Kenyan entrepreneurs to access ecosystem that has produced global tech giants

Dr Matt Rosenstein, the University of Illinois Global Director for Global Education and Training said Kenyan women and youth entrepreneurs will now access the University of Illinois entrepreneurial ecosystem that has produced world-class companies like Tesla, YouTube and PayPal.

‘’Kenyan women and youth entrepreneurs can now access world-class capacity building programmes at the University of Illinois that will assist them grow and develop international markets’’ said Dr Rosenstein during the Africa Women Transformative Summit held in Nairobi.

Dr Rosenstein said the University of Illinois has incubated and supported many startups that have grown to be global players. The University of Illinois has a stellar record in producing world-class startups and technology companies.

The university has an entrepreneurial DNA that supports entrepreneurs. Tesla was founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Martin is a University of Illinois graduate. 

YouTube was founded by Jawed Karim, Steven Chen, and Chad Hurley in 2005. Jawed Karim and Steven Chen are University of Illinois graduates. PayPal was founded by Max Levchin, Luke Nosek, and Peter Thiel in 1998. Max Levchin and Luke Nosek are University of Illinois graduates. 

Top Level Management’s Managing Director Emily Karechio said Kenyan women and youth entrepreneurs will now access custom programmes from the University business school and Enterprise Works. The programmes will be offered in Kenya and US with hybrid options with specific emphasis on ideas germination, access to finance and markets.

Pan African Centre for Strategic Development’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Hudson Aluvanze said the partnership crystalizes Kenya’s intention to deepen its capacity as focal point for knowledge and entrepreneurship.

The University of Illinois is consistently ranked among the top US public universities for producing the most successful entrepreneurs across the world.

EnterpriseWorks is a technology business incubator that supports entrepreneurs in the startup journey. Entrepreneurs build and create disruptive technologies across a wide range of areas including but not limited to agtech, biotechnology, chemical sciences, software development, and materials sciences.

This partnership comes after President Ruto’s successful visit to the US that is expected to create opportunities for Kenyan companies in the technology space, apparel and agriculture, among other lucrative sectors.

The highlight of the partnership was the hosting of the Africa Women Transformative Summit which was held in Nairobi on 25-27 June at the Hyatt Regency and brought together Kenya’s visionary women and youth entrepreneurs with an eye for globalization of markets and production.