1st LAUNCH AND GROW MEETING to be held in Nairobi on September 27th
Tuesday, september 17th.
Launched in 2016 by the Women for Africa Foundation in partnership with Babson College and supported by Banco Santander, the Launch & Grow program aims to empower women entrepreneurs in Kenya. It provides a unique entrepreneurial leadership experience designed to boost business success while driving social impact. After several successful editions, the program is now entering a new phase, aiming to consolidate and strengthen the progress made. By continuing to offer cutting-edge entrepreneurial skills training, the program also seeks to foster a committed network of Kenyan women entrepreneurs.
Under the theme, “Women Building Entrepreneurship Networks for Economic Transformation and Sustainability”, the meeting, held in collaboration with the Green Belt Movement-Kenya at the Confucius Institute, University of Nairobi, will bring together over 50 participants from previous editions to share experiences, build impactful business relationships, and expand the social impact of the program. It will also gather women entrepreneurs from the private sector and students interested in entrepreneurship and business. The event will feature a keynote speech from Dr. Esther Muchemi, founder and CEO of Samchi Group, a renowned Kenyan entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist known for her pioneering role in the telecommunications sector.
Two panels will be held at the event. The first, “Building a Sustainable Business: The Role of Networks and Community,” will highlight the importance of fostering relationships and building supportive networks for long-term business success in Kenya. Frida Owinga, founder of Passion Profit, will moderate the panel, which will feature Jennifer Fletcher (CEO of Ariya Finergy), Peter Sibondo (Managing Director, AEE POWER Kenya), and Terry Chore (Founder & CEO, Aero Kitchen). The second panel, “Online Businesses and Youth Entrepreneurship,” will explore how the internet enables young entrepreneurs to launch businesses without significant capital. With opportunities like e-commerce, digital marketing, and freelance services, the internet has lowered barriers to entry, allowing businesses to scale and innovate at minimal cost. Joanne Mwangi Yelbert, CEO of PMS Group Africa, will moderate the panel alongside Daisy Isiaho (Co-founder, Zuri Health), Betty Mbithi (Director of Abetec Business Solutions Limited and L&G Alumni), Claire Osoro (LNC Communication Limited) and Brightstar Kasyoka (founder of Star Tailor Designs).
The event will also feature a “Business Boost Prize” contest, designed to promote entrepreneurship by supporting Launch & Grow alumni with new ideas and projects that contribute to economic growth, gender equality, and social impact in their communities.
Follow the event on streaming: https://www.youtube.com/@mujeresporafrica
About the Women for Africa Foundation
The Women for Africa Foundation is a Spanish non-profit organization founded in 2012 by María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, former vice president of Spain. Its mission is to contribute to Africa’s development by empowering women, who are seen as key drivers of progress. The foundation focuses on economic transformation, entrepreneurship, Peace and Security, political leadership, education, health, and culture.
About the Launch & Grow Programme
Since it launched in 2016, this project has allowed over 100 Kenyan businesswomen, both emerging and experienced entrepreneurs, to enjoy a one-week training stay at the main campus of Babson College, located near Boston, USA. Babson College is the premier institution for business education taught through an entrepreneurial lens. Since 1919, Babson has been providing learners with essential business skills combined with the liberal arts knowledge needed to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® – a methodology created by the college itself – is a training program for the beneficiaries to develop the skills and mindset necessary not only to launch a new business, but also to make changes in an established company, lead a team or create social impact. Babson emphasizes learning through practice so that concepts and theories are quickly applied.
Participants return from Babson prepared to grow and expand their businesses and become part of the Launch & Grow network of Kenyan women entrepreneurs. Women’s networks like this one are essential if we want to ensure that we are part of the growth and development of our countries.