By Editor
Kenya’s position as a leading innovation hub got a boost today as Konza Technopolis hosted the inaugural IPDAYS forum in Nairobi. The event brought together startups, investors, and policymakers from Tunisia, Egypt, and Kenya to advance cross border collaboration in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The IPDAYS Nairobi x Silicon Savannah Startup Fair 2026, organised in partnership with RedStart Tunisie, Seketak, Fie Labs, and GAK Advisory, marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a gateway for North African startups expanding into Sub Saharan Africa.
The forum featured structured matchmaking sessions, investor pitch opportunities, policy dialogues, and capacity building workshops aimed at accelerating market entry and deepening innovation partnerships across the continent.
Speaking during the event, Konza Technopolis CEO John Paul Okwiri underscored the importance of collaboration in shaping Africa’s digital future. He said, “This occasion is more than a gathering; it is a statement of intent that Africa’s digital future will be built through collaboration, innovation, and partnerships. Innovation must be protected, commercialized, financed and supported through skills development if Africa’s startup ecosystem is to thrive.”
A key highlight of the forum was the signing of a collaboration agreement between Konza Technopolis, RedStart Tunisie, and Seketak Solutions. The agreement formalises cooperation on startup exchange programmes, joint acceleration initiatives, and broader ecosystem development efforts.
William Ruto assented to the Technopolis Bill 2024 just a day before the forum, establishing a legal framework for the development of technopolises across Kenya. The law is expected to attract technology driven enterprises, improve governance structures, and further reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional innovation hub.
Discussions at the forum focused on strategies for market entry, financing mechanisms for cross border expansion, and policy harmonisation under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to create a unified African market for goods, services, and digital trade.
Konza Technopolis continues to leverage Kenya’s strong digital infrastructure, supportive policy environment, and strategic geographic position to facilitate the expansion of North African startups into East Africa and wider regional markets.
