Kate Kiguru, CEO of Ukall
CRDF Global, through the Global Innovation Science & Technology (GIST) Initiative, will host 12 entrepreneurs from seven African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries in Washington, DC and Chicago for this year’s 2014 GIST Entrepreneurship Journey. From June 9th-20th, innovators from Jordan, Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, Indonesia and Tunisia will showcase their innovative startups and will get a chance to network with investors and the tech community.
Kenya is represented by 3 innovators; Kate Kiguru, CEO of Ukall, Christopher Asego, Director of Operations and Co-founder of Eneza Education and Alex Mwaura Muriu, CEO of Farm Space Africa.
Eneza Education and Ukall were start-ups that were incubated in the inaugural 2011 program of Nailab, a Kenyan start-up accelerator.
“This is really encouraging for us as an incubator. The success of the start-ups that have gone through our program definitely authenticates and validates our work and shows a great need for support and reinforcement of local innovations. It’s my hope that this will help fortify the growing need to invest in start-ups from both local and international investors,†says Sam Gichuru, Nailab’s CEO.
The GIST Initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems through startup competitions, training, networking, and interactive mentorship in 54 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
While in the U.S., GIST alumni will receive training and mentorship and will meet with successful U.S.-based “diaspora entrepreneurs†who are using their expertise to invest in new ventures in their countries of origin. GIST entrepreneurs will participate in a DEMO day on June 12 in Chicago and June 18 in Washington, D.C., where they will showcase their innovations to local communities.