Nairobi played host to the 12th Sankalp Africa Summit at the Edge Convention Centre, where two Kenyan startups received prestigious recognition at the Sankalp Africa Awards 2025.
The summit, which drew over 1,500 investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, facilitated discussions, networking, and live investor matchmaking, aiming to unlock millions in funding for African startups.
Key Highlights of the Sankalp Africa Awards 2025
- Overall Winner: Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa (Tanzania), led by Baraka Chijenga, an agritech platform connecting farmers, businesses, and consumers through a mobile-driven B2B2C marketplace.
- First Runner-Up: Bena Care (Kenya), founded by Naomi Monari, a health-tech startup providing affordable home-based nursing and therapy services, while training caregivers to enhance healthcare access in low-income communities.
- Sankalp Ecosystem Award:Organic Fields (Kenya), a social enterprise led by Richard Mwangi, converting municipal food waste into organic fertilizer for improved soil health and sustainable farming.
- Second Runner-Up: Dawa Mkononi (Tanzania), founded by Joseph Paul, a health-tech company streamlining medicine distribution across Africa.
Kenya’s Startup Ecosystem and Sankalp’s Impact
Kenya’s strong startup ecosystem was highlighted, with the country attracting over $1.2 billion in venture capital in 2024.
The Sankalp Africa Summit 2025 played a crucial role in fostering capital mobilization, partnerships, and enterprise growth.
Karnika Yadav, Partner & Director, Intellecap Africa, stated, “The Sankalp Africa Awards 2025 brought together impact-driven businesses with immense potential to address Africa’s economic and social challenges. Each winner showcases how innovation can drive sustainability and positive change.”
Sankalp Forum’s Legacy
Since its inception in 2009, the Sankalp Forum, an initiative by Intellecap (Aavishkaar Group), has become a leading platform for impact-driven enterprises.
Over the years, it has:
- Showcased over 2,780 entrepreneurs.
- Connected over 1,000 investors.
- Enabled businesses to secure over $800 million in funding.
- Held 33 global editions.
Intellecap, the summit’s organizer, has worked across 60+ countries, syndicating over $1.2 billion in capital and providing consulting and investment services in agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, and financial inclusion.
Partners and Collaboration
The summit received support from key global partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, Villgro Africa, Jhpiego, Grand Challenges Canada, and Boehringer Ingelheim, promoting collaborative capital and private sector engagement.
The Sankalp Africa Awards 2025 underscored Kenya’s leadership in entrepreneurship and impact-driven innovation, providing vital opportunities for funding, collaboration, and scaling solutions for lasting change across Africa.
