Kenyan incubator Sote Hub has formally opened its doors in the rural county of Taita Taveta, kicking off operations by awarding four startups funding after a pitching competition.
Disrupt Africa reported earlier this year on Sote Hub, which aims to be a business incubator for graduates, exposing them to mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
Taita Taveta, almost equidistant between Nairobi and Mombasa, is best known for the renowned Tsavo West National Park. Tour guides, not techies, rule the roost here, but David Ogiga, executive director of Sote Hub, is doing his best to change that.
The hub formally opened its doors last month with a pitching competition involving 16 startups, with four selected to receive US$2,200 in seed funding. Another four startups will be granted funding in December.
This time round, the selected startups were e-waste company Recycle Afrika, creative agency Rogim Designs, 3D printing startup Re-decor, and m-commerce solution Cladika. The startups will also benefit from six months of incubation, receiving workspace, mentoring, access to workshops and preparation for investment.
“We are also partnering with Equity Bank, which will offer financial support services including banking, micro loans and grants. Our other trainers are from Dot Kenya, iHub, Moringa School, Swahili Box and Nailab. It is worthy to note the overwhelming demand we have now and the queue of more youth seeking incubation support. We have 200 active users of the hub on a weekly basis,” Ogiga told Disrupt Africa.
