The most innovative Kenyan companies are diverse, leading in industries ranging from Technology to Social Media, Entertainment, News and Content, to Education, Analytics, E-commerce, Design, Food, Hardware, Healthcare, Commerce, Sports, Finance, Marketing, Open Source Software and Retail.
What all the 50+ companies we’ve listed share in common is the desire to keep innovating. Inside these companies, big ideas and innovation is anything but passive. Kenya’s startup scene is thriving with huge talent constantly pouring out of Kenyan Universities such as Strathmore, University of Nairobi, Moi and Kenyatta University just to name a few. It’s no wonder why Kenya has produced big-name innovative companies like Rupu, Pesapal, Soko, Ushahidi.
Kenya’s economy is growing by leaps and bounds particularly the ICT sector and this is leading to more and more new companies setting up their businesses in the country.
From over 5,000 young companies, the most promising and innovative Kenyan companies and startups are picked by top startup experts from different categories ranging from E-commerce to online recruitment, advertising, marketing, software, mobile and more.
Some of these startups are more established, while others are just getting their footing, there are several we came across that were too stealth to be included in this list. One thing is very clear: There are undoubtedly a number of innovative startups in Kenya and all the companies we’ve listed have fresh concepts with the potential to become industry leaders.
Kenya is chock full of startups bringing up innovation and big changes in industries, creating new business models as well as jobs and helping to reinvigorate the Kenyan economy.
We’re very excited about the unique products and services that these companies’ offer. These companies offer fervour for building great things and their visions for a better world. These are some of the innovative companies and big ideas that keep us excited about the industry. Please let us know in the comments if you think we missed any. Check out the companies that make the list.
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Most Innovative Kenyan Companies to Follow
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Innovations and Growth Among Kenyan Companies
Innovative Kenyan companies, like the ones’ mentioned above, operate in innovative industries with many of them in technology and telecoms. The rapid growth of these companies is as a result of the lucrativeness of their industry as well as their massive economic significance which will play a big role in industrializing the country.
While we acknowledge that these companies are not the biggest in the world, we want to add that these dynamic private companies have shown impressive annual growth over the years and that their existence has helped in trade and in the creation of jobs.
A careful observation of these companies shows that there are certain determinant factors necessary for the growth and sustainability of any business.
One of these factors is that of improving business practices based on customer needs. Let us also be quick to note that these strategical practices ought to be carried out by well-skilled and passionate hands driven by enthusiasm and not just financial benefits.
This is why it is important to chase the dreams before the finances as the former will surely smoothen the path to the desired success.
For instance, a company like Ushahidi which provides tools for the sustenance of democracy at all levels (grassroots especially), is driven by passionate and goal-driven individuals who have the zeal to bring about change in the society. The company has achieved great strides since its existence since 2008. Though the passion comes first, Ushadidi has made impressive profits while taking the lead in innovation and excellence.
Taking another business, PesaPal focuses on easing consumer-related problems of service companies – mobile operators and electronic payment firms. Not just all consumers but those in the category of small-scale businesses (owners of barbershops, clothing stores, furniture shops etc); these now make use of the PesaPal platforms to make and receive payments in very small denominations, as well as different currencies -talk about innovation!
To a good extent, the companies/ businesses/startups enlisted above are a definition of resilience, drive, determination, passion, and of course, innovation. They also play roles as driving forces behind the country’s growing economy via the development of skills, creation of jobs and sustenance of growth.
