Safaricom Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer Michael Mutiga during the Spark Accelerator Demo Day at Safaricom Headquarters in Westlands, Nairobi on March 21, 2025/ SAFARICOMNine startups had the opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking solutions at Safaricom as part of the telecommunications company’s Spark Accelerator Program.
The demo session, held on Friday, highlighted their progress in pushing the boundaries of technology and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the event, Safaricom Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer Michael Mutiga commended the startups for their dedication, noting that their work reflects the strength of Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.
“Today’s Spark Demo Day is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of these startups. We are witnessing how technology-driven solutions are shaping industries and addressing real-world challenges,” he said.
The nine companies include HealthX Africa, Vuna Pay, Black Rhino VR, Twiva, Chpter, Chirpy, Nobuk Africa, Faidi HR and Chumz.
They were selected from over 200 applications to be part of the program’s inaugural cohort.
Over the past months, they have refined their business models, strengthened their technological frameworks, and achieved remarkable milestones.
This was done with the support of Safaricom and its partners, including Sumitomo Corporation, M-Pesa Africa and iHub.
Mutiga highlighted some of the key achievements from the startups, noting that several have already begun integrating with Safaricom’s ecosystem.
HealthX and Chpter are set to go live on the M-Pesa business app by April.
Meanwhile, Black Rhino VR has successfully executed a marketing campaign across 11 universities, earning the Best Emerging Technology in Marketing award at the 2024 Marketing Society of Kenya Gala Awards.
“Collectively, these startups have already raised over $400 million (Sh51.7 billion) in funding, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a leading hub for innovation and investment,” Mutiga stated.
He further emphasised Safaricom’s broader vision of evolving into Africa’s leading purpose-driven technology company.
“We are building solutions that leverage our core platforms—M-Pesa, connectivity, and smart devices—to drive innovation and empower entrepreneurs,” he said.
The week leading up to the demo day saw Safaricom engage actively in the tech space through interactive forums at the Sarit Center, demonstrating its commitment to fostering an environment where startups can thrive.
While celebrating the success of the first cohort, Mutiga hinted at what’s next for the Spark Accelerator Program, indicating that discussions are underway regarding the launch of applications for the second cohort.
“As we mark this milestone, we are also looking ahead to the future,” he said. The application for the second cohort will end on May 15, 2025.
“We look forward to discovering the next generation of startups poised to transform the market.”
He reaffirming Safaricom’s commitment to supporting startups beyond financial investment, ensuring they have the resources, networks, and mentorship needed to scale and create lasting impact.
“Today is about the startups—their ideas, their resilience, and their future,” he said. “As we celebrate their achievements, we also look forward to the ‘aha’ moments that will inspire the next wave of innovation in Kenya’s startup ecosystem,” Mutiga said.
