Presidential Innovation Challenge & Award (Kenya)
Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) · Innovation award + accelerator
$39KCategory winners KES 5,000,000 (~$38.7k); runners-up KES 3M / 2M; county youth winners KES 500k; plus Presidential accelerator
Kenya's national innovation award run by KeNIA: cash awards for university, youth, startup and research-commercialisation categories, followed by a Presidential accelerator programme.
Key terms
- Kenyan citizens; youth/startup founders aged 18–35 (PWDs to 40), company registered in Kenya
- Team of ≥3 with a tested/piloted MVP and IP; no prior Agency/PIA funding
- Priority sectors: digital, healthcare, food security/agriculture, entertainment/gaming, climate & green energy
- Awardees must report on progress and use of funds
- Last edition 2024–25 (deadline 17 Nov 2024); portal shows 'Application Period Closed'
Eligibility
- Where
- Kenya
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Kenyan citizens
- Founders 18–35
- Tested MVP and IP required
How to apply
Watch the PIA portal and KeNIA site for the next edition; submit online with the concept note and MVP/IP evidence.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Annual/periodic (last edition 2024–25; next TBA)
- Status
- Paused — next round TBA
Verified 2026-10 · source