Two Kenyan startups were among the winners at the Sankalp Africa Awards 2025, a prestigious recognition for enterprises tackling key social and economic challenges. Announced at the 12th Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, the awards highlight businesses driving healthcare innovation, sustainable agriculture, and economic inclusion across Africa.
The summit, held at the Edge Convention Centre, brought together over 1,500 investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers for discussions, networking, and live investor matchmaking sessions, unlocking millions of dollars in funding for African startups.
Sankalp Africa Awards 2025: Winners and Impact
Overall Winner: Kilimo Fresh Foods Africa (Tanzania)
Led by Baraka Chijenga, this agritech platform connects farmers, businesses, and consumers through a mobile-driven B2B2C marketplace that optimizes supply chains and minimizes post-harvest losses.
Kenyan Startups Among the Top Awardees
- Bena Care (First Runner-Up) – Founded by Naomi Monari, this health-tech startup provides affordable home-based nursing and therapy services while training caregivers to enhance healthcare access in low-income communities.
- Organic Fields (Sankalp Ecosystem Award) – A social enterprise led by Richard Mwangi, converting municipal food waste into organic fertilizer to improve soil health and sustainable farming.
Other Recognized Innovators
- Dawa Mkononi (Tanzania, Second Runner-Up) – Founded by Joseph Paul, this health-tech company is streamlining medicine distribution across Africa, reducing inefficiencies in supply chains.
Kenya’s Startup Ecosystem and the Role of Sankalp Africa
Kenya continues to solidify its position as East Africa’s startup hub, attracting over $1.2 billion in venture capital in 2023. The Sankalp Africa Summit 2025 played a vital role in fostering capital mobilization, partnerships, and enterprise growth.
“The Sankalp Africa Awards 2025 brought together impact-driven businesses with immense potential to address Africa’s economic and social challenges. Each winner showcases how innovation can drive sustainability and positive change.” – Karnika Yadav, Partner & Director, Intellecap Africa
The summit was supported by key global partners, including African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, Villgro Africa, Jhpiego, Grand Challenges Canada, and Boehringer Ingelheim. The event promoted collaborative capital and private sector engagement to address Africa’s most pressing social issues.
Since its inception in 2009, the Sankalp Forum, a flagship initiative by Intellecap (Aavishkaar Group), has evolved into one of the world’s largest platforms for impact-driven enterprises. Over the years, it has showcased 2,780+ entrepreneurs, connected 1,000+ investors, and enabled businesses to secure over $800 million in funding. Through 33 global editions, the forum has been instrumental in shaping inclusive development approaches, engaging with governments, corporations, and international organizations to drive sustainable solutions.
Intellecap, which spearheads the summit, has worked across 60+ countries, syndicating over $1.2 billion in capital and providing consulting and investment services in agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, and financial inclusion. The organization’s work extends beyond the summit, helping African startups scale by fostering an enabling ecosystem that attracts investment and mentorship.
Conclusion
The Sankalp Africa Awards 2025 reaffirm Kenya’s leadership in entrepreneurship and impact-driven innovation. As investment in African startups grows, platforms like Sankalp Africa continue to provide crucial opportunities for funding, collaboration, and scaling solutions that drive lasting change.
For more details, visit: www.sankalpforum.com
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