression and anxiety, which are significantly impacting the lives of young people, especially in Africa.
In light of this urgent public health priority, the Shamiri Institute was founded a few years ago. Its noble mission is to deliver evidence-based mental health care to young people in Kenya, a country where only two psychiatrists serve every million individuals.
The Institute’s vision is to make mental health affordable for all, personalized to an individual’s needs and circumstances, and integrated within existing systems of caregiving and community life
Join our After Office Hours session this month with Tom Osborn, CEO and Founder of the Shamiri Institute.
During the session Tom will delve into the vital subject of mental health, exploring ways to foster healthier and more supportive work environments that empower everyone.
Having started his first company at the age of 19 years, Tom will also share valuable insights on his journey into entrepreneurship and the lessons gathered over the years.
Beyond that, this exceptional session is a unique opportunity to discover how Shamiri Health’s work is a blueprint for transforming workplace culture across the globe and empowering leaders with innovative approaches to actualize their teams’ potential.
Don’t miss out on this session. RSVP your attendance:
When: Thursday, 31st August
Where: Nairobi Garage // Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5:00 pm
About the speaker
Tom Osborn is the Co-Founder and CEO of Shamiri Institute, a data-driven public benefit organization that develops and scales mental healthcare for young people across Africa and especially Kenya, and Shamiri Health, a health-tech startup that provides wellness solutions to corporates.
Tom is a TED Fellow given to doers who have shown unusual accomplishment, and exceptional courage, and are creating positive change around the world—and a global Forbes’ 30 under 30 social entrepreneur.
Globally, Tom has developed a reputation as a community mobilizer, social entrepreneur, and global mental health innovator.
At 18, he co-founded GreenChar, a social enterprise that provided 3,000 homes and institutions in rural Kenyan and urban slums with clean energy.
For his trailblazing work in the clean energy sector with GreenChar, Tom became the youngest recipient of the Echoing Green Fellowship – an award given to the leading emerging social entrepreneurs around the world.
He has also other numerous national and international awards for his community-oriented entrepreneurship, including World Deliver Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, the Donors’ Circle for Africa Energy Prize, and many others. Africa Youth Awards named him one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans.
Tom is a graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology (High Honors) with a secondary in Computer Science.
About Shamiri Health
Shamiri Health is making mental health and wellness affordable and personalized in the Global South. Their platform enables employers, teams, and individuals in the Global South to receive affordable and personalized mental health care. This is done through the use of cutting-edge precision-care algorithms to match users to superior-quality personalized mental health care. Founded by Shamiri Institute, Shamiri Health’s platform is built upon years of research and development, worth more than $1.5m, by world-leading mental health experts.
Join us then!
When: Thursday, 31st August
Where: Nairobi Garage // Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5:00 pm

Meet Baobab Network and Umoja Labs // Fundraising, and Novel Opportunities in Web3
2023-06-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
Meet Baobab Network and Umoja Labs // Fundraising, and Novel Opportunities in Web3
Join us for a community-building and networking event for entrepreneurs and investors in partnership with Umoja Labs and Baobab Network.
This session will be focused on providing education and insights into the exciting world of fundraising, with a particular focus on opportunities in Web3.
As an entrepreneur looking to navigate the evolving landscape of decentralized technologies, this event will equip you with valuable knowledge and strategies to succeed in raising funds for your venture.
The session will also offer a great platform to introduce Umoja, a platform that makes it easy for Kenyan businesses to raise capital as well as invest in private debt deals that drive inclusive economic growth.
They will share their invaluable experiences, practical tips, and best practices to help you unlock the potential of decentralized fundraising.
From initial coin offerings (ICOs) and token sales to decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), this event will cover a broad spectrum of funding opportunities.
During the session you will gain insights into:

Fundraising strategies tailored to the Web3 ecosystem
Navigating regulatory considerations and compliance in decentralized fundraising
Identifying potential investors and building meaningful connections
Evaluating the risks and rewards of Web3 fundraising models
Leveraging decentralized platforms and protocols for fundraising

This event promises to be an excellent opportunity to learn, network, and explore the future of fundraising in Web3. Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts who share your passion for innovation and decentralized technologies.
To secure your spot, please RSVP by using the following link here. We encourage you to reserve your spot as soon as possible.
We look forward to your presence at this event and to collectively shape the future of fundraising in the Web3 era.
When: Wednesday 7th June
Where: Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza, off Ngong Road
Time: 5:00 pm

Workshop// How to Triple Your Sales Using Social Media Ads
2023-05-09 10:00
Workshop// How to Triple Your Sales Using Social Media Ads
As a business owner or marketer, you know that social media is an essential tool for reaching your target audience and driving sales. In this webinar, we will share proven strategies and techniques to help you leverage social media ads to triple your sales.
Join us for a workshop with Boniface Gakonyo, Team Leader at Shopping Secrets Kenya, and Joshua Fernandez, CEO Digi-Mark International on how you can triple your sales on Facebook using Facebook Ads.
During this live webinar, you will learn:

The benefits of using social media ads for your business
How to create effective social media ad campaigns that convert
Best practices for targeting and retargeting your audience on social media
Strategies to optimize your ad spend and maximize your ROI
And much more!

The duo has extensive experience in social media marketing and has helped numerous entrepreneurs grow their businesses using Facebook.
You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get personalized advice on how to improve your Facebook presence and drive more sales.
The workshop will take place on May 6th from 10:00 am.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best and take your business to the next level!
We look forward to hosting you through the session!
When: May 9th, 2023
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Livestorm.co

After Office Hours with Dr Patricia Murugami
2023-04-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Dr. Patricia Murugami
It is said that you become more courageous by taking bold decisions.
Some of the leading companies that are admirable today have been formed from the bold decisions the founders made earlier.
From quitting well-paying jobs, taking a career shift, and so on, it takes courage to bring to life your dreams and vision.
Sustaining your vision also takes another leap of courage.
If businesses are managed without courageous leadership, then R&D programs, product pipelines, investments in emerging markets, and employees’ commitment to the company’s mission and vision will ultimately wither.
These organizations can slip into malaise and may eventually fail, even if their leaders can move on to avoid being held accountable.
So what does it take to become a courageous leader? And what does it take to also bring up another lot of courageous leaders?
As we continue celebrating women throughout this month, join us for an after-office hours session with Dr. Patricia Murugami, founder of Breakthrough Leadership Transformation (BTL).
During the session, Dr. Patricia will walk us through her journey into entrepreneurship and how she had to quit at the peak of her career, working with some of the leading auditing firms to pursue her passion in entrepreneurship.
She will also share how a life experience got her to a point where she needed a breakthrough as she had found it difficult to find her purpose and discovered she was not alone in trying to find purpose and this would lead to the registration of Breakthrough Leadership Transformation (BLT) as a limited liability company.
This year, International Women’s Day was themed DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, Dr. Patricia will share with us what it takes to be a woman disrupting the digital space, a space she has taken a keen interest in through her podcast: Your Next Best Self and also being a TED Fellow, having given a TED talk at TEDxIESEBarcelona on the four steps of unlocking our potential
As a firm believer of why women need to know and harness their feminine power and that humanity should all focus on becoming integrated, Dr. Patricia’s story is one of grit & courage in life, love, leadership & legacy.
Don’t miss out! RSVP your attendance!
When: Wednesday, 5th April
Where:Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 PM
RSVP
About the Speaker
Leadership Educator and host of the popular podcast, ‘Your Next Best Self’, Dr. Patricia Murugami is one of Africa’s most sought-after speakers and educators, reshaping executive leadership globally.
Her work is recognized and embraced by thousands of CEOs, C-suite leaders, and corporations, who trust her wise insights and extensive professional background to help them scale up in their various ﬁelds.
A wife, mother, and Kenyan author of 3 books: Rise – The 4-Way Manifesto for Life and Legacy, Pause – Musings on Life, Love, Leadership & Legacy, and The Daring 2022 Journal, Dr. Patricia is also the Founder of Rise School, the ﬁrst of its kind online leadership school that is focused on helping you to become: ‘Your Next Best Self.’
Dr. Patricia has worked with Fortune 500 companies, high-impact corporations, and middle-sized enterprises.
Her knowledge in areas of self-mastery, crisis management, leadership resilience, and new normal strategies, empowers men and women to not only serve with excellence but with a mission-purposeful perspective.
Dr. Patricia is undoubtedly an educator connoisseur. For more than two decades, she has extensively lent strategic guidance, research, and business insights in the Education sector.
She was an Advisor to the Dean and Vice Dean, Executive Talent Development at Strathmore Business School, Kenya on matters of leadership, notably Women in Leadership & Business, and Governance.
She developed global strategic alliances with other schools such as Lagos Business School, Nanyang in Singapore, Cranﬁeld School of Management in the UK, and GIBBS in South Africa amongst others.
She further developed blended digital E-learning solutions for Pan-African clients as a critical part of a World Bank consulting project.
Her oversight on the quality management of all executive education and corporate academy programs has, to date, left an indelible footprint at the Strathmore Business School.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration – Transformational Leadership & Governance from the International School of Management (ism.edu), in Paris.
She is also deeply passionate about positively impacting humanity and serves as the Chair of the Clean Start Governance Board; a social enterprise that works with women and children affected by the criminal justice system to restore dignity and hope for successful reintegration.
To date, she has served on multiple boards in various capacities and is a sought-after board and leadership policy advisor, impacting many with her renowned Breakthrough Mastery Circle & Rise Masterclass in Self Leadership.
Dr. Patricia’s work, which has reached millions worldwide, has been honored with multiple, noteworthy awards:

