Bridge for Billions Launches ‘Conecta Africa’ to Transform Support for Startups Across the Continent

A bold new initiative aimed at reshaping how early-stage businesses are supported across Africa has been officially launched in Nairobi. Dubbed Conecta Africa, the program is spearheaded by Bridge for Billions, a global entrepreneurship platform, and seeks to build inclusive, resilient startup ecosystems by strengthening the organisations that support them.

The launch took place on Thursday at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, marking the culmination of a three-day summit and retreat that brought together over 100 key stakeholders—including 25 Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs), funders, corporate leaders, and policymakers from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa.

Unlocking Inclusive Growth Through Collaboration
At its core, Conecta Africa aims to dismantle systemic barriers that have long hindered underserved entrepreneurs—especially women, youth, and rural innovators—from accessing critical business support. Through data-driven programs, collaborative strategy, and long-term partnerships, the initiative hopes to ensure that entrepreneurship support becomes not a privilege, but a public good.

“Entrepreneurs are resilient and resourceful, but they should not be forced to take unnecessary risks just to succeed,” said Julie Murat, co-founder of Bridge for Billions. “Just like education became a public right, we believe entrepreneurship support must be accessible, equitable, and rooted in systems.”

Summit Unveils Key Gaps—and Solutions
Research presented during the summit, in collaboration with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), identified five major gaps in Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem: insufficient ESO funding, poor collaboration infrastructure, exclusion of vulnerable groups, lack of data sharing, and fragmented support systems.

Despite these challenges, the tone of the summit was one of optimism. Chaitali Sinha of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) highlighted the need to shift from short-term aid to long-term, locally-rooted support models. “Too many organisations are doing great work in isolation. Conecta Africa aims to change that,” she said.

A Call to Rethink Funding Models
A recurring theme at the summit was the need to broaden the lens through which entrepreneurship is funded. Stakeholders urged financiers to look beyond high-profile tech startups and consider investments in sectors with direct human impact, including healthcare, agriculture, housing, and manufacturing.

Dr. Maxwell Okoth, Chair of the Health Sector at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Nairobi County, illustrated the potential of local innovation. He shared how his team built high-end medical infrastructure using locally sourced materials—cutting costs while boosting domestic capacity.
“We have the talent and tools. We just need to believe in ourselves and fund local solutions,” he said. “Otherwise, we risk economic recolonisation—building for others instead of ourselves.”

Ian Minjire, COO of Melanin Kapital, warned against overreliance on venture capital and encouraged support for business models prioritising sustainability over rapid scaling.

Backing from Government and Global Institutions
The launch received strong government endorsement. Principal Secretary for MSME Development, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, praised the initiative as complementary to Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). She invited Bridge for Billions to co-develop digital learning content for small businesses across the country.

“Our youth need more than just encouragement—they need tools and skills to create jobs,” she said. “Through this initiative, we can help MSMEs, many of which already have viable products, access what they need most: capital, markets, and technical expertise.”

Building the Foundations of a Continental Movement
According to Yann Huguenard, Senior Business Development Manager at Bridge for Billions, Conecta Africa is about more than just startups. “It’s about empowering the organisations that support them—helping ESOs collaborate, share resources, and scale their impact,” he noted.

In its first phase, Conecta Africa will support 1,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on youth, women-led ventures, and healthcare entrepreneurship. The program is backed by a robust coalition of partners including IDRC, UNIDO, Strathmore University, JP Morgan, and KNCCI.