Konza Technopolis Development Authority team led by the CEO John Paul Okwiri (third from right), Josephine Ndambuki(Second from right ) Linet Cherono(far right) and Ruth Mureithi (second from left) are joined by Douja Gharbi, CEO of RedStart Tunisie Accelerator and Mr.Assem Kamel, CEO of Seketak Solutions, moments after signing of a collaboration agreement between KoTDA, RedStart Tunisie and Seketak
By Editorial Team
Konza Technopolis has hosted a high-level North African innovation forum aimed at positioning Kenya as a strategic gateway for startups seeking expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa. The event, held in Nairobi on May 12, 2026, brought together startups, investors, policymakers and innovation ecosystem players from across the continent to strengthen cross-border collaboration and investment opportunities.
The forum, known as IPDAYS (Inno’Preneurs Days), is Tunisia’s premier innovation platform established in 2022 to promote innovation, intellectual property commercialization and startup growth across Africa. This year marked the first time the event was held in Kenya through the IPDAYS Nairobi x Silicon Savannah Startup Fair 2026.
The forum was organized through a partnership between Konza Technopolis, RedStart Tunisie, Seketak, Fie Labs and GAK Advisory. It attracted six Tunisian startups and more than 60 Kenyan startups alongside investors and innovation enablers from Kenya, Tunisia and Egypt.
Participants engaged in networking sessions, investor pitches, policy discussions and training workshops designed to strengthen innovation ecosystems and ease market entry for startups expanding across African borders. The event also provided business-to-business and business-to-consumer matchmaking opportunities aimed at creating investment linkages and regional partnerships.
Speaking during the opening session, John Paul Okwiri said Africa must embrace partnerships that create a soft landing for startups entering East Africa and the wider Sub-Saharan market.
“For Konza Technopolis, this occasion is more than a gathering; it is a statement of intent that Africa’s digital future will be built through collaboration, innovation and partnerships. Innovation must be protected, commercialized, financed and supported through skills development if Africa’s startup ecosystem is to thrive,” said Okwiri.
He noted that many African innovation ecosystems have operated in isolation for years, limiting opportunities for growth, investment and international collaboration. According to Konza Technopolis, intellectual property remains a key driver of innovation and economic transformation because it gives innovators confidence to convert ideas into commercially viable solutions.
Douja Gharbi described the forum as a major step toward strengthening cooperation among African innovation ecosystems.
“We were in Kenya close to one year ago on a trade mission, and today we return to deepen collaboration, align roadmaps and create scalable pathways that support startup growth across borders,” she said.
At the same time, Assem Kamel said the initiative builds on the success of previous IPDAYS editions held in Tunisia, Cairo and Abidjan, which connected African startups to new business and investment opportunities.
Discussions during the forum focused on financing cross-border expansion, market entry strategies, policy alignment and building resilient innovation ecosystems across Africa. The engagement also reflected growing momentum around the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to create a single African market for goods, services and digital trade.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a collaboration agreement between Konza Technopolis, RedStart Tunisie and Seketak to formalize cooperation on startup exchange programmes, joint acceleration initiatives, capacity building and ecosystem development.
Konza Technopolis said it is leveraging Kenya’s strong digital ecosystem, innovation-friendly environment and strategic location to support Tunisian startups seeking expansion into Kenya and the wider Sub-Saharan African market.
In 2025, Anouar Ben Youssef revealed that 15 Tunisian companies were expanding into Kenya as a gateway to East Africa, underlining Kenya’s growing influence as a regional innovation and business hub.
The partnership is expected to deepen innovation linkages between Kenya, Tunisia and Egypt while creating new opportunities for startups pursuing regional expansion and investment partnerships.
The startup fair also came a day after William Ruto assented to the Technopolis Bill, 2024, which establishes a legal framework for the development of technopolises across Kenya. The legislation is expected to strengthen innovation ecosystems, attract technology-driven enterprises and streamline governance procedures, further positioning Kenya as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa.
Kenya continues to attract growing investor interest due to its strong digital infrastructure, vibrant entrepreneurial culture and progressive policy environment that supports technology-driven enterprises.