Top 15 most inﬂuential leadership voices LinkedIn – 2022
Top 25 Most Powerful Women in C-Suite Impacting Business – 2021
Top 3 most inﬂuential podcasts in Kenya-2021, Your Next Best Self Podcast with Dr Patricia Murugami
National Diversity & Inclusion Business Executive Champion Award in 2019.
Jacob’s Well Most Impactful 12 women in the region in 2015, and
Top 40 under 40 Women -2010

Loyal Clients That Trust Dr Patricia:

Safaricom PLC
East African Breweries Limited
ABSA Group Ltd
Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Bank Group across 16 African countries
Multichoice Kenya Limited
Safal Group

As a Speaker and Leadership Coach, Dr. Patricia has the unique ability to deliver warm, electrifying keynotes that catalyze leaders and teams to put their best foot forward.
Her track record speaks for itself. To date, she continues to catalyze leaders into acting with clarity of purpose and impact, while inspiring the organizations they lead to become unrivaled.
Don’t miss out! RSVP your attendance!
When: Wednesday, 5th April
Where:Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 PM
RSVP

After Office Hours with Jack Hartpence //Co-founder PowWater
2023-02-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Jack Hartpence
While Sustainable access to safe drinking water is the foundation for quality of life on earth today, still water remains to be the world’s most pressing problem.
With access to safe drinking water communities can move to address secondary and tertiary quality of life indicators such as gender equality, economic opportunity, education, and health
According to UN Statistics, in 2020, 74 percent of the global population had access to safely managed drinking water services, up from 70 percent in 2015.
Still, two billion people live without safely managed drinking water services, including 1.2 billion people lacking even a basic level of service.
This has seen the demand for water rise owing to rapid population growth, urbanization, and increasing water needs from the agriculture, industry, and energy sectors.
Decades of misuse, poor management, over-extraction of groundwater, and contamination of freshwater supplies are some of the key contributors to the exacerbated water stress.
In addition, countries are facing growing challenges linked to degraded water-related ecosystems, water scarcity caused by climate change, underinvestment in water and sanitation, and insufficient cooperation on transboundary waters.
SDG 6 focuses on universal access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030, To achieve this the current rates of progress would need to increase fourfold.
Achieving these targets would save hundreds of people who die from diseases directly attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices.
As shocking as the statistics look, one company is re-writing this story daily trying to close this gap by enabling access to clean water for people across East Africa and South Asia and through empowering the communities they serve.
In 2018, Jack Harpentence Co-founder and CEO of PowWater, co-founded PowWater, a public benefit corporation that builds transparent technology and makes impact investments to improve access to clean water.
So far Powwater has distributed over 17 million liters of water and its vision is to be the most trusted water supplier in Africa.
Powwater currently works in close partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has brought sustainable clean water to over 200,000 people across East Africa and South Asia.
In 2021, PowWater was inducted into the Business Call to Action, a UNDP consortium of the top 250 businesses in the world tackling the SDG’s.
As part of our monthly event series, #AfterOfficeHours, this month, we are privileged to have Jack Hartpence, CEO of Powwater host ours After Office Hours session.
PowWater is democratizing access to high-quality water through water quality testing and an integrated end-to-end platform for water vendors and customers. PowWater’s mission is to build the most reliable clean water delivery in Kenya and its vision is to be the most trusted water supplier in the world.
Come and listen in as he shares his story on how a personal experience triggered a sense of passion for a better world leading to the founding of Powwater: to provide as many people as possible with access to water, the foundation for quality of life on earth today.
Jack will also share with us what this means and how his journey with serendipity led him to water and Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus’, the pioneer of microfinance and social business, founder of Grameen Bank, and United Nations Board Member.
Jack is a recipient of Forbes 30under30 for social impact. Jack has given a TEDx talk titled “Compassion for a better world,” and has been featured as a panelist on Youth, Technology, and Social Entrepreneurship at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York.
You cannot miss this out.
Read more about the session here! RSVP your attendance and see you then!
When: Thurs, 23rd February
Time: 5:00 PM
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
RSVP
About the Speaker
Jack Hartpence serves as Co-Founder and CEO of PowWater. After a near-death car accident in 2017, Jack recognized that the purpose of life is to help others and this world we call home.
This is why Jack started PowWater: to provide as many people as possible with access to water, the foundation for quality of life on earth today. In 2022, Jack was inducted into Forbes 30 under 30.
Jack has also been featured as a TEDx speaker, and as a panelist on Social Entrepreneurship at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Jack is a Stanford University Ambassador of Compassion.
“If PowWater succeeds at their mission they will be the most important company in Africa.” – Adam Draper, BoostVC
PowWater’s mission is to democratize access to water, and its vision is to be the most trusted water supplier in the world.
PowWater currently works in close partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has brought sustainable clean water to over 200,000 people across East Africa and South Asia.
In 2021, PowWater was inducted into the Business Call to Action, a UNDP consortium of the top 250 businesses in the world tackling the SDG’s.
Linkedin – here
When: Thurs, 23rd February
Time: 5:00 PM
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
RSVP

Fireside Chats // China As A Consumer Market
2023-02-22 19:00 - 21:00
Fireside Chats // China As A Consumer Market
China is one of the most fast-paced and rewarding business environments in the world.
In fact, every large multinational you know of, from Apple to Volkswagen, Starbucks, you name it… is likely to have a massive presence in China. So, you, too, should not be left behind.
Some interesting statistics to look into; China is now the world’s second-largest consumer market, boasting a middle-income group of over 400 million people.
Retail sales of consumer goods were 44.1 trillion yuan (about 6.97 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2021, seeing an increase of 1.1 times, compared with 2012.
Chinese people have become more well-off compared with 10 years ago, therefore, boosting the country’s per capita disposable income to reach 32,189 yuan in 2020, more than double the figure of 2010.
In light of this, it is no surprise that China is now the number one world destination for foreign direct investment, according to recent UN figures.
So what exactly is fueling foreign companies to continuously cash in on Chinese consumer markets? What benefits can your business tap into from the Chinese market? And how has the Chinese business environment improved over time even as the market gets ranked in the 31st position of the economies in the world bank’s ease of doing business report?

To demystify the Chinese Market and have a clear picture of the China Market, join us for a Fireside Chat on China as a Consumer market with Cheng Cheng Ph.D.- Program Director, A Green Revolution for Africa, Allen Lu- Marketing Manager, Kilimall and April Long- Founder, Naskia Handmade. The session will be moderated by Sharon Ngugi, Marketing Manager, Nairobi Garage.
During the session, the panel will also share the steps of starting or setting up a business in China as a foreigner, from picking a location to hiring your first employees.
RSVP your attendance and see you then
When: Wednesday, 22nd February
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 PM
RSVP
About the speakers
Cheng Cheng PhD
Before joining AGRA, Cheng served as Chief Economist at Made in Africa Initiative and Senior Advisor for UNDP Asia & Pacific between 2018 – 2020.
Before MIAI, Cheng worked as a Research Fellow for the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, at the Renmin University of China.
Dr. Cheng has published dozens of articles in Chinese and international journals, He co-authored two books both on development economics and finances in Africa.
His own book “Official Development Finance with Chinese Characteristics: New Model for China-Africa Cooperation” was published in Aug 2018 by the Renmin University Press. He is also a frequent commentator for several television networks.
Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, or AGRA, is an alliance of varied agencies in Africa’s agriculture sector for the benefit of small-hold farmers and farming communities across the continent.
Since 2006, AGRA has worked with partners across Africa to deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers and thousands of indigenous African agriculture enterprises.
AGRA is catalyzing an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa by increasing incomes and improving food security for over 30 million farming households in 14 focus countries by 2022.
In AGRA’s making of New Strategy 2030, China is expected to play a bigger role in the development of Africa’s agriculture sector in manners such as south-south-cooperati on, technology transfer, experience sharing, infrastructure improvement, and trade facilitation.
When: Wednesday, 22nd February
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 PM
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Exciting Revenue Hack // The 4 Secrets to make Your First $100k in your Business
2023-02-07 10:00 - 11:00
Exciting Revenue Hack // The 4 secrets to Making your first $100k in your Business
Starting a new business can be an exciting, new adventure but can also have a fair share of its own challenges.
But it goes without saying that there are many obstacles and hardships facing new business owners.
It’s a sad stat but about 90% of startups fail and actually, 10% fail in their first year. So how can you – as a business owner – avoid being a number in those stats? And what are some of the reasons that lead to this? Is there a way to grow your business revenue better to ensure you miss out on the stat?
Join us for a workshop led by Aleska Costa of the first $100k Program as she shares with us simple ways that we can take to make the first $100k as entrepreneurs.
During the session, we will be able to demystify financial freedom in business as well as learn ways that we can break barriers in creating financial independence and success in businesses with a mission of building businesses to the first $100k.
When: Tues, 7th February
Where: Livestorm.co
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
RSVP here
About the speaker
Aleksa Costa is an experienced business coach and former boutique fitness owner for the past 10 years in London & UAE.
She is on a mission to teach more starting female entrepreneurs how to make their first $100k in revenue.
As a feminist business mentor, she strongly believes female entrepreneurship is the key to gender equality and wants to make mentor-ship and support available to every woman.
RSVP your attendance
When: Tues, 7th February
Where: Livestorm.co
Time: 10:00 -11:00 am
RSVP HERE

