The Hult prize finals innovation event kicked off on friday, 28th february, 2025 at UON Towers, Manu chandaria auditorium hall.
The event brought together a diverse group of Speakers, Panelists, and distinguished guests. It served as a platform to showcase groundbreaking ideas, facilitate meaningful discussions, and promote collaboration in the field of social entrepreneurship and Innovation.
THEME: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION.
The event featured an engaging lineup of activities, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and presentations by finalists. The primary objective was to foster innovation, encourage sustainable solutions, and empower young entrepreneurs to address pressing global challenges. Among the guest included Roy Njoka, Meshack Otieno, Bryan Chesoli,,Dr.James Katende who also stepped in as a judge, Francis Okwara, John Icharia, Dean Johnson Kinyua, Prof Wagacha, Prof Mulaa,Eng Maina among others.
Key Highlights
Speakers and Keynote
Prominent industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts delivered insightful keynote speeches.
Dr. Sam Ruhiu spoke about Responsibility within the AI space
Mr. John Icharia also pointed out the Essentiality of “Embracing the Entrepreneurial Culture”
Ramadhan Obiero highlighted on how “Start-ups can navigate the Funding Maze”
Topics covered included the aspects of Sustainable development, social impact entrepreneurship, and strategies for scaling innovative businesses.
Speakers inspired participants with real-world experiences and actionable insights.
Panel Discussions
The panel discussions provided a platform for thought-provoking conversations on the future of innovation and social impact.
Topic under Discussion was, “The Role of Tertiary Institutions in Promoting Student Led Start-ups and Innovations.” The Panelists in action included, Prof Mary Kinoti, Francis Okwara, Senior Innovations Officer at KENIA,Bryan Chesoli, Founder of Ye Community, Meshack Otieno, CEO Awake Community and Roy Njoka, AFIK Board Member.
Experts from various sectors shared their perspectives on funding opportunities, Policy frameworks, and emerging trends in entrepreneurship.
Interactive Q&A sessions allowed attendees to engage with panelists and gain deeper insights into critical topics.
Finalist Presentations
The highlight of the event was the presentation of innovative solutions by the Hult Prize finalists.
15 teams in total successfully pitched at the stage, and had an elaborate breakdown of what their projects were all about.
Each team demonstrated their projects’ feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.
Judges provided constructive feedback, and the best ideas were recognized for their exceptional innovation and practicality.
Impact and Outcomes
The event successfully created an ecosystem for knowledge sharing, mentorship, collaboration and networking.
There was the presence of partners for the event, and notable ones included UNICAF, Awake Community, AFIK, Jasiri, Startinev, PLP(Power Learning Project),Zindua School and we also had Nation Media do a coverage of some of the presentations done. A prospective guideline into having a collaboration with them is in the offing.
Participants gained valuable exposure to industry trends, funding sources, and market expansion strategies.
Several promising ventures secured potential partnerships and investment opportunities. Startinev got the first two teams into the Founders Program, which they promised to fully pay for, Nation Media promised to onboard the First three teams into their online programs in order to enhance the viability of their ideas.
The event reinforced the importance of social entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges and inspired attendees to drive meaningful change.
The Hult Prize Finals Innovation Event was a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in shaping a sustainable future. With impactful discussions, groundbreaking ideas, and invaluable networking opportunities, the event played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and driving social impact.
