Bridge for Billions, a global entrepreneurship support platform, has officially launched Conecta Africa, a bold new initiative aimed at strengthening early-stage entrepreneurship ecosystems across Africa.
The launch took place at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club in Nairobi and marked the close of a three-day summit and retreat that brought together over 100 key stakeholders from across the continent.
Conecta Africa seeks to transform how entrepreneurship is supported by uniting entrepreneur support organisations (ESOs), funders, corporate leaders, and policymakers from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. The initiative is particularly focused on dismantling structural barriers that hinder women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs from accessing vital business development support.
“Entrepreneurs are resilient, resourceful people. But we should not expect them 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 become a public good — accessible, equitable, and rooted in systems.”
The summit, organised by Bridge for Billions and supported by organisations like the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), surfaced critical challenges facing ESOs.
Conecta Africa identifies key barriers: limited funding, poor collaboration infrastructure, exclusion, data gaps, and fragmented support systems for startups.
In response, the initiative will help ESOs collaborate more effectively, share resources, and build their capacity to support startups more sustainably. In its first phase, Conecta Africa aims to support 1,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through improved collaboration and resource mobilisation.
Dr. Maxwell Okoth, Chair of the Health Sector Committee at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), emphasized the importance of funding local innovation.
“We have the talent and tools. We just need to believe in ourselves and fund local solutions. If we don’t, we risk economic recolonisation, where we build for others instead of ourselves.”
Ian Minjire, co-founder and COO of Melanin Kapital, urged funders to move beyond a tech-centric mindset and instead invest in sustainable business models across essential sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, housing, and manufacturing.
In a keynote address, Principal Secretary for MSME Development, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, backed the initiative, citing its alignment with the Kenyan government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“Our youth need more than just encouragement. They need tools and skills to create their jobs,” she said. “Through this initiative, we see the promise of helping our MSMEs, many of which already have viable products, access what they need most — capital, markets, and technical expertise.”
Yann Huguenard, Senior Business Development Manager at Bridge for Billions, concluded by emphasizing that real change begins with strengthening local support ecosystems.
“Conecta Africa is not just about startups. It’s about strengthening the organisations that support them. By empowering ESOs to collaborate, we’re laying the foundation for a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem that can grow with and for Africa.”
Backed by major partners such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), JP Morgan, Strathmore University, and KNCCI, Conecta Africa signals a new chapter in the drive to create inclusive, resilient, and locally anchored startup ecosystems across the African continent.