Ask Me Anything // An Open Discussion with Matteo Rizzi
2023-01-31 17:00 - 20:00
Ask Me Anything // An Open Discussion with Matteo Rizzi
The entrepreneurship journey can be an interesting one filled with a number of its own challenges. The process involves a journey of improvising and coping with uncertainty.
With this past year of nonstop crises, economic uncertainty, and social injustices, entrepreneurs and company CEOs have experienced quite uncertain times.
These many uncertainties have wreaked havoc on employees’ lives to make it even harder for management teams to maneuver the landscape.
There are also many obstacles as well as pulling, pushing, and driving forces that entrepreneurs may encounter along the way, and many times the journey is filled with questions of whether this was even the right decision in the first place.
Also, Read// 11 slides that you would like to include in your next pitch deck
To help us answer all the questions you might have as an entrepreneur, Nairobi Garage and Timepledge have partnered to host the first of its kind, Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session with Matteo Rizzi, the Founder, and CEO of Timepledge.
When: Tues, 31st Jan
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani, 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Ngong Road
Time: 5 PM
Come ready to learn from the best! This event is open to all entrepreneurs and those seeking to start of their journey into entrepreneurship.
RSVP your attendance here
About the speaker
Matteo Rizzi is an unconventional entrepreneur and a book author with two decades of experience in Financial Services. For three years in a row (2014-2016), Financial News has nominated Matteo as one of the “40 most influential FinTech executives in Europe”.
He has been an investor till today, and specifically today he is an Impatient Investor with Bamboo Capital Partners.
In 2008 Mateo Rizzi co-founded Innotribe, the innovation arm of SWIFT, where he worked for 13 years. He also launched the Innotribe Startup Challenge, the first global deal flow of its kind. He left SWIFT in 2013.
From 2013 until 2015, Matteo Rizzi was a Partner in SBT Venture Capital, one of the first funds (100M USD) solely dedicated to FinTech investment (Series A), building a portfolio of 12 startups.
In 2015, Matteo created and cofounded FTSGroup.eu a platform for Investors, Innovators and start-ups to foster FinTech innovation globally, with some 50+ missions and events all over the world.
Through it, Matteo founded the Timepledge.org initiative, a global program helping African entrepreneurs in several domains of their businesses, from product to strategy to channel management to investor pitching.

He is the author of «The FinTech Revolution» and «Talent & Rebels», where through the life and professional story of the author, helped by a number of conversations with renowned innovators and leaders across industries, the book finds predictable patterns to figure out ways to not only spot these lateral thinkers in your organization but also to deal with them and use their peculiar talent to help your business thrive.
Recently, Matteo Rizzi took the position of Executive Producer of Breaking Banks Europe (a spin-off of Breaking Banks US) available on Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Matteo Rizzi speaks five languages and holds a University degree in Computer Science (University of Genova) and a Postgraduate in Financial Transactions (Solvay Business School).
When: Tues, 31st Jan
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani, 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Ngong Road
Time: 5 PM

After Office Hours with Waceke Nduati
2023-01-26 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Waceke Nduati
Financial independence is a goal many strive to achieve, yet only a few accomplish it.
However, in most cases, this is a topic that can spark heated debate, promote quirky get-rich-quick schemes, or drive people to pursue transactions that they might otherwise never consider.
As we start the new year, we are sure to top of your new year’s resolution is managing your personal finances better.
Knowing your financial status at all times is vital. We should always be ready to take a reality check to assess the areas needed to improve and identify blind spots that hinder us from reaching our goals.
But how can you manage this and is it too late to get your finances right?
Join us for After office Hours with Waceke Nduati, Director and Founder of Centonomy Ltd, a company in the knowledge industry with a focus on Wealth Creation, as she shares with us her passion for equipping Africans with the essential tools. This knowledge helps them live financially successful and impactful lives.
She will also share with us her journey and transition into entrepreneurship, lessons learned on the way, milestones covered, and why everybody can create wealth and live out of their aspirations.
During the session, Waceke will also share the secrets of wealth creation through different types of investments.
Waceke has been talking money for the last 10 years and has gathered experience in the stock market, portfolio management, unit trust management, investment research, property finance, and accounting.
Please RSVP and see you then!
When: Thurs, 26th January
Where: Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Kamburu Drive
Time: 5:00 PM
About the Speaker
Waceke Nduati is the Founder of Centonomy Ltd (which she started in 2009 in Kenya), an Author, and an Entrepreneurship Coach.
She is driven by her passion for teaching people how to create wealth and Centonomy under her leadership, has been able to significantly change the lives of people in the East African Region region. This has been done through the various Financial Literacy as well as Entrepreneurship coaching programs which have reached over 500,000 people.
The impact has been seen as people who have gone through the programs get the confidence to pursue their dreams, overcome financial challenges, create wealth, start and grow sustainable businesses, employ people and become solution providers in their unique ways.
Waceke is a renowned thought leader and is popular for her ability to break down and demystify money & entrepreneurship in a way that is relevant for all.
This combined with her own practical experience in starting and growing a business that has the kind of impact Centonomy enjoys, has made her the go-to expert in matters of Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship for most media outlets and organizations in Kenya.
Waceke has been a financial columnist for the top daily newspaper in the country (the Daily Nation) publishing over 500 articles. She published her first book Making Cents in March 2019 which is being distributed across the region and has sold over 5,000 copies.
She has been called on to speak and train at various forums, seminars, and conferences.
This includes on several occasions being a panelist/speaker in various regions for UN Women on Economic/Financial Empowerment for Women.
She has given keynote addresses at various forums including at the Central Bank of Kenya, Safaricom, various banks, universities, churches, media organizations, numerous private organizations, and NGOs.
She has also worked with governments and parastatals. She is a board member at Old Mutual Securities and has also sat on a bank board.
Apart from her work with empowering over 2,000 entrepreneurs through Centonomy, she teaches Money & Entrepreneurship at Babson College (Massachusetts, USA); mentors other entrepreneurs in partnership with the Stanford Seed program (run by Stanford University) and has been an adjunct faculty member of Strathmore Business School (Nairobi, Kenya.)
She has received much recognition for her work including being nominated as of the top 50 Women to Watch in the country by Business Daily.
In 2021 she received the Builders of Africa Award from the African Diaspora Network in partnership with the United States African Development Foundation.
Waceke holds Masters Degrees in Banking & Finance, Professional Accounting. She also has had advanced entrepreneurship training from Babson College (USA), Stanford Seed Transformation Program (run by Stanford University), and the owner Manager Program at Strathmore Business school.
Prior to starting Centonomy, she had ten years of experience in the investment industry locally as well as internationally in Australia.
Please RSVP and see you then!
When: Thurs, 26th January
Where: Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Kamburu Drive
Time: 5:00 PM

