Kenyan innovation centre iHub is to celebrate its fifth birthday with a celebration on March 7, bringing together its community to acknowledge its achievements so far.
iHub was launched in 2010, offering an open space for technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers, with a focus on young entrepreneurs, web and mobile phone programmers, designers and researchers.
The #5yrTechBash will take place at the Arboretum in Nairobi and commemorate the anniversary while looking back at what has been achieved over the past five years, with community members invited to sign up for limited free tickets.
“We’ve come a long way as a tech community in the last five years, and it’s time to celebrate the growth and appreciate everyone who has made it happen,” said iHub co-founder Erik Hersman.
“We’re putting on the largest tech party in Kenya, where all of the tech companies and individuals who made this happen are welcome. Think food, drinks, awards, music and party!”
The event will begin with a tech job fair and showcase, followed by an after party and the Kenya Tech 100 Awards, which will look to honour the top 100 people involved in iHub’s growth over the last five years.
“Take a moment to think of a person or a company that has done something amazing in the last five years, we’re going to take some time to appreciate the people who have made a mark in on our community and helped us reach this point,” Hersman said.
A number of small and larger companies are assisting with the event, including Innova, Angani, Africa’s Talking, Fireside, Able Wireless, Intel, Google, IBM Research, Craft Silicon, Cheki, Cellulant, OLX, Seven Seas, M-KOPA Solar, Chase Bank and Uber.
“Some larger companies are helping with covering costs associated with space rental, musicians and setup, while smaller tech companies are offsetting food costs, diverting beer trucks, buying cows for us all to eat, or make cool signage for this event to happen,” said Hersman.
