Take the leap! Safaricom Spark Accelerator companies advice to entreprenuers

Twiva founders Peter Kironji and Joy Mwangi during Safaricom Spark Accelerator Program Demo Day at Safaricom HQs, Westlands, Nairobi on March 21, 2025/ HANDOUT

Safaricom on Friday held a demo day for the Spark Accelerator Programme, continuing its commitment to empowering visionary founders to scale their businesses.

The program’s inaugural cohort included nine companies in the technology and entrepreneurial sectors.

The companies include HealthX Africa, Vuna Pay, Black Rhino VR, Twiva, Chpter, Chirpy, Nobuk Africa, Faidi HR and Chumz.

Speaking about the program, BlackRhino VR co-founder Brian Afande emphasised the company’s mission to democratise access to immersive technology by eliminating barriers such as coding.

BlackRhino VR is a creative technology company that is reshaping Africa’s digital landscape by providing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) solutions.

Afande credited the Safaricom Spark Accelerator Program with accelerating Black Rhino VR’s growth, particularly by connecting them with industry peers, experienced entrepreneurs, and strategic mentors.

"The programme has given us access to a strong network of innovators facing similar challenges. We’ve learned a lot from interacting with successful founders, including those from companies like M-Kopa, who have guided us on how to scale a business successfully," he explained.

He said mentorship played a critical role in Black Rhino VR’s development, with Ibrahim and Martin Karanja serving as key advisors to the company.

"They took the time to understand our business, identify gaps, and provide solutions through their networks and expertise. Their insights helped us see opportunities we might have overlooked, allowing us to refine our model for growth," Afande noted.

Black Rhino VR’s innovation has not gone unnoticed. The company won the Best Use of Emerging Technology in a Marketing Campaign at the Marketing Society of Kenya Gala Awards, further solidifying its position as a leader in immersive technology.

"We were honored to receive this award in partnership with Safaricom. It proves that young African innovators can compete on a global scale. The recognition gives us the confidence to continue pushing boundaries," Afande said.

Unlike many startups seeking direct investment, Black Rhino VR approached the Spark Accelerator Program with a different goal: securing strategic partnerships to help scale the business.

"We weren’t looking for funding—we were looking for the right partners to help us grow sustainably. One of our biggest wins was signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Safaricom, which has opened doors to new opportunities,” he said.

“This has allowed us to access high-level networks and advanced technology, accelerating our growth in ways that funding alone couldn’t achieve.”

As the first cohort of the Spark Accelerator Program concludes, Afande had a strong message for startups considering applying for future editions.

"Believe in yourself, be bold, and let God handle the rest. When we applied, we didn’t know if we would get in. We didn’t know if people would see value in our technology. But we took the leap, applied, and here we are. If you’re thinking about applying for the next cohort—just do it. The first step to success is showing up," he encouraged.

During the demo, Chumz co-founder got a chance to showcase his company’s innovative approach to personal.

Chumz is a goal-based savings and investment app.

The app leverages gratification to encourage users to save money based on their spending habits and personal interests, including sports and entertainment.

"Chumz helps people save in a way that feels natural and engaging," Njuguna explained.

"For example, if you spend money at a restaurant or pub, the app prompts you to save a portion of the balance. You can even set personalised savings triggers—like saving a set amount every time Arsenal wins or loses a game."

Njuguna noted that his inspiration for Chumz came from the need to shift the financial landscape, which is largely dominated by lending apps, towards a culture of consistent savings and financial discipline.

"I've seen many people struggle with saving habits. Chumz introduces fun and interactive ways to encourage people to save, making financial discipline less of a burden and more of an enjoyable routine," he said.

The app employs behavioral nudges to encourage savings based on users’ habits and interests.

For example, users can opt into weekly savings challenges, tie savings to their spending behaviors, or even make saving a team effort through group challenges.

As a financial technology (fintech) company, security remains a top priority for Chumz.

Njuguna emphasised that the platform is fully regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), ensuring compliance with industry standards.

"We went through a rigorous vetting process by the regulator, including checks on our leadership, operational processes, and financial management structures,” he said.

“All user funds are held in custodian accounts with regulated financial institutions.”

Chumz has also partnered with established financial entities, including fund managers and banks, to provide a secure and reliable savings platform.

Since its launch in Kenya, Chumz has rapidly gained traction and recently expanded into Rwanda.

The startup also has a growing waitlist in Uganda and Tanzania, key markets where mobile money adoption is high.

"Our platform operates largely through mobile money, so we are targeting markets with strong mobile money penetration," Njuguna said.

"We plan to expand further into West Africa, particularly in countries like Senegal, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire, where mobile money is experiencing significant growth.

Njuguna highlighted the benefits of being part of the Spark Accelerator Program, including mentorship, brand exposure and access to potential investors.

"The program has helped us refine our business model for global scaling. It has also enhanced our credibility—partnering with Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation and M-Pesa Africa gives us what we call brand transfer, where users trust us more because of our association with these established entities," he said.

"The Safaricom Spark Accelerator Program has given us a strong foundation to scale. Now, we are focused on expanding our footprint and continuing to innovate ways to help people save smarter.”

For Twiva founders Peter Kironji and Joy Mwangi, Safaricom Spark Accelerator has been a blessing.

CEO Kironji noted that the company is redefining digital marketing by connecting businesses with the right influencers and providing them with the tools to maximize their impact.

Twiva has secured key technology and distribution partnerships to scale its impact, including Alibaba’s AliExpress, the M-Pesa Super App, and the Safaricom Spark Accelerator Program.

"These partnerships enable us to reach a wider audience, especially SMEs, while also creating meaningful earning opportunities for young people. Through initiatives like Safaricom Spark Program, we’re onboarding more influencers and entrepreneurs to participate in the digital economy," Kironji said.

Participating in the Accelerator Program has played a pivotal role in refining Twiva’s business model, pricing strategy, and go-to-market approach.

"Through the program, we have been able to optimise our pricing model to ensure scalability and sustainability. We have also refined our go-to-market strategy, which has improved our market positioning and brand awareness. Most importantly, the program has helped us better define how we create, deliver, and capture value for both businesses and influencers," he said.

Unlike traditional influencer platforms, where only the top five percent of influencers benefit, Twiva ensures that every influencer can start earning immediately by promoting and selling products.

"What differentiates Twiva is that influencers don’t need to wait to be discovered. The moment they join our platform, they can start earning meaningfully by selling products. This creates a more inclusive and scalable model where value is evenly distributed, benefiting both businesses and influencers," Kironji explained.

As Twiva continues to expand and innovate, it remains committed to empowering businesses and influencers with efficient, scalable, and results-driven marketing solutions.

"Our goal is to redefine social commerce in Africa, ensuring that businesses can seamlessly connect with influencers and achieve real value from their marketing efforts. Twiva is not just about marketing—it’s about creating economic opportunities through the power of digital influence," Kironji concluded.