Building Ventures, Living Stories: Our Two Weeks in Kenya

The 2024 AIC Health Entrepreneurship Founders with Dr.Sarah Mwangi of Africa CDC

When the African Impact Challenge 2024 cohort touched down in Nairobi, Kenya for the in-person programming phase of their journey, they weren’t just stepping into workshops and pitch rooms they were stepping into a whirlwind of learning, culture, resilience, and connection.

From August 18th to 29th, our founders experienced fifteen transformative days that blended business rigor with cultural immersion, laughter with at times sleepless nights, and growth with unforgettable memories.

Week One: Building Ventures, Sharpening Stories

The programming began with intensity. Founders were challenged to reimagine their ventures from the ground up.

Ideation Clinic – Led by Joseph Ferenbok from the University of Toronto’s Health Innovation Hub, the clinic pushed founders to deeply understand their problem spaces, customer segments, and market opportunities.

Digital Marketing & Lead Generation – With guidance from Mohammad Tahvili (ICUBE UTM), the startups explored how to tell their story online and build sustainable traction.

The Perfect Pitch – Our Executive Director, Osaretin Obano, lit up the room with a powerful workshop on storytelling as a tool for persuasion and action.

It was a week of long nights, fresh insights, and founders reshaping their ideas into stronger, sharper ventures.

Top 4 AfyaFest 2025 Ventures Featuring Ultrateb- African Impact Challenge 2024 Cohort Member

Week Two: AfyaFest 2025 – A Stage for Health Innovation

The second week brought with it the excitement of AfyaFest 2025, organized by Amref Health Africa and partners.

53 startups pitched across four themes: Maternal & Child Health, NCDs & Mental Health, Climate & Health, and Global Health Security.

16 startups made it to the finals, including three from our cohort – Solarution( Climate & Health), Acubed ( NCDs & Mental Health) and UltraTeb ( Global Health Security).

In the end, UltraTeb emerged victorious in the Global Health Security category, a proud milestone for the African Impact Initiative community.

As UltraTeb co-founder Mohamed Dabees shared:

“Deep appreciation to the African Impact Initiative Family for the mentorship, training, and the opportunity to join this journey… Your work will have a ripple impact across the continent.”

The win was more than a trophy, it was proof of the bold ideas being shaped within this program.

The Founders & The AIC Team During The Nairobi National Park Safari

All Work, No Play? Count Us Out. The Team Explored Kenya

Nairobi wasn’t just the backdrop, it was part of the experience. Our founders immersed themselves in Nairobi’s rhythm, a city that is at once chaotic, vibrant, and deeply inspiring.

Safari Adventure at Nairobi National Park  – lions, zebras, buffalo, hippos, and monkeys against the surreal skyline of the city.

National Museum Visit – a moving reminder of Kenya’s history and resilience.

The Maasai Market – a burst of color, creativity, and unforgettable exchanges with local vendors.

Matatus on the move – graffiti-painted minibuses that told stories louder than words.

In one word, founders described Kenya as: remarkable, insightful, exciting, and fun.

Life, Laughter & Lessons

The Nairobi experience was also marked by unexpected moments that stitched themselves into memory:

Shared struggles like cold showers, power cuts, and late nights spent perfecting pitch decks.

Light-hearted joys like lobster dinners, music-filled bus rides, and endless jokes that shook the bus with laughter.

Life-changing milestones – one fellow even became a father during the program, his daughter affectionately nicknamed Lisa Nairobi by the rest of the cohort.

It was a reminder that this journey wasn’t just professional growth, it was human, deeply lived, and profoundly connected.

What’s Next: Rwanda & South Africa

As Nairobi’s chapter closed, the African Impact Challenge looks forward to the next stages:

October – Rwanda

November – South Africa

Each stop promises new lessons, new partnerships, and new stories of resilience and innovation.

Closing Reflections

The Nairobi immersion wasn’t perfect, no real journey is. It was messy, beautiful, challenging, and rewarding. But above all, it was unforgettable. We appreciate and celebrate our team for all the work and effort that it took to make this experience amazing.

As one founder beautifully put it:

“Comfort slips away, but the story stays. And Nairobi never really lets you go.”

Here’s to carrying the fire from Nairobi into the rest of this year’s challenge and beyond.