Latitude59 Kenya’s Pitch Competition has reached new heights this year, with a record 382 applications from 37 countries. Now, ten promising startups have been selected to compete for an invitation to the Latitude59 event in 2025, held in Tallinn, Estonia. Here, they’ll vie for a share of a €1 million prize pool.
The competition saw a surge in applications, nearly doubling from last year, and featuring a strong showing from African nations like Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, as well as entries from regions including the UAE, India, and Azerbaijan. The growth reflects Latitude59’s increasing international reach.
Nick Vilelle, Founding Member of the Nairobi Business Angels Network, praised the event’s quality. “We’re seeing more founders not only building for East Africa but with ambitions for global expansion,” he noted, emphasizing the competition’s broadening impact.
Dolores Daniel, project manager for the Latitude59 Kenya Edition, pointed out the expanding focus of startups beyond fintech into areas such as agriculture and sustainability. “This year’s competition reflects a notable shift,” she said. “Startups are increasingly prioritizing impact-driven solutions for food security, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management — reshaping Kenya’s entrepreneurial narrative.”
The top ten startups will pitch live on the main stage at Latitude59 Kenya on November 28. They’ll receive pitch training from Gleb Maltsev, Latitude59’s pitch coach, to refine their presentations for the event.
Triin Ilves, Head of Startup Relations at Latitude59, remarked on the record-breaking participation. “With applications nearly doubling, Latitude59 is striving to offer even more value to startups, from tailored training to partnerships that support regional and global growth.”
One African startup from the top ten will earn a fast-track invitation to compete in the Latitude59 2025 pre-finals in Estonia. For the second consecutive year, the Tallinn prize pool is set at €1 million, with Latitude59 covering travel expenses.
Top 10 Startups (Alphabetically Listed):
- AcemyX (Nigeria): An LMS platform designed to help students prepare for exams with personalized learning tools and study materials.
- Afya Mama (Tanzania): Provides maternal care and reproductive health information to women through SMS and web-based applications.
- Eco Nasi (Kenya): Converts pineapple pulp waste into durable vegan leather, offering a sustainable alternative to animal hide leather.
- Grekkon Limited (Kenya): Scales moisture sensors for smallholder farmers to optimize water use in irrigation.
- NoMa (Kenya): A tech platform that digitizes school transportation to improve safety and efficiency.
- Paycloud Africa (USA): Developing a neobank to help MSMEs in Africa manage payments, receive funds, and access credit.
- Roadrims (Kenya): Provides reliable, cost-effective logistics solutions to meet diverse supply chain needs.
- Twiva (Kenya): A social commerce platform that connects brands with markets through influencer-led marketing and sales.
- VunaPay (Kenya): Offers instant payments to farmers upon produce delivery, helping eliminate payment delays.
- Zerobionic (Kenya): Working on a human-like robotic arm to assist hearing-impaired students in Kenyan high schools.
Estonia, known for its vibrant tech ecosystem and high concentration of startups, is a leader in the global tech industry. Latitude59, its flagship startup and tech event, has become a central hub for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators from around the world. In 2023, over 3,500 attendees gathered for Latitude59, including 900 startup representatives and nearly 600 investors.
Scheduled for November 28 at the A.S.K Dome in Nairobi, the Latitude59 Kenya Edition will bring together around 2,000 attendees. Following the success of last year’s event, which drew nearly 800 participants, the 2024 edition aims to strengthen connections between the Estonian and Kenyan startup ecosystems. Tickets are available now through the official Latitude59 website: latitude59.ee/kenya.