3RD – 4TH DEC, 2024
ASSEK ANNUAL CONFERENCE & AWARDS GALA
3rd December
Addressing Unemployment
Speakers
Moderator
7:00 am
Arrival and Registration
9:00 am
Plenary Opening for the Conference
David Cheboryot – Chairperson, ASSEK
9:15 am
Role of ASSEK in Strengthening Ecosystem Cohesion through Collaboration4Impact
Mercy Kimalat - CEO, ASSEK
9:30 am
Kenya’s 10 Year Innovation Masterplan: Strengthening Partnerships and Collaboration to Shape Kenya’s Innovation landscape for accelerated Job Creation and Economic Prosperity
Dr Tonny Omwansa – CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency
9: 45 am
Panel Discussion: Transforming Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) into Centres of Sustainable Innovation to Achieve Global Impact
Joram Mwinamo – CEO, SNDBX International
Victor Apollo - Head of Solutions Mapping Accelerator Labs, UNDP Kenya
Sam Mbugua -Venture Support Manager, Delta40 Venture Studio
Harliet Njenga - Entrepreneurship Support, Because International Organisation
Anne Lawi – Ecosystem and Investments Expert
10:30 am
ESO Spotlight: Case study on implementing impact driven programs to close the gender and social divide in Coastal Region of Kenya
Arafat Mukasa, Swahili Pot Foundation
10.40 am
Tea Break
11:00
Panel Discussion: Collaborative Approach to Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation Culture to Drive Kenya’s Economic Agenda
David Cheboryot – Director, E4Impact Entrepreneurship Centers
Dr. Julius Gatune – Senior Project Consultant, iTatu: Kenyan Industry - Academia Platform
Jackson Kinyanjui– Team Lead, Growth Africa leading KIEP Startup Savanna
Mercy Kimalat – CEO, ASSEK Kamila Gasinka, Co-Founder and Board Member of the GovTech Global Alliance Founder
Cecilia Mwangi, Innovation Specialist, World Bank
11:45 am
Startup Showcase: Innovating around Mobility
Nyawira Maina, Country Corporate Manager, Little Cab
11:55 am
Fire side chat: Startup Rising: Leveraging experiences to build more resilient and sustainable startups
Dr. Keni Kariuki – Co - Founder, Impact Hub Nairobi
Chris Kariuki– Partnership Manager, Pezesha
Amelia Hopkins – Founder, Somo Africa
Donald Odhiambo – Founder & CEO, Tectona Group
Mannaseh Miruka, Startup Enterprise Development Expert
12:40 pm
Catalyzing Innovation: Government’s Role in Building Structures for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development
Philiph Maitha – Project Coordinator, Kenya Industry & Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP), Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry
12:55 pm
Lunch
1:55 pm
Transition to Breakout Rooms
2:00 pm
Breakout Session 1: Panel: Opportunities beyond the Borders: Breaking Barriers to Commercialization of Research to Markets in East Africa
Ian Korongo - Manager, Innovation and Commercialization, KENIA
Stephen Gugu- Principal- InVhestia Africa Limited and Founder - Viktoria Ventures
Dr Salome Guchu – Principal Innovation and Outreach Officer, Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA)
Agnes Tsuma – Program Lead, RISA Fund
Prof. F. Mzee Awuor, PhD, PhD Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor - Finance, Planning and Administration Kisii University
Moderator: Dr. Robert Karanja -Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Villgro Africa
Breakout Session 2: Panel: Reimagining Food Systems for Sustainable Livelihoods
Joseph Murabula - CEO, Kenya Climate Innovation Center
Daisy Otieno – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Sandra Simbiri – Generation Unlimited Programme Specialist, UNICEF
David Ojwang - Sector leader - Agri-Food systems, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
Charlene Migwe - Director, Mastercard Foundation Partnership, Caribou Digital
Moderator: Fredrick Ang’ienda – Founder, BAYE Africa
Breakout Session 3: Roundtable: Leveraging Digitization to Promote Public Service Delivery in Kenya
Kamila Gasinka, Co-Founder and Board Member of the GovTech Global Alliance Founder
Mercy Kimalat- Chief Executive Officer, ASSEK Augmantas
2:45 pm
Breakout Session 4: Unpacking Collaborative Approaches to Early-Stage Startup Creation and Growth
Jasiri Track Leader: John Munge Icharia - Program Lead, Jasiri Growth Accelerator
Breakout Session 5: Workshop: Building Real Strategic & Leadership Capacity with Entrepreneurs
Facilitator: Johnni Kjelsgaard - Founder & Executive Chairperson, Growth Africa
3:30 pm
Transit to Main plenary
3:40 pm
ESO Spotlight: Digitization of SMEs as key driver for growth
Catherine Masolia, Managing Director, Somo Africa
3:50 pm
Fireside Chat: Entrepreneurial Wellbeing: Pursuing Personal and Professional Balance
Joe Mukoko - Co- Founder, Afrikan MSME Collective
Brian Muchanga – Director, Dawn Wellness Consultancy
Patricia Okello – Co-Founder – Kayana Create Dr. Fatma Omar, Head of Wellness, Jubilee Health
Salome Ayugi – County Manager Kenya, Sinapis
4:35 pm
Reflections and wrap up of Day 1
4:50 pm
Tea Break and Networking
4th December
Speakers
Moderator
7.00 am
Arrival and Networking over coffee
8:30 am
Start of Day 2 Plenary Session: Welcoming Remarks and Recap of Day 1
9:00 am
ESO Impact Intelligence: Leveraging AI to scale the socio-economic Impact for Startups and SMEs.
