Shortlister spotlight

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Zydii is a platform offers online courses and instruction, with focus on African customer base. It was founded by Joyce Mbaya, a Dynamic Entrepreneur driven passionate about championing empowerment using digital learning.

Diana Gichaga is a frontier markets, private capital professional providing business advisory services that focus on deal origination, investor readiness, capital raising, investor relations and portfolio company support in Africa. She will work with Zydii to develop a fundraising plan, including determining the right amount to raise, reviewing and recommending improvements to Zydii’s pitch deck and financial model and assisting Zydii in preparations for possible introductions to potential investors.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Young Engineers Kenya is an online enrichment training platform that offers workshops and programs promoting STEM for Youth. They’re looking to increase the impact of its program for schools throughout the country by creating awareness on the importance of STEM in the 21st century, and creating partnerships and collaborations through offering value proposition to other businesses.

Nivi Sharma is currently the COO of BRCK (brck.com), the onramp for frontier market internet users. She will be helping Young Engineers to rethink its business model, product offerings, and go-to-market strategy to boost sales and subsequently increase profits.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Wazawazi is a leather fashion wear that’s ethically sourced supporting local Kenyan craftsmanship founded by Chebet Mutai. Through this initiative, Kavingwa Keya will support Wazawazi develop ways of analyzing and using their data to make more informed decisions on operational areas of the business.

Kavingwa Keya is a highly experienced data scientist, who develops data analytics and machine learning solutions by aggregating disparate data sources to bring creativity and innovation in the management of any business. Keya will assist Wazawazi to analyze, process and interpret data, understand customer behavior from analyzed data and implement the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to help management make better and informed sales & marketing decisions.
Key outcomes include
-Moving the business towards a fully data driven approach where management relies on data provided to make informed decisions on operational areas including sales and marketing. -Wazawazi’s improved understanding of customer behavior, and increased leads-to-sales conversion on their platform.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

The Najala Company is an innovative online shop for gardening, gifting and home design that supports local Kenyan artisans. It was founded by Teresa Lubano, an experienced creative director. With Elizabeth Karanja’s support, they will work to create more robust digital marketing strategies to increase online traction.

Elizabeth Karanja is an entrepreneurial leader passionate about scaling organizations for success. She will be helping Shop Nanjala create digital marketing strategies that will result in online traction, impressions and ultimately conversions. Elizabeth will also help support development of a strategic roadmap to becoming a world class e-commerce brand, and advise on improvements to operation system efficiencies in logistics and marketing communications.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Soi Design Studio makes hand crafted interior design and furniture from recycled pallets. They are based in Kisumu, and operate with a digital customer outreach model. It was founded by Catherine Soi and together with Philip Odino, they will work to build management systems that can help the organization be more efficient and scale.

Philip Odino is a seasoned entrepreneur and will be helping Soi Design build more robust management systems through:

• Accounting System: Philip will help set up and organise the existing financial records, including Quickbooks installation and offer a basic orientation training to the accounts clerk.
• Operations: Philip will advise on how to eliminate bottlenecks that will improve efficiency and save costs by first conducting an Operations Management Assessment on the business.
• Corporate Policies: Lastly, policies that govern the firm’s operations will be developed and clearly outlined and matched with its growth strategy.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Sister Speaks Global is a female-centered events organization that curates events geared towards women empowerment and wellness. The organization was founded by Angela Waweru a digital content creator and host. With the help of Dorothy Ooko, they will work to curate a brand strategy to help position Sister Speaks Global as a leading female empowerment brand

Dorothy Ooko is a Communications Executive with extensive experience with global brands across multiple regions. She will be supporting Sister Speaks Global to identify the ideal road map to shape the organization’s own brand and establish itself as a female leading brand that increases engagement, empowers girls & women and inspires positive action.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Nyayo Moms
is a vibrant community promoting women cottage businesses, encouraging trade and collaboration among women via digital platform.

Angela Muigai
is an expert Product Manager. Angela will support Nyayo Moms on technology-based solutions to help manage Nyayo vendors and buyers through improved digital platform capabilities that enable vendor directory searches and improved displays for products and services. She will help them develop a technology strategy that enhances its e-commerce marketplace.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Mwangaza Light
is a clean energy company focussed on pico solar and clean cooking last mile distribution. They are on a mission to use clean energy technology for social development.

