Kenya: UK-Kenya Tech Hub Backs New Initiative to Boost Early-Stage Capital

14 January 2026
Daba Finance (Abidjan)

UK-Kenya Tech Hub has partnered with Viktoria Ventures and local ecosystem players to launch Startup 360 Connect, an initiative aimed at strengthening Kenya's early-stage investment pipeline by linking founders, investors, and market access.

The programme brings together Viktoria Ventures, Anza Village, and POV to address gaps in angel investing and founder readiness. At its core is the Startup 360 Connect Angel Leads Programme, delivered by Viktoria Ventures, which focuses on training angel investors and enabling structured syndication.

Participants receive practical training in deal evaluation and syndicate formation and commit $1,000 each into a syndicated investment at the end of the programme. Investment decisions are made collectively by syndicate members.

Founder development is delivered through Startup School Kenya, led by Anza Village in collaboration with the UK-Kenya Tech Hub and industry partners. Startups graduating from the programme move directly into the Angel Leads pipeline, linking founder readiness with capital deployment.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

The initiative also includes POV's GrowthPath pillar, which exposes startups and investors to UK market entry dynamics.

The Angel Leads Programme will run from February to June 2026, with applications open until January 30.

Daba's newsletter is now on Substack. Sign up here to get the best of Africa's investment landscape

Key Takeaways

Startup 360 Connect reflects a shift in Kenya's tech ecosystem from founder-only support toward balanced capital formation. While startup creation has accelerated, early-stage capital has lagged, leaving many companies underfunded after initial traction. By combining investor training, mandatory capital commitments, and a pipeline of investment-ready founders, the programme aims to move beyond awareness into execution. The $1,000 commitment model lowers barriers to entry while encouraging disciplined syndication. The UK linkage adds a cross-border dimension, helping investors and founders understand pathways to international expansion without relying solely on foreign capital. This approach strengthens local ownership while maintaining global connectivity. If successful, Startup 360 Connect could serve as a template for other African markets seeking to deepen angel investing capacity and reduce dependence on sporadic seed funding, creating a more predictable foundation for early-stage growth.

Read the original article on Daba Finance.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2026 Daba Finance. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.