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Safaricom, in collaboration with M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation, has announced the opening of applications for the second phase of the Spark Accelerator Programme.
This initiative aims to support early-stage startups in Kenya by providing resources, mentorship, and access to markets and capital.
The Spark Accelerator Programme focuses on accelerating early-stage startups to grow and scale their businesses. It offers participants benefits such as access to product and technology support, including Daraja and M-PESA Open APIs, AWS Activate credits up to $25,000, technical advisory, and business development support. Additionally, startups gain access to Safaricom’s customer base of over 30 million, networking events, and potential funding from Safaricom and leading venture capital funds.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering innovation:
“At Safaricom, we believe technology is a catalyst for change and solutions, and that’s why we incentivize and support innovative startups with the tools they need to reach the next level. With the Spark Accelerator Programme, we are investing in our future leaders while contributing to significant societal change and economic growth.”
The programme is open to startups based in Kenya, particularly those building solutions in sectors such as embedded financial services, content, and other aligned industries. Applicants should have an existing product, be post-revenue, and demonstrate potential for significant growth. Diverse teams, especially those with female founders or leaders, are strongly encouraged to apply.
This second phase builds upon the success of the inaugural cohort, which recently participated in an investor demo day, showcasing their innovations to potential investors. The event highlighted the programme’s role in nurturing startups and facilitating connections within the investment community.
Applications will be accepted from April 1 to May 15, 2025.
Startups interested in applying for the Spark Accelerator Programme can find more information and submit their applications via the official website.
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