The UK-Kenya Tech Hub has partnered with Viktoria Ventures and a range of local ecosystem players to launch a new programme aimed at expanding Kenya’s early-stage investment ecosystem and encouraging cross-border deal flow.
The initiative, named Startup 360 Connect, is designed to activate and train a new generation of angel investors while simultaneously improving access to early-stage capital for Kenyan startups. The programme aligns with the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation, which prioritises support for high-growth enterprises and sustainable investment channels.
At the heart of Startup 360 Connect is an angel investor training component, led by Viktoria Ventures. The programme targets individuals and investment groups looking to participate more actively in early-stage financing. Participants will receive hands-on training in deal evaluation, syndication, and capital deployment, culminating in a group investment in selected startups at the programme’s conclusion.
Alongside this, a founder development track delivered by Anza Village aims to prepare startups for investment. This component covers business development, governance, and financial readiness, ensuring that participating ventures meet the standards expected by trained angel investors. Startups completing the programme will be matched with angel investors through structured syndication processes, creating a more organised and transparent investment pipeline.
A third pillar, led by advisory firm POV, focuses on international market exposure and venture capital linkages, particularly between Kenya and the United Kingdom. This track is designed to enhance investors’ understanding of cross-border expansion and market entry strategies, rather than providing guaranteed funding outcomes.
The angel investor programme is scheduled to run from February to June 2026 and will bring together individual investors, members of investment groups, professionals, and impact-focused financiers. Each participant will commit $1,000 towards a syndicated investment chosen collectively by the group.
The organisers say the initiative is intended to address gaps in early-stage funding by broadening participation in angel investing and promoting more structured capital deployment. While Kenya has emerged as one of Africa’s most active startup hubs, early-stage financing remains concentrated among a limited pool of investors, restricting opportunities for a wider range of ventures.
Applications for the angel investor programme close on January 30, 2026. Interested investors and startups can apply through the UK-Kenya Tech Hub and partner platforms.