Safaricom has hosted the Spark Accelerator Program Demo Day, with nine startups pitching their businesses to leading investors and venture capital firms.
Launched in 2024 after the restructuring of the Spark Fund, the Spark Accelerator programme was created to support visionary entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses. This initiative aligns with Safaricom’s mission to transform lives by giving startups access to resources, networks, and opportunities that help them grow and succeed.
The programme is delivered through a partnership between Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation, with iHub acting as the implementing partner. Additional partners, including PwC, AWS, Bowmans Law, and Vodacom, are providing advisory and technical support to startups participating in the accelerator.
The event convened founders, investors, and ecosystem partners under the Spark Accelerator Program, an initiative aimed at supporting early-stage startups through access to funding, mentorship, market opportunities, and technical expertise.
Speaking during the event, Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom, highlighted repeated cases where systems showed strong performance during pilot stages but struggled under increased demand or failed to align with actual customer usage patterns.
She further explained that while developing solutions, the focus extends beyond the technology itself to include understanding user behaviour and usage trends, helping create systems that can scale effectively and sustainably.
The Safaricom Spark Accelerator Program is designed to support fintech and digital content startups through an ecosystem-driven model that brings together experts with a deep understanding of market trends, emerging technologies, and innovation.
Since its inception in 2024, the program has supported 18 startups across two cohorts, offering access to product and technology support, market opportunities, and capital. The first cohort included Chumz, Chpter, Faidi HR, HealthX, Churpy, VunaPay, Twiva, BlackRhino, and Nobuk, while the second cohort comprises Mediakits, StockApp, Leta, Weplay, FlexPay, DigiTax, Oye, QuePay, and GoPay.
The Investor Demo Day serves as the final showcase of the accelerator program, giving startups a chance to showcase their businesses before potential investors and secure funding to fuel their next phase of growth. As the culmination of the accelerator program, the event highlights the progress startups have made through intensive mentorship, training, and market support, while offering investors a front-row seat to discover high-potential businesses ready to scale.
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