Gateway54

Kenya is currently ranked 3rd in Sub‐Saharan Africa (after Nigeria and South Africa) for corporate business development. The "Silicon Savannah" has long been recognized as the hotbed of mobile money innovation with m-Pesa. However, over the years Kenya has been attracting over 25% of all startup investments coming into Africa, and it is now moving to become a dedicated home to technology and innovation, with leading global companies such as Microsoft, Google, JP Morgan Chase, Visa committing to Africa by setting up the continental headquarters in Nairobi.

Nairobi presents a high level of competition – more banks per head than other major African markets. Kenya is the entry point to much of East Africa (EAC), while being economically connected to the EU and US.

Gateway54 is a Africa Technology and Innovation Ecosystem Immersion Program, structured as a week-long in-person, residential program designed to provide you with a unique opportunity to understand the emerging technology and innovation ecosystem of Africa. The inaugural edition is being hosted in Nairobi, Kenya as a lead up to Kenya Innovation Agency backed Kenya Innovation Week 2023.

Gateway54 is designed for stakeholders from across the globe - including but not limited to, Government Representatives, Scale-up Founders, Innovation Ecosystem Enablers, Corporate Executives, Investors, Researchers and Individuals, who are interested in learning more about Kenya's burgeoning emerging technology and innovation ecosystem, and the opportunities therein.

The program will comprise Industry Visits (Innovation Hubs, Unicorns, marquee VC's, Disruptive Startups), Pre-qualified Engagements with leading Kenyan Corporates, Meetings with Government Agencies & Industry Bodies, Networking Events and Group Interactions.

We are qualifying applications, and only a maximum of 15 participants will be on-boarded.

Understand the Kenyan market opportunity and the workings of an emerging market. Gain insights into adaption of new frameworks in the emerging tech ecosystem.

Key learnings from the Kenya Immersion Program will include conversations with CXO's, tech startups visits, cultural agility through an experiential learning program with experts, networking events, and an economic understanding of a global economic anchor.

Identify potential investment and diversification opportunities. Understand the implementation of Public Policies focused on startups, business, economy, etc. Get to know how African focused incubators/accelerators have contributed to the ecosystem through their initiatives/programs

Also, get a full 360 degree experience on how startups are guided towards success by visiting leading tech hubs and enablers.

Industry Exposure Visits - understanding their journey with digital and technology
Corporate Innovation Hubs - to learn more about corporate - startup engagements
Leading Incubators and Accelerators
University backed Technology Research + Innovation Centres
Cultural Tour + Market Visits (social enterprises, digital adoption exposure)

Government Organizations and DFIs
Industry Bodies and Policy Makers
Unicorn Startups and Cutting Edge Startups
Top Investors (VC's) and their Portfolio Startups
Interactions with Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Welcome Reception
Interactive Workshops
CXO Talks
Ecosystem Events with local partners
End of program Networking Reception

The program is targeted at Government representatives, Startup Founders, Ecosystem Enablers, Corporate Executives and Individuals that meet the following criteria:

Emerging technology company wanting to understand the Africa opportunity

Need to understand an emerging market and desire to learn building at scale

Gain entrepreneurial inspiration and learn business models from a developing market with a burgeoning startup ecosystem

Corporate leaders wanting to adopt best practices around innovation

Enablers who desire to learn what it takes to "build" an ecosystem

Recent graduates wanting to add an immersive experience to their resume, and exploring opportunities to work in one of the fastest growing tech ecosystems

"Startup Réseau has been instrumental in helping us expand into the Indian market. Their immersion program gave us the insights needed to understand the competitive landscape as well as the opportunities that existed for us. They provided key assistance in connecting us with the right people to help us learn, optimize, and expand. Without the support of Startup Réseau it would have taken us far longer to establish a presence."

Adam Rice, Co-Founder & CEO, LoanConnect

"We chose to partner with Hindsight to implement African-based programs based on a positive previous experience with the leadership team in other geographical areas. The experience demonstrated that they are well-connected and knowledgeable about different African realities and opportunities. They are responsive, agile, design outstanding programs and have a pristine execution."

Gisleine Silveira, Head of Strategy, District3 Innovation

"We participated in the India Market Access Program organized by Startup Reseau in early 2022. The program has helped us to understand the Indian Market and to identify the challenges and opportunities ahead, this enabled us to spot and eliminate potential points of critical mistakes and failures. In just a few months the program helped us get the knowledge that would otherwise take us years. Startup Reseau helped us build meaningful connections with the fintech ecosystem, connect to potential partners, and devise strategies that have helped us stand out amongst the competition and build traction in the Indian Market."

Beka Dakashivili, Co-Founder & CEO, Kernel Tools