Global investors eye African startups at 13th Sankalp Africa Summit

Stakeholders from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East convened in Nairobi for the 13th Sankalp Africa Summit, charting a path for developing economies to strengthen their roles as engines of innovation, trade and sustainable development.

Summit draws 1,000 global delegates

Held at the Sarit Expo Centre, the summit brought together more than 1,000 experts, global leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and startups from over 50 countries.

Deliberations focused on unlocking capital for African enterprises, accelerating commercialization of innovative ideas and deepening South–South cooperation.

The forum connected more than 350 startups to funding opportunities through investor matchmaking sessions, masterclasses and market access engagements. Founders pitched directly to global financing institutions.

India High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika underscored the importance of tailored partnerships within the Global South.

“What we are looking for in the Global South–South is solutions that understand each other. It is not a top-down model. We think alike and tailor solutions. Every country has its own peculiarities, and we must fine-tune solutions to those sensitivities,” he said.

Throughout the summit, stakeholders shared common challenges, emerging trends and success stories from participating nations. Attention centered on scalable, problem-solving innovations and business models proven in peer economies.

Karnika Yadav, Partner and Director at Intellecap Africa, described the energy at the awards ceremony as a reflection of Africa growing innovation momentum.

“Africa entrepreneurial spirit is rewriting the rules of innovation. What we witnessed at the Sankalp Africa Awards 2026 is not just startups pitching ideas — it is founders building futures. Each winner embodies the courage to reimagine systems, the creativity to solve for scale and the conviction to deliver impact where it matters most,” she said.

Capital access and competitiveness

Discussions also examined how to increase capital flows into African enterprises and strengthen investment readiness.

Tonny Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Innovation Agency, urged founders to sharpen their competitiveness.

“If I can make a good case for my startup and show you as an investor that you will get more returns investing in me than elsewhere, then I will likely attract that investment. Competition does not care where you come from — it is market forces,” he said.

He added that governments must remain supportive enablers of private sector growth.

“We know we are not the ones who do business — the private sector does. Our role is to be supportive, to engage and learn because innovation is constantly evolving,” he said.

Participants cited bottlenecks including limited access to quality projects, weak funding mechanisms and policy gaps.

There were renewed calls for governments to facilitate cross-border collaboration and strengthen investment ecosystems.

Sankalp Africa Awards 2026

A highlight of the summit was the Sankalp Africa Awards 2026, recognizing enterprises tackling social and economic challenges.

Awards were presented across five categories: AgriTech, Circular Tech, Climate Tech, FinTech and HealthTech.

Kenyan enterprises won three categories — AgriTech, Circular Tech and HealthTech.

Victor Murage Ndegwa, winner in the HealthTech category, encouraged entrepreneurs to remain resilient.

“The startup journey can be challenging, but if you believe in what you are doing, continue grinding and adapting. You cannot do it alone. Leverage networks like Sankalp to get your message and product out there,” he said.

The strong performance by Kenyan startups reaffirmed the country position as a regional innovation hub, with Nairobi strengthening its standing as East Africa leading startup ecosystem.

Syna Dehnugara, Director of Sankalp Forum, said the awards reflect a broader shift in the global innovation landscape.

“The Sankalp Africa Awards 2026 are a reminder that the Global South is not just participating in the innovation economy — it is rising, leading and shaping solutions for the world,” she said.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the summit outcomes will translate into new investment deals, policy collaborations and strategic partnerships in the months ahead.