Webinar // How to Take Care of Mental Health As an Entrepreneur
2022-12-06 10:00 - 11:30
Webinar // How to Take Care of Mental Health As an Entrepreneur and Ensure Maximum Productivity
2022 hasn’t been the easiest year for most entrepreneurs especially those operating from Kenya.
As we were just recovering from the pangs of COVID-19, the electioneering period began and before we could even wrap our minds around the elections, a recession appears likely to hit in full force by the second quarter of 2023, and many people are already living the reality of a recession thanks to inflation and rising interest rates.
With a downturn in the near future, business executives are now faced with a new challenge on how their companies can weather the storm and come back stronger once it subsides.
Apart from these global challenges, as an entrepreneur, intense work hours or conflicts among co-workers also add to the stress and pressure that entrepreneurs face
It is then important to take care of your mental health. Stress can be a huge factor in the success or failure of an individual’s business. It is easy for entrepreneurs to get caught up in the day-to-day work and forget about their own needs.
As entrepreneurs, There are also times when our mental health is at risk because of the problems that come with the business such as
It can be hard to deal with your daily life and still give 100% attention to what you do for your business. One of the most important things you should keep in mind is your mental health because it will affect how you do business tomorrow and for years to come.
As we come to the end of the year, there is a need to take a look back at the year that has been and take account and while at it take a look at the state of our mental health and well-being. Wondering how? Join us for a webinar on The mental health and the well-being of entrepreneurs hosted by Abdibasid Ali, Founder of The Project Inside Out
During the session, you will inform, inspire, and share knowledge and skills that businesses can use to better their well-being when dealing with the day-to-day stresses of running a business while managing other responsibilities.
In addition, the webinar will delve into practical techniques for increasing psychological safety and productivity and how to optimize the workplace, especially for women entrepreneurs.
You can’t miss out on this. RSVP your attendance here!
When: Tues, 6th December
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Livestorm

About the speaker
Abdibasid Ali is a psychotherapist, a Behavioral Analyst, a Paul Ekman Associate, and a private and corporate coach specializing in the mind-body connection and emotional intelligence.

Abdibasid uses mindfulness, self-compassion, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help others work through their challenges.

Abdibasid is currently working on a research project examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ICU personnel (intensive care unit) within the Norwegian Health Authorities.

This research is one of few globally and focuses on the emotional intelligence of ICU nurses post-pandemic.
Abdibasid has rich experience providing counseling and psychotherapy services to teens, adults, couples/families, groups, corporations, executives, and political refugees.
His areas of expertise include anxiety disorders (panic attacks, phobias), marital/couples counseling, PTSD(post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, and work-related issues.
Abdibasid is a sought-after expert in emotional intelligence and mental health advocacy.
He has trained large organizations around the world in how to improve their teamwork and productivity. His unique approach combines cutting-edge science with real-world experience, giving his clients the tools they need to succeed.”
When: Tues, 6th December
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Livestorm

Webinar // How To Tackle The Idea of A Winning & Excellent Mindset
2022-11-29 10:00 - 11:30
Mindset In The Age of Chaos // How To Tackle The Idea of A Winning & Excellent Mindset
We all want to know the secret to success, but the reality is that there are so many factors that go into what makes one truly successful.
Successful entrepreneurs, leaders and other top performers understand that the journey is the destination.
You never arrive. You work hard to succeed, and then you work twice as hard to maintain your success. It’s a slow grind. And it starts with your mindset.
A winning mindset, like success in business, isn’t handed to you. You have to build a winning mindset over time.
In a world full of chaos though, developing the right mindset can be a little bit hard but we can help. Wondering how?
Join us for a workshop on Mindset In The Age of Chaos // How To Tackle The Idea of A Winning & Excellent Mindset hosted by Nangami Masakha.
During the session you will learn:

Steps to creating a winning mindset
What does it mean to have a winning mindset?
How do you develop a winning mindset?
What are the Mindsets of success?

When: Tues, 29th November 2022
Where: Livestorm
Time:10:00am
RSVP: Livestorm
About the speaker
Nangami Masakha is a public speaker and a corporate trainer.
Her vast knowledge of communication using the power of storytelling has been pivotal in helping entrepreneurs and brands articulate deliverables and make them desirable to consumers and audiences.
As a public speaker, tackling the idea of a winning mindset in the age chaos is pertinent to her mission of reinforcing mindset shifts particularly among entrepreneurs.
When: Tues, 29th November 2022
Where: Livestorm
Time:10:00am
RSVP: Livestorm

WYLDE Meta Boost// The Digital Business Transformation Session
2022-11-28 17:30 - 2022-11-30 19:30 | Nairobi Garage Spring Valley
WYLDE Meta Boost// The Digital Business Transformation Session
Everybody learns at their own pace, and technology often develops at a rate faster than any one person can keep up with.
Frankly, improving your digital skills can be scary to some employees. It is easy to get overwhelmed by new software applications, marketing platforms, and the ever-creepy Internet Of Things.
But if you keep a tight focus, employees at every level of business can improve their digital skills.
After all, technology exists to assist us and make our jobs easier. If your digital skills are not on point for your profession, you are going to lose your job.
Every aspect of your job nowadays requires some level of digital skills.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a roofer, retailer, or corporate CEO—your job requires some level of digital skill.
In fact statistics show that in Sub-saharan there are significant gaps in education that have led to labor market implications, and education experts fear that many Africans are not learning the skills they need for 21st-century jobs.
The World Bank’s most recent Future of Work in Africa report, published on June 21, 2020, uses self-reported data on LinkedIn users from 27 countries across sub-Saharan Africa to better understand the level of digital skills held by workers in the market.
Each country observed had at least 100,000 members who were currently in the labor force (ages 15-65).
While LinkedIn data is only available for the small, nonrandom subset of African populations using the platform and is correspondingly biased towards white-collar professionals employed in technology-intensive sectors, the data still offer valuable information on skills attainment where other sources of data are limited.
And as everything gets disrupted by technology, your organization needs to stay current.,your competitors will pass you by.
As Humphrey Bogart notes in Casablanca, “It might not be today or tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.” Don’t let a lack of digital skills become a great regret.
Today, Social Media platforms are a great tool that can help you boost your digital skills through the different learning programs they offer to help you learn and teach digital skills including free courses, online training and certifications.
For most businesses, social media works as a marketing tool and statistics show that a whopping 93% of marketers worldwide are using social media business & in 2022, almost 92% of marketers who work for companies with more than 100 employees are expected to start using social media for marketing. This goes to show the huge potential that lies in Social media.
To help your teams achieve this, join us for an in-person training series designed to connect you with content that relates to the changing digital dynamics, to suit small and medium sized business owners seeking to create an impact in the digital space.
This 3-day digital skills session will be held in partnership with WYLDE International and Meta.inc.
The session is also designed to help you create a business impact in the digital space through Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.
When: 28th, 29th and 30th November
Where: Nairobi Garage // Spring Valley
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
RSVP your slot

After Office Hours with Mark Mwangi, CEO Amitruck
2022-11-24 17:00 - 20:00
Road Transport in Africa can be quite cumbersome as it comes with considerable challenges.
From inefficient logistics companies, long distances, potholed roads, and complicated border-crossing procedures the transport industry is fragmented and riddled with untrustworthy middlemen and plagued with a lack of security, which greatly increases the cost and liability of transporting goods.
Well, in recent years the situation is slightly changing as we see the emergence of numerous companies that offer technology solutions to address these and other headaches faced by cargo owners and transporters on the continent.
One company that seeks to digitalize logistics in Africa is Amitruck, a Nairobi-based trucking logistics marketplace that allows transporters (owners of motorbikes, pick-ups, vans and trucks) to find and connect with customers through a mobile app.
Founded in 2019, the startup’s platform connects transporters directly with cargo owners via its web or mobile application, avoiding middlemen.
Transporters bid for work on the platform, ensuring competitive prices, while cargo owners have convenient access to a range of competitive offers and can choose a transporter based on price, rating and experience.
Having been set-up just before the pandemic hit the nation, so how was it or has it been building the company up through the pandemics? What challenges have been encountered and what lessons can we gather from the Amitruck Journey?
Join us for an After Office Hours session with Mark Mwangi, CEO and Co-founder at Amitruck as he walks us through his entrepreneurial journey that has seen him build one of the leading and successful companies in the transport and logistics industry.
During the session, Mark will also walk us through his journey from being a truck driver to becoming a logistics start-up co-founder and CEO, what really pushed him into taking this bold step and what opportunities lie in the continent’s logistics industry?
Away from the company, Mark will also share the dos and don’ts of scaling a company in new territories, his elevator pitch, his biggest mistake (and what he learnt from it), and what one needs to look out for while seeking company funding.
Amitruck raised pre-seed round of USD1 million in 2021, and less than a year later the company backed US$4 million seed round to help it expand across Africa and expand its team across key functions, including sales, engineering, and customer success.
Amitruck’s database consists of over 8,000 vehicles, which have in just over two years completed almost 100,000 deliveries for more than 300 corporate clients.
Consequently, its revenue grew 1,000 percent in 2021. The startup is now eyeing market dominance in the Africa trucking and logistics market, which accounts for almost 80 per cent of transported goods.
You can’t miss this. RSVP your attendance and see you then!
When: Thurs, 24th November
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani - 7th Floor, Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5 PM
About the speaker
Mark Mwangi, Founder and CEO is an ex-investment banker and worked in the Capital Markets in London where as part of a team of four he managed a €5bn public equities portfolio at Pictet Asset Management.
He also co-founded a startup in the UK called Dalwyn, a platform that enabled consumers and producers of natural gas to connect and transact directly with each other.
By combining industry experience and technical expertise, they were using artificial intelligence and automation to transform Europe’s gas market.
One of the origins of Amitruck is that to pay for his full-time Mathematics degree in the UK, he worked as a full-time night shift truck driver.
When he moved back to Nairobi in 2018, he identified a gap in the trucking industry after spending some time with family friends in the cement business.
This culminated in the formation of Amitruck in 2019 to use technology to bring transparency to the logistics industry in Kenya. Mark is part of the Harambean alliance.
When: Thurs, 24th November
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani - 7th Floor, Pinetree Plaza
Time: 5 PM
RSVP and see you then!

