Nairobi is a special city, the type where innovation isn’t confined to Silicon Valley clones. Innovation is unique here, living in matatus fitted with charging ports and in community WhatsApp groups that were slowly turned into marketplaces. Whether or not it is still the Silicon Savannah, a nickname it is usually fondly referred to, is up for debate, but all we know is that it’s now a breathing network of creators trying to solve local problems with globally relevant solutions.
You have at least seen a few electric buses by now, or the electric bodas that are super comfy. Or maybe you have heard of AI-driven farming. The opportunities are vast and these ten startups (and one legendary trailblazer) are redefining what progress looks like in Kenya’s capital.
These start ups are proof that in Nairobi – just like in the developed nations – the next big idea doesn’t come from privilege but necessity, grit and vision.
For years, Nairobi has worn the title Silicon Savannah like a badge of pride, our very own quiet Africa’s tech powerhouse. But lately, it has not been business as usual. It is no longer just about coding talent or mobile money innovation (which we are very proud of, make no mistake). In the year 2025, Nairobi is a full-fledged startup ecosystem.
The entrepreneurial spirit burns high.
Investors are paying closer attention and young Kenyans are solving the problems they face on a daily basis like food insecurity, healthcare gaps, and mobility. You know it is getting serious when we even have startups addressing climate change. Silicon Savannah is a name we outgrew the moment it stopped being about just apps and started being about impact.
If you are from Kenya you will be proud to learn that unlike previous waves of tech ventures that mimicked Western models, today’s Nairobi startups are proudly local. How far we have now come, building for boda riders and smallholder farmers. The recent start ups are being created for single mothers, informal traders and digital-first youth.
It is local solutions to local problems, blending technology with culture.
We also should mention how agile these companies are, launched on shoestring budgets and scaled through WhatsApp communities. Depending on good old social media because some even lacked the necessary amounts to launch, building prototypes in co-working labs with borrowed laptops.
Below is a list of the innovators, disruptors and underdogs driving the city’s transformation.
1. Chpter
Sector: AI & Social Commerce
Chpter is changing traditional E-commerce as we know it, where online selling meets conversation. This fast-rising startup automates sales and payments through WhatsApp and Instagram, allowing small businesses to sell directly where customers already spend their time. It definitely is the new face of African digital retail.
2. Tushop
Sector: E-commerce / Group Buying
Tushop is a brilliant idea that enables neighborhoods to pool grocery orders for bulk discounts. This, to put it simply, is what our forefathers who had the spirit of harambee in them would have come up with if there was technology back then. The idea is to merge technology with community spirit. The economy is not doing well (there is a joke somewhere in there) and during these harsh times of rising living costs, Tushop has quietly built a digital village that saves both time and money.
3. BasiGo
Sector: Clean Mobility
If you have seen these bright-green electric buses anywhere in Nairobi’s, there are probably BasicGo”s. These buses are rewriting the city’s transport story one carbon-free commute at a time. And the most beautiful part of their story is how their pay-as-you-drive model allows matatu owners to transition to electric vehicles without the steep upfront cost. Talk about sustainable innovation that actually makes economic sense.
4. Spiro
Sector: Electric Mobility & Infrastructure
Just like BasicGo, Spiro’s electric motorbikes and battery-swapping stations are literally electrifying Kenya’s roads. These bikes are designed for delivery riders and boda operators and reduce fuel costs and emissions while boosting rider income. Their catch? Clean energy built for African roads.
5. Wowzi
Sector: CreatorTech / Digital Marketing
Wowzi is special in that it connects influencers with brands. This is Kenya, the country where every young person is trying to make a buck through social media but doesn’t know where to begin. Most people have the voice and the following but have no idea on how to monetize.
https://sunsetinafrica.co.ke/a-beginners-guide-to-requirements-and-approval-for-facebook-monetization-in-kenya/
In a city bursting with online voices, Wowzi is helping everyday Kenyans turn influence into income. Basically, it connects brands with the small ordinary influencers that have an authentic following for paid social media campaigns. It could be anyone – From university students to stay-at-home moms.
6. FarmWorks
Sector: AgriTech / Data-Driven Farming
This firm helps smallholder farmers make smarter decisions using satellite data and weather forecasts. They assist farmers with insights on when to plant / irrigate and when to harvest, in the process reducing risks tied to unpredictable weather.
As if that is not enough, the startup also provides access to inputs, financing and links farmers to markets, closing the loop between information and income.
The company was founded in Kenya but operates across the whole of Africa. It has been operating since around 2020, gaining international attention for making precision agriculture accessible to ordinary farmers.
Personally, this is in my top two favorites, and the founders should be applauded for coming up with such a beautiful idea. Now, whether the farmers will use it or not is another thing, but this right here is high-tech farming made accessible to those who need it most.
7. Bena Care
Sector: HealthTech / Home Care
Bena care is the type of story that wins awards. Naom Monari, who had the vision as a student nurse, founded the company in 2017 after witnessing the financial and emotional toll of chronic illnesses. She founded the company to provide accessible home-based healthcare services for these patients.
It delivers affordable, home-based healthcare to patients who can’t stay long in hospitals. Through Bena Care, trained caregivers are linked digitally to patients, bridging the gap between medicine and humanity. It is a win-win, as caregivers and nurses find work and patients that are too ill find the help they need at the comfort of their homes.
8. Organic Fields
Sector: Sustainability / Circular Economy
This start up is all about turning food waste into organic fertilizer and giving Nairobi’s food industry a green conscience. Their work improves soil quality, cuts landfill waste and supports smallholder farmers.
9. Power Financial Wellness
Sector: FinTech / Employee Benefits
Financial stress is an invisible epidemic that Power is tackling head-on.
So what the startup does is it partners with employers to provide instant salary advances and give advice on savings plans and insurance through mobile.
10. Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch)
Sector: E-commerce & Retail Logistics
Wasoko has been digitizing Kenya’s informal retail economy for years now. Today, its app helps thousands of dukas restock goods efficiently and also access credit, ensuring the growth of small businesses sustainably.
Wasoko is one of those special startups because It reminded Africa that small shops are big business.
Bonus: Twiga Foods
Sector: AgriTech / Supply Chain
Twiga is the veteran that started it all by connecting farmers to vendors long before it was cool and creating a model that inspired dozens of new AgriTech players. A pioneer by all means, who turned into a powerhouse; Twiga remains a living blueprint for what purpose-driven African innovation looks like.
