Seven Kenyan startups have been selected as finalists in the Latitude59 Kenya pitch competition, out of a record-breaking 382 applications from 37 countries.
The competition, which aims to support innovative startups, has seen a surge in interest from African nations, particularly Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The top 10 startups, including the seven Kenyan finalists, will compete for a €1 million prize pool at Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia.
They will also receive personalized pitch training from Latitude59 Pitch Coach Gleb Maltsev.
The Kenyan startups that made the top 10 are:
Eco Nasi (Kenya): This innovative startup transforms pineapple pulp waste into high-quality, durable vegan leather, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact.
Grekkon Limited (Kenya): This agritech startup is developing moisture sensors to help smallholder farmers optimize water usage, reducing waste and improving crop yields.
NoMa (Kenya): This edutech startup is digitizing school transportation, making it more efficient and transparent for parents and schools.
Roadrims (Kenya): This logistics startup offers reliable and efficient delivery services, addressing the challenges of supply chain management in Africa.
Twiva (Kenya): This social commerce platform connects brands with influencers to help them reach a wider audience and increase sales.
VunaPay (Kenya): This fintech startup provides instant payments to farmers upon delivery of their produce, addressing the issue of delayed payments and improving their financial stability.
Zerobionic (Kenya): This robotics startup is developing a human-like robotic arm to assist hearing-impaired students in Kenyan high schools, improving their access to education.
The other three startups are:
Paycloud Africa (USA): This fintech startup is building a neobank to provide financial services to MSMEs in Africa, including payment processing, credit access, and financial management tools.
AcemyX (Nigeria): This educational technology startup offers personalized learning tools and study materials to help students prepare for exams more effectively.
Afya Mama (Tanzania): This healthtech startup provides crucial information and support to women regarding maternal care and reproductive health through SMS and a web app.
Founding Member of Nairobi Business Angels Network, Nick Vilelle praised the strong cohort of founders and their global ambitions.
Project manager for Latitude59 Kenya Edition, Dolores Daniel highlighted the shift towards impact-driven startups, particularly in agriculture and sustainability.
“Latitude59 Kenya Edition has showcased a surprising shift in startup focus. While fintech once dominated the landscape, this year’s pitch competition applications reveal an inspiring wave of innovation in agriculture and sustainability. It’s clear that founders are increasingly prioritising impact-driven solutions to tackle food security, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management—reshaping Kenya’s entrepreneurial narrative.”
Head of Startup Relations at Latitude59, Triin Ilves noted the record-breaking participation and the organization’s commitment to supporting startup growth.
“Compared to last year, the number of applications has nearly doubled. As Latitude59 gains a stronger reputation, we’re also challenging ourselves to provide more value to startups who join our Pitch Competition—from in-person and online training to collaboration with relevant partners to help entrepreneurs grow regionally and globally.”
The top 10 startups will have the chance to pitch live at Latitude59 Nairobi on November 28th.
They’ll also receive personalized coaching from Gleb Maltsev.
One African startup will be fast-tracked to the Latitude59 2025 pre-finals in Tallinn, Estonia, where they can compete for a €1 million prize pool. Latitude59 will cover their travel costs.
We thank our partners – Diligence Africa, Nairobi Business Angels Network, Cloudplexo, Lemonade Stand VC, Tehnopol, and Tech Safari – for their help in selecting the top 10.
Special thanks to our prize pool sponsors: Infobip ($20,000 in service credits), Adoptomedia (Go-to-market workshop), and Cloudplexo ($200,000 in AWS credits).
“Nairobi and Africa are brimming with entrepreneurial energy and tech-driven solutions to pressing problems. These startups embody innovation, resilience, and global ambition. We’re proud to support the L59 Pitch Competition, aligning with our mission to empower startups with the tools and resources they need to thrive in dynamic markets like Kenya,” said Spiff Moses, Head Marketing Officer at Cloudplexo.