Fireside Chats // Demystifying Venture Studio Model
2022-11-16 17:00 - 20:00
Fireside Chats // Demystifying Venture Studio Model
Venture Studios are taking the startup world by storm.
It is recorded that since 2013, this new business model for creating startups is becoming increasingly popular across the world.
In a span of about 7 years, Enhance Ventures reported in 2020 that there are roughly 560 such studios across the globe, representing more than 625% growth in the studio market,.building numerous unicorns globally like Hims, Snowflake, and MongoDB.
It is clear that venture studios are undoubtedly disrupting the startup world, and many people credit the success of venture studios to several unique attributes of this model, e.g. they provide companies with experienced entrepreneurs and investors, a creative environment, corporate partnerships, and large investors looking to build companies.
But what exactly are venture studios? Venture Studios are a new way to create companies by working on a project from as early as the problem-identification stage to launch, and this greater involvement allows the venture studio to retain more equity and returns.
Unlike traditional entrepreneurship where one team works on a single idea, venture studios defy the odds by bringing together talented entrepreneurs, investors, designers, and engineers to repeatedly create successful startups at scale.
Understanding venture studios and their growing role is essential for anyone operating in the startup ecosystem. Whether you’re looking to start, work with, or invest in a venture studio, or simply looking to familiarize yourself with the model,
Join us for a Fireside Chats Session with Adelaide Muthang’i Venture Sourcing Analyst at Founders Factory Africa, John Kamara Founder Adanian Labs, Ruth Bertens, Managing Partner & Co-Founder Pyramidia Ventures and Ben Peterson, Founder and CEO Purple Elephant Ventures as we try to demystify this phenomenal disruptor in the startup world and get a better understanding of the history of venture studios and their strategies.
We will also explore the structural, operational, and financial factors that impact studio performance. And finally, evaluate the studio industry’s track record and future outlook to determine how the model stacks up to other asset classes like venture capital.
To book your slot, kindly RSVP here
When: Wednesday, 16th November
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 PM
RSVP

Demystifying Work-life Balance
2022-10-27 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Karen
Work-life balance for many women seems like a far off vision that they can only dream of!
In recent years we have seen a steep increase in the number of female founders starting and scaling their businesses to global standards both in Kenya and Africa at large.
It’s exciting to live in an era where women are empowered and have access to diverse opportunities that help improve the quality of their lives. Well, we know the famous quote that states that when you educate the woman you educate the whole society. Much as we have seen the rise in female founders, we have also experienced an extraordinary shift in women occupying the executive c-suite positions in various local & international companies. One exciting example is the former Chief Consumer Business Officer of Safaricom PLC, Mulinge Sylvia who was recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda.
We can’t forget the huge milestone that another female founder, Hilda Moraa crossed with her company Pezesha when they recently raised $11M backed by Women’s World Banking, Cardano parent IOG. With these developments comes the greater challenge of these women having to pursue work-life balance so as to ensure that every facet of their lives thrive. The Covid-19 pandemic introduced a whole new dimension with the increased cases of remote working with women having to manage their jobs, relationships, parenting responsibilities and life in general.
The innate desire of every human being is to live a fulfilling life, one that touches on their innermost wants and needs that enable them to live out their purpose. According to research done by the American Psychological Association, they deemed work-life balance an unattainable myth. Instead they advised women to seek help, prioritize the roles and learn to rest.
We are excited to host a Fireside chat with phenomenal women who are breaking barriers in business and in the corporate world to Demystify Work-life balance: Igniting That Inner Spark, Thriving in the different facets of life & Living Unapologetically. In the panel we have Wamuyu Kiragu, Managing Director Pulse East Africa, Pinky Ghelani, Budding Entrepreneur, Monicah Mugure, Senior Payments Solutions Expert & Global Mentor, Faith Muturi: Managing Partner Delve Training Limited & Nadia Ahmed: Chief Administrative Secretary Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs ( Kenya’s youngest assistant minister) moderated by Sharon Ngugi: Marketing Manager Nairobi Garage.
The women will delve into their experiences building from the ground up, challenges they have faced, managing the various roles in their lives and ways they have managed to live unapologetically and thrive in their spheres of influence.
October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, we have partnered with one of the leading healthcare providers AAR to have a free general check-up for the women who will be in attendance as well as a breast cancer check-up. Prevention is definitely better than cure, your health is a priority.
Date: Thursday, 27th October
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Nairobi Garage Karen, The Watermark Business Park
Reserve your spot today and be a part of this exciting event.

After Office Hours with Hilda Moraa CEO Pezesha
2022-10-21 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Hilda Moraa CEO Pezesha
The fintech market offers more and more solutions each year. In fact, we can witness the real boom of such products.
Even before the pandemic, analysts predicted the global industry revenue to grow up to $188 billion by 2024. Not to mention that global lockdowns shifted the attention to digital options even more significantly.
These stunning prospects attract increasingly more enthusiasts. Last year, the number of fintech startups passed the 25,000 mark.
Although the market seems saturated, there is still a place for your fintech business to compete with the industry giants as access to finance still remains a key growth constraint for small businesses, with data showing a $330 billion financing deficit for the small enterprises that make up 90% of Africa’s businesses.
Wondering how you can set-up your fintech business or still how you can scale and grow your current business? Well, here is a chance for you to learn from a leading entrepreneur in the space.
From founding then selling Weza Tele, a mobile solution firm in the distribution, supply chain and financial services to building Pezesha which has helped more than 30,000 mid- and small business owners get a credit score and find affordable financing, generating more than 10,000 jobs combined, join us for After Office Hours session with Hilda Moraa CEO and Founder Pezesha.
Pezesha, a pan-African Fintech Company offers a B2B digital lending infrastructure focused on providing affordable working capital to financially excluded SMEs. This sector is estimated to face a $328 billion financing gap.
In August 2022, Pezesha, which means “capital enabler”, raised pre-series A investment of $11 million – a mixture of $6 million in equity and $5 million in debt. The funding round, led by Women’s World Banking Capital Partners II, will see the start-up scale operations in its core markets while growing into new markets within Sub-Saharan Africa.
During the session, Hilda Moraa will share her story of entrepreneurship, what drives her and also tips of running a successful fintech business in Africa.
Also sign-up to attend role of fintech companies in achieving SDGs and Vision 2030
She will also share the challenges experienced in her journey and what it takes to scale a business into new markets.
Also get to learn how Pezesha has been able to build a substantial network that connects Small and Medium-sized businesses to working capital from banks, microfinance and other financial institutions.
Don’t miss out! RSVP your attendance and see you then.
Date: Friday, 21st October
Time: 5 PM
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
RSVP
About the Speaker
Hilda is an award-winning entrepreneur and author. She has more than 12 years of experience in Fintech, regulation and working with multinationals supply chain firms like Coca-Cola to develop innovations across Africa.
She previously founded WezaTele, a Fintech startup in Kenya that was acquired in 2015. She is currently the Founder & CEO of Pezesha, a holistic digital financial infrastructure powering embedded finance to SMEs and institutions across Africa.
Hilda holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship & a Business Information Technology Degree from Strathmore University.
Among her achievements are being named as one of the 50, Africa’s most promising innovators by Global Shaker in 2020, one of the Quartz Africa top 30 innovators in Africa in 2018 and Kenyan’s among Forbes 30 Most Promising Young African Entrepreneurs of 2016. She also serves as a board director at Konza City.
Don’t miss out! RSVP your attendance and see you then.
Date: Friday, 21st October
Time: 5 PM
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
RSVP

