Safaricom showcased nine tech companies last Friday during its Spark Accelerator Program event. These startups included HealthX Africa, Vuna Pay, Black Rhino VR, Twiva, Chpter, Chirpy, Nobuk Africa, Faidi HR, and Chumz. The program helps new business founders grow bigger and faster through connections and advice.
Black Rhino VR makes virtual reality easier for everyone by eliminating coding requirements. Brian Afande runs this company, which creates digital experiences across Africa. He said the Safaricom program helped them meet other smart business leaders and learn from successful companies like M-Kopa about growth strategies.
Mentors Ibrahim and Martin Karanja studied Black Rhino VR carefully and pointed out ways to improve it. They connected the team with helpful people and shared expert knowledge. The company recently won an award for best new technology use at the Marketing Society of Kenya Gala, proving that African creators can compete worldwide.
Unlike many startups looking for cash, Black Rhino VR wanted valuable business relationships instead. They signed an agreement with Safaricom that opened many doors. Afande tells other startups to believe in themselves and just apply for the program because taking that first step matters most.
Chumz helps people save money through fun activities based on what they already enjoy doing. The app asks users to put aside cash when they spend at restaurants or when their favorite sports team plays. This system makes saving feel more natural and less boring for most people who struggle with financial discipline.
The app works by sending friendly reminders based on your habits and interests. Users join weekly challenges or team up with friends to save together. The Capital Markets Authority fully approves Chumz, keeping all money safe in regulated accounts with established banks and financial managers.
Chumz started in Kenya but has already expanded to Rwanda. Many people wait to join in Uganda and Tanzania, where mobile money works well. The company plans to move into West African countries next, including Senegal, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire, where mobile payments are growing quickly.
Being part of the Spark program gave Chumz better business plans and more customer trust. People believe in them more because they partner with big names like Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation, and M-Pesa Africa. The founders say this foundation helps them grow faster across different countries.
Twiva changes how digital marketing works by matching businesses with perfect social media influencers. Peter Kironji and Joy Mwangi lead this company, which partners with AliExpress, M-Pesa Super App, and the Safaricom program. These connections help small businesses reach more customers and create earning opportunities for young people.
The accelerator program helped Twiva fix its pricing plans and marketing approach. It learned better ways to help both companies and influencers succeed together. Every person promoting products can make money right away instead of waiting to become famous first, making Twiva's system fairer than traditional platforms, where only the top five percent earn anything.
Black Rhino VR makes virtual reality easier for everyone by eliminating coding requirements. Brian Afande runs this company, which creates digital experiences across Africa. He said the Safaricom program helped them meet other smart business leaders and learn from successful companies like M-Kopa about growth strategies.
Mentors Ibrahim and Martin Karanja studied Black Rhino VR carefully and pointed out ways to improve it. They connected the team with helpful people and shared expert knowledge. The company recently won an award for best new technology use at the Marketing Society of Kenya Gala, proving that African creators can compete worldwide.
Unlike many startups looking for cash, Black Rhino VR wanted valuable business relationships instead. They signed an agreement with Safaricom that opened many doors. Afande tells other startups to believe in themselves and just apply for the program because taking that first step matters most.
Chumz helps people save money through fun activities based on what they already enjoy doing. The app asks users to put aside cash when they spend at restaurants or when their favorite sports team plays. This system makes saving feel more natural and less boring for most people who struggle with financial discipline.
The app works by sending friendly reminders based on your habits and interests. Users join weekly challenges or team up with friends to save together. The Capital Markets Authority fully approves Chumz, keeping all money safe in regulated accounts with established banks and financial managers.
Chumz started in Kenya but has already expanded to Rwanda. Many people wait to join in Uganda and Tanzania, where mobile money works well. The company plans to move into West African countries next, including Senegal, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire, where mobile payments are growing quickly.
Being part of the Spark program gave Chumz better business plans and more customer trust. People believe in them more because they partner with big names like Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation, and M-Pesa Africa. The founders say this foundation helps them grow faster across different countries.
Twiva changes how digital marketing works by matching businesses with perfect social media influencers. Peter Kironji and Joy Mwangi lead this company, which partners with AliExpress, M-Pesa Super App, and the Safaricom program. These connections help small businesses reach more customers and create earning opportunities for young people.
The accelerator program helped Twiva fix its pricing plans and marketing approach. It learned better ways to help both companies and influencers succeed together. Every person promoting products can make money right away instead of waiting to become famous first, making Twiva's system fairer than traditional platforms, where only the top five percent earn anything.
