Stephen McConnell pledges support for Kenyan innovators
President Barack Obama's Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship Stephen McConnell (right) and his wife Jean Case, co-founder of Case Foundation (centre), tour of the M-KOPA Solar Offices in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. The tour was led by the Co-Founder of M-KOPA Solar, Mr Chad Larson. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |
A leading American industrialist has pledged to assist upcoming Kenyan entrepreneurs and innovators by marketing them in the US.
Mr Stephen McConnell, who serves as President Obama’s Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, also said he would assist the beneficiaries to get funding to advance their businesses.
“When we go back home, we will go to different states in the US and tell our investors the good stories of Kenyan entrepreneurs,” said Mr McConnell on the sidelines of a discussion with local entrepreneurs at the home of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on Thursday night.
KENYA IDEAL
Several foreign investors had joined him for the discussion.
The investors are in the country to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which kicks off today at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi and the United Nations Environmental Programme headquarters in Gigiri.
Mr McConnell described Kenya as ideal for investment and said he expects more foreign institutions to start seeking the opportunities available.
“Kenyan entrepreneurs have inspired me with their diverse set of ideas and we will keep on encouraging them,” he said.
OFFER SOLUTIONS
The American industrialist is the co-founder of American Online (AOL), a multinational corporation based in New York.
He served as the company’s CEO and chairman before he retired.
His wife, Ms Jean Case, who is the CEO of the Case Foundation accompanied him on the Kenya trip.
She said from what she had seen with the young Kenyan businesspeople, she was convinced that they will eventually offer solutions that will tackle poverty.
GIVE IDEAS
Some of the Kenyan industrialists who joined the discussion with the American business leaders were Mr Ayisi Makatiani, Managing Partner and CEO of Fanisi Capital Ltd, which manages the Fanisi Venture Capital Fund for investing in East Africa, Ms Anne Githuku-Shongwe, a digital innovator and Mr Danson Muchemi, founder of JamboPay, an online payment gateway.
“They have come to encourage young entrepreneurs and giving them advice and ideas on how to advance,” said Mrs Susan Mboya-Kidero, Presideent of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation said.
Others who joined the group include Cabinet secretary for Industrialisation, Mr Adan Mohammed, and businessman Chris Kirubi.