Nelly Wamuyu
is an independent management consultant who is passionate about helping start-ups, SMEs and NPOs articulate and implement their strategies. Nelly will support Mwangaza Light in achieving its social mission of using clean energy technology for development by:
– Formulating and articulating its company strategy (the ‘what’)
– Identifying critical drivers for executing the strategy including sales, marketing, and distribution (the ‘how’)
– Mapping and sequencing priority initiatives (making it happen)

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Majik Water Technologies
was founded with the goal of creating a new source of affordable, clean drinking water for water scarce communities. They are looking to expand production capacity and with the help of Andrew, they will be working on raising funds from capital investment funds to achieve this goal.

Andrew Thinguri
is an seasoned Investment Banker with extensive experience across various sectors in East Africa. In line with Majik Water’s expansion goals, Andrew will offer his support to :
1) Review and provide comments on the cover letter, pitch deck, and business plan
2) Advise on valuation of Majik Water
3) Advise on possible grantors/investors, investment structures, and terms and conditions of potential investor/grantors
4) Advise on strengths and gaps in the areas of governance, operations, financial management and team capacity to deliver

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Chriswara
is an eCommerce platform that offers an equitable coffee experience for our farmers & consumers. Inspired by Alibaba’s Rural Taobao initiative in China, Chiswara aims to have a similar impact in the coffee industry in Kenya. The organization was founded by Catherine Mahugu, a tech entrepreneur with solid background and experience in strategic planning, operations leadership, and management.

Farah Esmail
is a corporate/commercial legal and business consultant with experience across North America and Africa. She will be working with Chriswara to to identify new sales channel opportunities locally and abroad, including strategies to penetrate the US market. The ideal outcome will be diversified retail outlets, increased annual gross sales, and a successful closure to Chiswara’s pre-see funding round.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Machakos Orthopaedics
is a healthcare provider focused on best-in-class surgery, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Kenya. The clinic was founded by Speciosa Mbula an experienced Anesthesiologist and social entrepreneur. They are looking to increase the ways they leverage data to improve care for persons with disabilities.

Wambui Kinya
is a technology executive passionate about working with mission driven global tech businesses. She will be helping Machakos Orthopaedics use data to build customer profiles, improve understanding of service users, and develop evidence-based marketing campaigns to help scale business. She is also supporting to build data collection processes with Machakos Orthopaedics that allow for deeper customer understanding as well as assessing systems and processes to build the company’s expansion strategy and position Machakos Orthopaedics above its competitors.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Emeden Kenya Farmers – Organise and connect small-share farmers to market by use of ICT, based out of Eldoret. They are looking to improve their platform to increase responsiveness to their customers.

Stephen katingima is a supply chain specialist and leadership & strategy consultant. He will help Emeden Kenya Farmers improve their online platform by making it more responsive to its customers. This will include, an assessment of current operations and functionality, suggesting improvements for usability to increase use and ownership of the application as well as increasing access and resource opportunities for Emeden members.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Bunson Travel Service is a leading travel management company looking to expand digitally and is in the process of digital transformation. The company is seeking to tap into the digital space by using technology to streamline the booking process, making it more efficient, for both Corporate and leisure clients.

Priscilla Muhiu is an E-commerce enthusiast, proud mum and a servant leadership advocate. She is currently the General Manager – Kenya at Glovo. Priscilla´s role will be to guide Bunson Travel Service on their platform development process, ensure the product requirements are clear to the developers as well as defining the product roadmap.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Be Well, The Happiness Club is an online peer mentorship and networking support group focused on wellness for women in leadership positions in professional or technical fields, based out of Laikipia. They will work with Lucy Oduor to develop an operational strategic plan addressing the growth of key focus areas within the organization.

Lucy Oduor is a highly skilled brand, marketing and communications professional with a track record of achievement in B2B2C marketing working for leading global, regional and local corporate brands. Lucy will be providing Be Well, The Happiness Club Company with advice and guidance on an operational strategic plan (outline) that will address the following:
● Product definition – review existing product proposition and assist in clarifying the product strategy.
● Audience targeting – review existing audience.
● Revenue modelling – provide topline probabilities
● Tentative roll out schedules.

Terms of Reference Summary: 

Angel Wings Hospice was founded with the mission to provide safe access and delivery of hospice services by using innovative technology to safely improve the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses. With Michelline’s support, Angel Wings Hospice will work to seek funding for working capital, renovations and purchasing equipment required for current operations, to initiate operations at the Inpatient Center (IPC) as well as provide hospice services to the community at large. 

Micheline Ntiru  offers  advisory & investment for early and growth stage companies. She’s is a polyglot, with extensive experience across 5 continents and is also an executive coach and board director. Micheline will help Angel Wings prepare for applications to gain entry into an incubator/accelerator program for assistance to develop and implement innovative telehospice applications and scale up operations necessary to increase hospice access and safe delivery of services.