Launch & Grow programme gathering in Nairobi

Tuesday, 7 September 2026 – Yesterday, in Nairobi, we held a gathering of the Launch & Grow programme, bringing together alumnae from all cohorts to celebrate learning, growth, friendship and the power of women supporting one another.

Since its launch in 2016, in partnership with Babson College and with the support of Banco Santander, Launch & Grow has invested in Kenyan women entrepreneurs, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, confidence and networks they need to grow their businesses and multiply their social impact.

Over the course of eight years, more than 100 Kenyan businesswomen have taken part in a training programme at Babson College’s main campus near Boston, United States, where they worked with the Entrepreneurial Thought and Action®methodology, developed by the university to support both the creation of new businesses and the growth of established companies.

Seeing alumnae from every edition of the programme gathered in the same room was a powerful reminder of the true reach of Launch & Grow: what began as a training programme has evolved into a community, and the connections forged along the way are one of its greatest legacies.

During the event, the Foundation expressed its gratitude to all those who, over the years, have worked tirelessly to make Launch & Grow a successful initiative, and for their commitment to empowering women, creating opportunities and building a strong community of women entrepreneurs.

The conclusion of the programme does not mark an end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter. Together with its alumnae, Fundación Mujeres por África is committed to keeping the flame alive by supporting the creation of a strong Launch & Grow Alumnae Association. This will create opportunities for collaboration among participants and, above all, enable these women to support and mentor the next generation of young entrepreneurs and leaders.

The programme may have come to an end, but the journey continues.

About Launch & Grow

The project addresses the challenge of strengthening business management skills among Kenyan women entrepreneurs, recognising that women run 50% of the country’s businesses.

The initiative is carried out in partnership with Babson College, a leading institution specialising in entrepreneurship education. Since 1919, Babson has equipped students with essential entrepreneurial skills, combined with the liberal arts knowledge needed to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.