The Role of Fintech Companies In Helping Achieve SDGs
2022-10-07 17:00 - 19:00
The Role of Fintech Companies In Helping To Achieve The Sustainable Development Goals & Vision 2030
In recent years, we’ve seen a ballooning of activity in the fintech scene, where financial companies and startups use artificial intelligence (AI) and other tech in their day-to-day processes.
As consumers increasingly turn to alternative, digital methods of managing their finances, tech-savvy startups and traditional financial institutions (FIs) alike are diving into the fintech industry. And investors would be wise to take note of this digital shift.
In Fact, The Global Fintech Market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 20% over the next four years. The market value is expected to reach around $305 billion by 2025, according to GlobeNewswire.
Additionally, this year marked a watershed moment for the fintech sector, with the once clear distinction between fintechs and financial services now blurred significantly.
Virtually every incumbent financial institution is now looking inward and engaging in an innovation drive, spurred on by competition from fintechs amid the coronavirus pandemic. As such, incumbents are now actively investing in, acquiring, and collaborating with their fintech rivals.
With all these going on, Fintechs also continue to play a major role in helping us achieve quite a number of the 17 SDG Goals and Vision 2030. While many may argue that the FinTech Sector Lacks a Long-Term Vision, from blockchain, to mobile money and digital lending platforms, the contribution of fintechs has helped in one way or another, directly or indirectly achieve a number of SDGs Goals.
For example Building Blocks (BB) is a World Bank Food Programme (WFP) blockchain technology used to distribute humanitarian assistance and is helping to achieve SDG Goal 1 and 2.
This programme expands refugees’ choices of how they access and spend their cash assistance. WFP uses Building Block technology to transfer cash to Syrian refugees in Jordan and vulnerable families in Pakistan.
The refugees buy food from local retailers using a biometric scan of their eye. This digitizes and protects beneficiaries’ data, eliminates fraud, and lowers administration fees.
Not forgetting how the use of blockchain technology, which had helped revamp the fintech industry, has been used in renewable energy as a tool for decentralizing the electricity market, carbon credits, and climate finance.
Also, the World Bank established an innovation hub that uses blockchain technologies to address land administration, supply chain management, health, education, cross-border payments, and carbon market trading.
Away from blockchain, Mobile money platforms also helps to achieve SDG Goal No 1 and 2 (no poverty and zero hunger) through the employment of agents.
In Kenya there are over 160,000 M-Pesa agents who earn a living from commissions on transactions. With over 20 MNO and licensed third-party providers in Africa offering mobile money services, the number of agents employed are extrapolated at 500,000.
Well, these are just but a few examples of how fintech has played a huge role in achieving a number of SDGs, to further carry-on this discussion, join us for a fireside chat with Fiona Umulisa, Regional Director East Africa at Grey, Ted Pantone, CEO and Co-Founder Turaco , Ali Quedraogo, Head of Expansion Strategy MFS Africa and Andrew Letting Cluster Lead, East Africa Fintech and PSP Enablers at Mastercard as we explore on the ways that fintechs are becoming a huge contributor in achieving the SDGs and Vision 2030.
This fireside chat will bring a unique focus on the importance of sustainability and digital technology in reorienting the role of finance to help economies rebuild towards a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.
The fireside chat will also aim at raising awareness among financial institutions on the strategic role that fintech could play in addressing the financing challenges of the sustainable development agenda including the role of fintech in:

Improving financial inclusion of underserved groups
Building resilient infrastructure
Fostering innovation

The session will also cover a number of fintech topics from different countries; giving a perspective on what is available in the market, how to be more resilient and better prepared for innovative solutions, as well as providing participants with best practices on fintech in their market.
RSVP your attendance, join us then and reinforce your knowledge, and network with the industry.
When: Fri, 7th October
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5:00 pm
RSVP

After Office Hours with Gloria Michelle Otieno
2022-09-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Gloria Michelle Otieno CEO Recours Global HR
For many entrepreneurs, quitting a well paying job with a great company, finding the perfect niche for a business & keeping the business lucrative can be quite challenging.
No wonder different entrepreneurs would say, “not a single day is the same in their journey.”
With entrepreneurship having been lionized in the recent past, there is always a push in most of us to ‘Become our own Bosses’ mostly driven by headlines about firms that turned from someone’s solo vision into a global success story seemingly overnight.
Well, the tendency to equate entrepreneurship with startups or Silicon Valley does us all a disservice, and what we mostly forget is that there is so much energy and sweat that most entrepreneurs put in their businesses.
For many entrepreneurs what sets them apart is their zeal, passion and the need to revisit their business ‘why’ over and over again.
Having quit her job at Kenya Airways, Gloria Michelle Otieno started off her journey into entrepreneurship by identifying a gap in the Human Resource sector.
From how interviews are conducted, to the manner in which hiring companies select candidates, and the quality of candidates being churned into these workplaces, all these were drivers that made such a significant contribution to her desire to make an impact in the industry.
Close to a decade later, Recours Global HR ,is an award winning, global, innovative, sustainable and technological HR Firm specializing in recruitment, staff outsourcing, payroll, surveys and training.
Join us for an After Office Hours session with Gloria Michelle Otieno, CEO and Founder Recours Global HR ,as she shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the hurdles she has faced in her field of human resources and training and what drives her in this journey.
Apart from her journey into entrepreneurship, Gloria will also share how her business is making a huge difference to the development of a new, well-trained population who will drive the future economy of the country.
Also learn about how Recours Global HR , is allowing live her dream and fulfill not just her aspirations, but also those of all the young people who use its services.
RSVP your attendance!
When: Thurs, 29th September
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5 pm
RSVP Here
About the speaker
Gloria is a champion of the Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent work and Economic Growth for all.
She is The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Recours Global HR , (formerly Recourse Four Kenya Consultant Limited) i a company that she founded in 2013 to create an award winning Human Resources Firm that pushes the boundaries way beyond the limitations of a standard Human Resource Firm.
Her organization is an accredited HR Firm which is youth focused, Education orientated and heavily pegged on the belief that there is a solution to global youth unemployment and the soft skills development training gaps faced by most Organizations.
Her firm has trained several professionals on several soft skills programs which have gone as far as to boost careers and influence promotions.
With nearly 10 years of industry experience, she has built a diverse team focused on developing long-term client partnerships, providing in-depth expertise and delivering the comprehensive solutions required in Recruitment, Training, Staff Outsourcing, Strategic Planning, Payroll and HR Consultancy.
The results have earned her accolades and she has been featured in several international and local publications as a beacon of excellence, a further testament to her gift of leadership, business and entrepreneurship.
As part of her achievements Gloria was Listed as:

Forbes Africa Top 30 under 35 ‘Most Promising Entrepreneurs in Africa 2017 and 2018’

Winner of a Business Excellence Award Certificate by World Confederation of Businesses, USA 2017

East Africa Finalist for the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) 2018 – Young Business Leader of The Year

Winner of The 254 Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, 2019

Winner of The World Woman Leadership Awards by The World Women Leadership Congress, 2019

She has also had a chance to speak in Global Forums such as

The Wilton Park Event in South Africa on Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa which featured the Secretary General of the Commonwealth:
The Women Entrepreneurship and Innovation Summit 2018, Nairobi

Here is a great chance for you to listen into her inspiring story and also link up with her. RSVP your attendance here
When: Thurs, 29th September
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani
Time: 5 pm

Webinar // Cybersecurity 101 for Businesses
2022-09-27 10:00 - 12:00
Webinar // Cybersecurity 101 for Businesses
Understanding what it takes to secure your business from online fraud.
As cyber threats continue to escalate and data breaches grow in scale and prominence, there is nothing more important than keeping your business safe.
Unfortunately, these threats seem to evolve as quickly as the technology designed to prevent them. You need a plan to keep your business ahead of the game, protected and secure.
Often prime targets for cyberattacks because they aren’t protected by the same level of security infrastructure as larger companies — yet they still have valuable data to offer.
According to studies, about 60 percent of small companies go belly up in the six months following a cyberattack and another one in five small businesses fall victim to cybercrime each year!
Black hat hackers have a bullseye on small businesses because they know SMBs can’t afford the same defense systems as enterprise giants, making it simple to break into your network.
While small businesses are disproportionately targeted by hackers, large businesses also fall victim to data breach.
Examples include Yahoo, Target, Sony, and Dropbox; each resulting in a PR nightmare that harmed business relations and public perception.
Untangling the aftermath of a cyberattack can be expensive, stressful and time-consuming for your business.
Don’t let this happen to your organization! Join us for a webinar with Dr. Bright Gameli Founder Africahackon and Judy Ngure, Board Member of CyberSafe Foundation and Senior Cyber security Engineer and Senior Cyber security Engineer at Sendy Ltd on cybersecurity101 tips to secure your business.
During the session, you will learn:

