Africa SME Summit
Thursday 15 October 2026
Chandaria Centre for Performing Arts, University of Nairobi
One day, 15 October
7.4 million enterprises.
One of them is yours.
Kenya’s small businesses carry 80% of the workforce and almost none of the support. This is the day they meet the capital, the buyers, the county governments and the thirteen universities that can actually move them forward — in one room, in one day.
On stage
The people you came to meet
Seven names, one room, and a whole day to get to them.
Ms. Susan Ndungu
Head of SME Banking
NCBA Bank Kenya
Eng. Mike Mutungi
Founder & CEO
I Choose Life – Africa
Mr. Michael Maddy
CRO and Co-Founder
Fleet Planner
Dr. Henry K. Yatich
Principal, College of Graduate Studies and Research
Mount Kenya University
Mr. Victor Sila
Founder
JuaPath
Dr. Hilda Muteshi
Design & Inclusive Business Modeling Expert
SUS-AFRIC
Salome Ayugi
Associate Director, Special Projects & Kenya Operations
Sinapis
Speaking slots
There is room on the programme for one more.
Propose a session →
Six tracks
Pick what your business actually needs
01
Finance, Capital & Investment
Where the money actually is, and what lenders need to see from you.
Business owners ready to raise capital, or fix the finances they already have.
What you will leave with →
02
Market Acquisition, retention & growth
Getting your product past the county line and across the border, and building the partners to keep it there.
Businesses ready to expand beyond their local market, especially within the East African region.
What you will leave with →
03
Talent & Human Resource acquisition with safeguarding
Hiring well, and the safeguarding duties that come with it.
Owners and HR leads building a team faster than their systems can keep up.
What you will leave with →
04
Adopting AI and Technology
What is worth adopting this year for growth and efficiency, and what is noise.
MSMEs that want AI to save them time and money — not another buzzword.
What you will leave with →
05
Industry and Academia collaboration
Putting a university research team on a problem in your business.
Entrepreneurs, researchers, and institutions ready to turn research into revenue.
What you will leave with →
06
Kenya Entrepreneurship Ecosystem strengthening
The policy, the funds, and the institutions you should know by name.
MSMEs and stakeholders who want a seat at the table where policy gets made.
What you will leave with →
One day to attend
Built differently for three kinds of visitor
Same summit, three different reasons to be here — pick the one that matches why you are coming.
Corporates & county
You serve the SME sector
This is where the businesses you are trying to reach spend the day. Exhibit, speak, or sponsor a track — and meet enterprises already screened through the ICL programme.
- ✓Exhibition and speaking slots
- ✓Profile to 10,000+ across ICL platforms
- ✓Direct access to screened enterprises
Universities
You teach or research
Submit a paper through the call. Place your students on live enterprise problems that count towards their qualification. Join 13 universities already in the programme.
- ✓Papers call and publishing
- ✓Student placement into real businesses
- ✓Industry partners for ongoing research
Business owners
You run an SME
Meet the person who runs SME banking at NCBA. Put a university research team on a problem in your business. Show your product to four county governments in one afternoon.
- ✓Capital and market access
- ✓Research support at no cost to you
- ✓Buyers, banks and county government in one room
Why people give up a working day
Five reasons the summit is worth it
Not five features — five things people actually leave with.
01
Capital
The head of SME banking at NCBA is in the room, and so are the funds and guarantee schemes most owners have never been walked through.
02
Research
Thirteen universities looking for live enterprise problems. Bring yours and leave with a team on it.
03
Buyers
Four county governments participating, plus the corporates who procure from businesses this size.
04
Proof
The gallery walk puts your product in front of people who can place an order, not just admire it.
05
The room
Everyone here runs or serves a small business in Kenya. No tourists.
The running order
15 October, hour by hour
- 07:30Arrival and registration
- 09:00National and East Africa anthems
- 09:05Opening prayer
- 09:10Introductions and acknowledgements
- 09:20Welcome remarks
- 09:30Panel: accelerating business growth through industry–academia collaboration
- 10:15Accelerating Africa's business growth through the Quadra Helix
- 10:35Keynote address
- 10:45Guest of Honour
- 11:00LaunchesJuaPath research study · Jiinue Business Accelerator platform · SLP Project baseline report · SWC 2027
- 11:20Photo session
- 11:30Tea break
- 12:00Parallel sessionsThe six tracks, plus the University Chancellors and Industry Roundtable
- 12:45SEALS Training launch
- 13:00Lunch
- 14:00Networking, deal making and poster presentations
- 16:00Africa SME Award 2026 winners presentation
- 17:00Closing remarks
- 17:30Closing prayers and departure
Programme as at 14 August 2026. Times may still move.
Tickets
Book before 31 August and save KES 1,000
Early bird
Until 31 August
KES5,800
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
Standard
From 1 September
KES6,800
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
Student
Valid student ID required
KES2,000
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Bring your student ID to registration
Exhibiting or sponsoring? Booths from KES 30,000 and packages from KES 125,000.
Group rate for four or more from one organisation — ask us for a code.
2026 partners
Convened alongside
Before you book
Questions
- Is lunch included?
- Yes. Every ticket includes lunch and refreshments through the day.
- Can I send a colleague instead?
- Yes. Tickets are transferable up to 48 hours before the summit — send us both names on the contact page.
- Is there parking at the University of Nairobi?
- Parking is available on the Main Campus. Registration opens at 07:30, and spaces fill through the morning — come early.
- Do exhibitors need a separate ticket?
- Exhibition booths include delegate passes — two with the Startup booth and four with the Corporate booth. Additional team members need standard tickets.
- Will I get a certificate?
- Yes. Certificates of participation are issued to all delegates at the close.
- How do I submit a paper?
- Submit an abstract on the call for papers page — it lists the tracks and the review timeline.
- Is there a group rate?
- Yes, for four or more from the same organisation. Ask on the contact page and we will send you a code.
One day. One room. Bring the business.
Thursday 15 October 2026 · Chandaria Centre for Performing Arts, University of Nairobi
#SMESUMMITKE