NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 13 – Local startups in Kenya, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are set to receive business training and support from the World Bank and the Kenyan government.
The program will be undertaken by the Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), which now has 150 memberships and is tasked with creating tailor-made business initiatives that support the sector-specific needs of local businesses.
Speaking in Nairobi during the ASSEK Ecosystem Enablers Forum 2024 that was attended by ESO founders and chief executives, ASSEK Chief Executive Mercy Kimalat said ASSEK is now well-placed to support SMEs and Startups’ growth plans through the provision of business training that enables them to enhance their productivity and improve the quality of their services and products.
“We have transformed SMEs and Startups by matching them with the right coach and mentor to help them grow,” Kimalat said.
“This is done by ensuring they have access to international opportunities though the stakeholders that we have partnered with. This has enabled many to sell their services and products regionally and beyond,” she added.
Kimalat said SMEs and startups trained through their programs would also benefit from seed funding, adding that the small businesses will have access to diversified funding tailored to their needs through the ASSEK network, which also de-risks them through seed grants and provides technical support.
Assek, she said, was actively involved in the formulation of the Startup Bill, a framework that creates incentives for local and international investors to catalyze local innovations, thereby benefiting local innovators by helping fasttrack the development of new products for the market.
“The key objective of ASSEK is to boost job creation and growth. This forum facilitates a collaborative discussion focused on realigning the collective vision for ASSEK, identifying emerging opportunities, and fostering an environment conducive to meaningful networking,” she said.