Proactive steps to safeguard your company’s most important information.
Emerging technologies, hidden security vulnerabilities and other cybersecurity challenges
Defending against ransomware trends
Securing your business from online fraud and much more

RSVP your attendance,
When: Tues, 27th September
Where: Livestorm
Time: 10 am
RSVP:
About the speaker
Dr Bright Gameli
Dr. Bright Gameli Mawudor is the founder of the Cyber Security collective Africahackon, the first ever Live demonstration Cyber Security Conference in East and Central Africa.
He acquired a Ph.D. in IT Convergence and Application Engineering with a concentration in Information Security from Pukyong National University, South Korea.
For his professionalism, Dr. Bright is an Advisory Board member of

EC-Council Global Advisory Board Member – CTIA
Cybersafe Foundation
AfCAA – African council for accreditation and accountability

He has over 10 years of professional experience in the Cyber Security industry with strong expertise in Cyber security Strategy building, Resilience, and system penetration testing. Bright has also presented at over 195 Cyber Security conferences, lectured at various universities, and contributed to cyber security publications.
He was also recognized by Tribe of Hackers: Blue Team 2020, Top 40 Under 40 2016/2021 of young entrepreneurs in Kenya and worked with world-class organizations such as Dimension Data/NTT, Cellulant, and Ushahidi.
Dr. Mawudor has performed various evaluations and selections of Cyber Security tools and successfully implemented IT security systems to protect the Confidentiality, Availability, and Integrity of critical business environments to curb and mitigate risks.
Technically highly skilled in various environments, especially in the Cyber Security space, dedicated and a team player with excellent leadership qualities
About Judy Ngure
Judy Ngure is a cyber security practitioner with over 4 years of experience in the field, she has been working in cyber security mostly specializing in application security , Bug bounty programs, enterprise security , data compliance , information security and overall security exposure of organizations.
She sits on different advisory boards across Africa, mostly to help bring diversity in the cyber security field: Ie cyber safe foundation and Vigi trust
In her line of work she has managed to co-found a community of women in cybersecurity that aims to upskill women in cyber security and in 2021 founded an Identity management platform that services 32 countries across african.
She has been nominated and won awards in the following categories, just to mention a few:

Top 50 women in cybersecurity africa – 2021
Young CISO awards 2022 – Nigeria
Woman hacker of the year(africa) -2020
Nominated woman hacker of the year award internationally- 2020

She continues to build for Africa and help bring about cyber safety in our beautiful continent of africa.
When: Tues, 27th September
Where: Livestorm
Time: 10 am
RSVP:

Workshop // Streamlining Processes in Your Business
2022-08-30 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a workshop on streamlining processes in your business with Faith Nkatha Makeba on Tues, 30th August from 10 am.
Business processes are the lifeline of every business. Improving business process outcomes has a direct impact on the business bottom line
Do it wrong, and you’ll end up defeating the very reason you started streamlining business processes in the first place.
Organized and streamlined business processes ensure better and predictable business outcomes. Continuous business improvement starts with understanding business processes and simplifying them.
Join us for a workshop on streamlining processes in your business with Faith Nkatha Makeba, CEO, and Founder of Makeba Consulting.
In this webinar, Faith will help us explore how businesses can reduce costs through process definition and documentation.
She will also cover what businesses must do before they outsource or automate processes.
When: Tues, 30th August
Time: 10 am
Where: Livestorm.co
About the Speaker
Faith is an operations governance, analytics, and project management executive with 17+ years’ success leading operations innovation for high-growth organizations.
She is a Triple Threat Project Leader with repeated success in guiding sizeable, cross-functional teams to achieve leading-edge business solutions, especially through Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, Business Analysis, Change, and Process Management.
She has a talent for problem-solving and leadership, and is an expert presenter, negotiator, and businessperson; one who is able to forge solid relationships with partners and build consensus across multiple organizational levels.
She has a passion to help organizations get to where they want to go by ensuring that it’s the right place for them and they use the right path. Cost optimization and operational efficiency are key in all her interventions.
RSVP your attendance here!
When: Tues, 30th August
Time: 10 am
Where: Livestorm.co

After Office Hours with Tesh Mbaabu
2022-08-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
After Office Hours with Tesh Mbaabu
Starting a business is full of exciting challenges and potential learning opportunities gained from the risks that come with it. Understanding these unique obstacles may prepare professionals to handle them if they encounter any as they start a business.
In an ultra-competitive business world, these challenges are quite inevitable. Fortunately, entrepreneurs also have more resources than ever before to tackle those problems. There are also a number of entrepreneurs who have gone before and pushed boundaries by establishing priorities, setting goals, and developing systems to achieve those goals.
From raising capital to managing teams, entrepreneurship is never an easy uphill task, there are always low moments which in most cases can be more than the highs. In fact, most people opt to try both worlds of entrepreneurship and employment.
So how does one push the boundaries in a world where we are all programmed to find employment? Join us for an After Office Hours session with Tesh Mbaabu, Co-founder and CEO of Mesozi Group.
During the session, Tesh will share with us his entrepreneurship journey as a young entrepreneur spanning close to one decade. Over the years Tesh Mbaabu has implemented several projects in Kenya. With his numerous national and international recognitions, he has won the trust of investors ready to support the East and West African expansion of his B2B platform.
RSVP your attendance!
Where:Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza
When: August , 25th 2022
Time: 5 PM
RSVP here
About the Speaker
Tesh is an African serial technology entrepreneur who lives to blend commerce and technology. He is a creative and strategic thinker from both a product and commercial perspective; experienced in building startups in the African scene.
He is the Co-founder & CEO of Mesozi Group, an information technology holding company offering and investing in tech-enabled solutions across several industries and markets in Africa.
Their flagship product, MarketForce, provides an all-inclusive B2B Commerce and Fintech platform (dubbed “RejaReja” – Swahili for ‘retail’) that empowers merchants in Africa to source, order, and pay for inventory digitally and conveniently, access financing, collect digital payments and make extra money by reselling digital financial services such as airtime, electricity tokens and bill payments.
As an avid adventure seeker, Tesh co-founded Cloud9xp, which helps travelers easily discover and book the best leisure experiences, at the best price, across Africa. They exited to HotelOnline in 2020.
He is a Harambean 2020, Westerwelle Young Founder 2019, Alibaba and UN Fellow 2019, and was awarded Techpreneur of the Year 2019 in the East Africa FOYA(Founder of the Year) awards and African Garage Top 25 under 25 Entrepreneurs in Kenya in 2015. He is a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Nairobi.
MarketForce is a leading B2B Commerce and Banking platform that empowers informal merchants in Africa to source, order, and pays for inventory digitally and conveniently, baking services access a banking wallet with credit facilities, collect digital payments and earn extra income by offering agency and reselling digital financial services such as airtime, electricity tokens and bill payments in their communities.
Launched in 2018, MarketForce is a fast-growing YC-backed company running an asset-light business model and is currently operational in 5 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 100,000 merchants and 50 consumer brands trading on the platform. They recently closed the largest Series A round out of East and Central Africa.
RSVP your attendance!
Where:Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza
When: August , 25th 2022
Time: 5 PM
RSVP here

Fireside Chats // The Do’s and Don’ts of Fintech Business
2022-07-22 05:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
Fireside Chats // Scaling A Fintech Business, Do’s & Don’ts
The last couple of years have been chaotic and the dust is still settling for most African Businesses in the different sectors, however as far as doomsday scenarios go, fintech investments have been doing pretty well.
According to Fintech Circle the numbers in terms of funding went up over the pandemic period: In 2020, Series A, B, and C rounds had increases of 12%, 21%, and 69% YoY respectively, as did the global number of fintech startups, which doubled over the year.
This goes to show that, the fintech market is ripe globally and especially in Africa, and the new emerging leaders all have the same in common: agile, efficient, forward-looking scaling.
Scaling, however, comes with a lot of inherent challenges that demand the right answers. For growth-driven startups, regardless of industry sector or specialty, some tried and tested guidelines can be followed to enable steady scaling — and with it, expand their clientele, attract more capital, and repeat. Wondering how?
Join us for a Fireside Chat with Benjamin Fernandes a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur and the founder of NALA —a cross-border money transfer service to reduce the costs of sending money from the diaspora to East Africa, starting with the UK.
Early in the year, Nala secured a seed round of $10 million in a new fundraising round, backed by leading US Venture Capital firms including Y-Combinator, Accel Partners, and DST Global.
This comes three years after NALA secured a seven-figure pre-seed round led by Accel in 2019. During that time, NALA built a mobile money service in East Africa and scaled it to more than 250,000 users.
But in 2021, NALA started testing international money transfers after some users expressed interest in moving money from the U.K. to East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania), thus ushering Tanzanian fintech into the remittance business.
During the Fireside Chat, Benjamin will share with us the success behind Nala Money, the DOs and DON’Ts of scaling Fintech Businesses in Africa as well as his passion for solving problems and the incredible story that is FinTech in Africa!
RSVP your attendance!
When: Fri, 22nd July
Where: Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Ngong Road
Time: 5 PM
About the speaker
Benjamin Fernandes is an award-winning Tanzanian speaker and entrepreneur. Benjamin grew up in Tanzania, then earned scholarships that took him to America for the first time at the age of 17.
At age 21, Benjamin was the youngest African in history to ever be accepted into Stanford Graduate School of Business.
He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and an Exec Ed from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, being the first Tanzanian to attend both institutions.
Fernandes was previously a national television personality in Tanzania. After that, he worked at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the United States.
In 2018, Fernandes founded Nala, a fintech startup that is on a mission to increase economic opportunity for Africans globally. NALA recently raised $10m backed by leading US investors such as Y-Combinator, Accel, Amplo, and Bessemer Partners.
In 2020, Fernandes was listed as the 15th most influential Tanzanian. In 2022, Fernandes was listed in the inaugural ROW100 most influential technology leaders in the world.
RSVP your attendance!
When: Fri, 22nd July
Where: Nairobi Garage // 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza off Ngong Road
Time: 5 pm