Chandi Tome - Lolwe AI Hub
Linet Kwamboka - Senior Program Manager, Data4Now
Egessa Wayne – Founder, Ishara AI Anne
Salim – Senior Product Manager, Qhala
Evalyne Oloo – Cybersec School
Stephen Gachogu – Lead Engineer, AFRALTI
Joan Mbesya - Founder, TechMindset Africa
9:45 am
Strengthening Hardware Makerspaces & Prototyping Labs as Catalysts for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Martin Oloo – Founder, FabLab Winam
Dr. Kamau Gachigi– Founder, Gearbox Europlacer
Khatuchi Khasandi - Consultant, Lemelson Foundation
Dr. Lawrence Nderu – Founder JHub
Eric Nyamwaro – Partnerships Advisor, STEM Impact Center Kenya
Derrick Mugasia, Lab Manager, IOME 254
10: 30 am
Impact Showcase: Case Study of ASSEK Regional Capacity Strengthening Program: Improving behavioral competencies of ESO staff for Increased Enterprise Outcomes
Catherine Ndung’u – Founder and Behavior Change Lead, Elim Consult
10:45 am
Keynote Address: Sparking Africa’s Revolution through Collaboration
Afrilabs Representative
11.00 am
Tea Break
11:20 am
Presentation: Building Sustainable Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems to break barriers and foster socio-economic development and diversity
Evelyn Rutazaha, Technical Advisor, GIZ EAC
11:35 am
Building Partnerships, Network and Cooperation for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development in Eastern Africa
Nikita Waruguru - Africa Program Manager, Argidius Foundation
Irene Omogi – Component Head, Programme for Promotion of Self Employment and Entrepreneurship, GIZ
Evelyn Rutazaha - Technical Advisor, GIZ EAC
Charles Warria - Private Sector & Market Systems Development Expert
Dr Roselyn Marandu-Kareithi – Country Manager Kenya, Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies.
12:20 pm
Impact Investing: How Private Sector Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Dr. Karimi Ngeera, Fiance Director, HEVA FUND
Lucas Robinson – Principal Consultant, Renew Capital
Grace Wachori, Africa Regional Director, ANDE
Georgina Wachuka, Regulatory & Compliance, KAM
Anne Njuki – Managing Director, Sayuni Capital
Diana Gichaga- Managing Partner, Private Equity Support - Moderator
1:05 pm
ESO Spotlight: Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: WYLDE International’s Approach To Entrepreneurial Excellence
Faustina Ning'a - Lead Consultant, WYLDE International
1:15 pm
Lunch Break
2:15pm
Breakout Session 1: Panel: Positioning Kenya to accelerate Africa’s Green Industrialization
Akinwande Akinsulire - Head of Startup Support at CcHUB/iHUB
Lillian Njoro- Head of Experimentation, Accelerator Labs, UNDP
Josephine Ndambuki - Chief Manager Business Development and Innovation Konza Technopolis Development Authority
Moderator: Kevin Kinisu – CEO, Africa Bioenergy Programs - Moderator
Breakout Session 2: Workshop: Achieving Organizational Excellence
Caroline Nyamwaya Mwazi, Huru Consult
Breakout Session 3 Workshop: Ecosystem Building and Strengthening
3:00 pm
Participants head back to main plenary
3:05 pm
Track Leaders Circle: Sharing of outputs from the breakout sessions
Track Leaders
3:25 pm
Connecting the Dots and Forecasting the future for ASSEK
Caroline Nyamwaya Mwazi – ASSEK Board Member - Membership Growth and Support Mercy Kimalat, CEO, ASSEK
3:40 pm
Vote of Thanks
Isaiah Gichana, Board Treasurer, ASSEK
3:50 pm
Closing remarks
David Cheboryot – Chairperson, ASSEK
4:00 pm
Networking Tea served
6:00 pm
Arrival for the Gala Awards
6:00 pm
Welcoming of guests and overview of the evening
Betty Kiptum - Business Editor, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation - Moderator
6:00 pm - 6:20 pm:
Opening Address: Transformative Impact in leveraging Innovation to drive excellence in the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Dr Grace Githaiga - Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Action Network Trust (KICTANet)
6:20 pm - 7:00 pm:
ASSEK Awards Presentation: Spotlighting the Leaders championing the Innovation & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
ASSEK, Ministry of Investments Trade and Industry, Partners
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm:
Awards Celebration Reception: Dinner, Entertainment, & Networking
All
9:00 pm
Guests Leave at their own pleasure
Explore our tailored participation packages designed to unite key stakeholders in Kenya’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, offering unique opportunities to exchange insights, forge strategic partnerships, and drive the growth of startups and SMEs.
Members
Premium Two days
Limited ticket
Kes 3,000/-
Access to:
Exhibition,
Opening ceremonies Conference, Panels, Networking
Access to Lunch and
Tea Break area
Exclusive Gala
Delegates
Premium Two days
Limited ticket
Kes 4,500/-
Access to:
Exhibition,
Opening ceremonies Conference, Panels, Networking
Access to Lunch and
Tea Break area
Exclusive
Premium Two days
Limited ticket
Kes 10,000/-
Access to:
Exhibition,
Opening ceremonies Conference, Panels, Networking
Access to Lunch and
Tea Break area
VIP area access
Exclusive Gala
Exhibitors
Kes 50,000/-
2M*2M exhibition boot which includes:
- Standard shell scheme boot
- 1 table
- 2 seats
- power source socket
- Lightning (Preferably LED) x 3
- Waste basket
*Limited Slots Available