Workshop // Navigating the Investment Maze
2022-07-19 10:00
Workshop // Keys to Creating Successful Investment Plan for Personal and Business Growth
Recession? Inflation? Depression?
Those are terms we have seen being thrown around. And it seems like chicken little is literally crying as the sky is falling. In the US, the inflation rate moved to 8.6% in May 2022.
The highest it has been since August 1981, I know, I know, some of us were not even born then.
Money is considered a sensitive topic and for most, it is spoken in hushed tones. And yet, money is a medium of exchange and we use it every day. It represents value. The phone cost $350 or KES 35,000.
Then the two main questions become, how do we make money work for us? How do we make better money decisions early to save ourselves from a series of financial heartbreaks?
With such craziness happening in the global financial sector, we still have to make great money decisions. The money decisions we are making affect our ecosystem. We have to pay our bills at home, pay our employees, keep the lights on and meet our shareholders’/investor obligations and have fun, enjoying ourselves all the while.
Our choices have to be curated towards keeping and growing our monetary value. Investment though comes with a whole lot of pitfalls and shortcomings. We all have a story or two of an investment plan that didn´t work.
The investment landscape is quite interesting. We have a whole range of options, it is like a supermarket, from shares, bonds, real estate, the works including REITs, crypto, and managed futures. Truly there are as many options as there are needs.
Our main aim is to help you navigate the choppy waters, and the options available and give you a compass, as to where, and how to ensure you keep to your true north. Your investment road map should be guided by the current market and future considerations.
We have many voices speaking and pulling us in many directions, yet investment needs to be done with facts and figures, devoid of emotions, focused on growth. Investments that make you an income must be well researched, and curated, and must protect the initial capital. This means making very conscious decisions on where and how to invest.
Are you curious about how to build your investment road plan, join Alex Rurii, a seasoned financial expert, and CEO of Moran Capital Management for a workshop on solutions to building an investment plan?
Through this workshop the participants will be able to get a bird´s eye view of investments, what to look out for when choosing an investment vehicle, how to plan ahead, adjusting for currency volatility, in order to produce better results in the market.
At the end of the session participants will be able to understand:

History and Investment life Cycle
What is an investment? Investment options and their definitions
Investment Diversification
Why does it matter? Which vehicles do I use?
What steps can I take to make my investment decisions sound and profitable?
Where do I begin?

RSVP your attendance and see you then!
When: Tues, 19th July
Time: 10am- 11am
RSVP: Livestorm
About the speaker
Alex Mungai Rurii is a high-impact Business Consultant with a strong ability to identify initiatives and facilitate action-driven plans to support corporate growth and objectives.
He is currently the CEO of Moran Capital Management Limited. Alex is a finance professional with a proven record of over 20 years of accounting and finance, insurance, banking, and fund management operations experience which are key in evaluating business and investment opportunities, quickly understanding the financial needs of clients within their markets, and making sound, profitable and sustainable investment decisions.
He has vast experience having worked in PWC, Britam, and Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and enjoys farming.
He is an expert in the identification and implementation of financial management strategies to capture margin improvement opportunities that impact bottom line profits. Alex has consistently delivered a strong performance in new business development, growth, and diversification and is a regular feature in business articles on Wealth Management in East Africa
RSVP your attendance and see you then!
When: Tues, 19th July
Time: 10am- 11am
RSVP: Livestorm

#AfterOfficeHours with Christian Duffus
2022-07-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Nairobi Garage Kilimani, Pinetree Plaza, Kaburu Drive, Nairobi, Kenya
#AfterOfficeHours with Christian Duffus
Cryptocurrency, once only understood among a relatively fringe community, is becoming a household name quickly.
Analysts estimate that the global cryptocurrency market will more than triple by 2030, hitting a valuation of nearly $5 billion.
With such numbers, whether they want to buy into it or not, investors, businesses, and brands can’t ignore the rising tide of crypto for long.
However, with its quick rise comes a lot of paradoxes surrounding it. Investors believe in regulation, yet are worried about many of the impacts that regulation will bring about. While businesses and brands also have their fair share of worry.
Digging into these nuances is key to understanding overall consumer sentiment and predicting consumer behavior around a very uncertain future of cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrencies may present opportunities but also challenges remain. Now this has seen jurisdictions around the globe also step up efforts to ensure that their legal frameworks meet these challenges.
Their sentiments being that maybe through having legal frameworks in place, the cryptocurrency potential and impact can be realized.
With all these in mind there has been an ongoing debate on whether cryptocurrency is a boon or a bane. In line with this, this time we do things a little bit differently in our After Office Hours session.
Join Christian Duffus, Founder at Fonbnk on July 7th for an #AfterOfficeHours session as he leads us in a discussion on the future of crypto, fundraising and path to exits.
Chris has 3X FinTech exits under his belt and is a leading finTech & telecom & Web3 advisor, CXO, entrepreneur & investor.
His insights are not only relevant to the blockchain businesses but to entrepreneurs at various stages of their businesses.
Also Read: Dear Younger self // Key Lessons Gathered from a Serial Entrepreneur (AOH Recap)
During the session Chris who is an experienced financial technology entrepreneur and will also share insights from working with innovative organizations in finance, technology, and policy having worked on and with a number of venture-backed start-ups in the FinTech and Wireless industries; cumulatively raising nearly $50+ million from top-tier VC firms and successfully exiting three fintech startups:

Vite.Money acquired by RoundlyX
Leaf – acquired by SoFi
Exited payment providers Govolution.

You don’t want to miss out on this session. RSVP your attendance here.
When: 7th July
Time: 5 pm
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani, 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza, off Kamburu Drive
About the Speaker
Christian Duffus is the Founder and CEO at Fonbnk, a mission-led crypto web3 company that enables unbanked and underbanked users in mobile-first markets to onramp to digital money using prepaid airtime. Fonbnk recently closed a $3.5 million seed round and is live in 5 markets in Africa including Kenya.
Christian has a track record of co-founding and exiting 3 financial technology businesses each with a social mission at its core such as LEAF College Savings, an education focused, social gifting platform that makes it easy for third-parties to contribute to a child’s college savings. LEAF was acquired by SoFi in August 2019.
He was selected as one of Washington DC’s Tech Titans 2022, by Washington’s Magazine’s most important and innovative people in the tech world today.
Chriss Duffus began his career with Goldman Sachs in Mergers & Acquisitions.
Chris is a graduate of Florida A&M University and the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration where he currently serves as a member of the Alumni Board of Trustees.
He is also a board member of the National Educators Association Foundation and serves on the investment and development committees.
Fonbnk was started as a bet between the founder, Chris Duffus, an experienced Fintech entrepreneur, and his brother-in-law who recently returned from a vacation to Kenya.
The wager involved an unused Safaricom SIM and how Chris might sell the value locked in the unused SIM card back to an airtime reseller in Kenya from his home in Washington, DC USA.
With some ingenuity, he devised a hack taking out digital ads. He was able to find a few interested parties who he invited to join a Whatsapp group and was able to sell the airtime credits using the Safaricom SIM card and mPesa account. From here Fonbnk was born.
Find Chris on linkedin and follow Fonbnk on linkedin and twitter.
RSVP your attendance here
When: 7th July
Time: 5 pm
Where: Nairobi Garage // Kilimani, 7th Floor Pinetree Plaza, off Kamburu Drive
