Kenya Innovation Week 2023: Transformative Outcomes from the Inclusive Innovations Summit
In a resounding celebration of collaborative strides, the Kenya Innovation Week 2023, Commonwealth Edition, showcased an impactful highlight – the Inclusive Innovations Summit. Hosted on November 29, 2023, at the prestigious Edge Convention Centre, this summit, spearheaded by Bernard Chiira, Director of Innovate Now, bore the theme ‘Innovate for All: Driving Inclusive Innovation in the […]
Riziki Source Case study
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15 percent of the global population, roughly 1 billion people, live with disabilities. Unfortunately, there are common misconceptions that individuals withDisabilities are incapable of being part of the workforce, leading to fear, prejudice, and myths that hinder their inclusion in workplaces worldwide. One of these myths is […]
Innovation Spotlight: Lugha Ishara tackling language deprivation in Deaf children.
This blog is part of our weekly #InnovationSpotlight-exploring the stories of ventures within our GDI Hub Accelerate portfolio. Here we meet The Accessibility Institute (TAI) , a social enterprise that completed our Kenyan-based Innovate Now Accelerator. In 2018, Lugha Ishara was founded by Nancy Maina and a team of four volunteers who were passionate about improving the lives of […]
Innovation Spotlight: Riziki Source, connecting people with disabilities to job opportunities.
This blog is part of our weekly #InnovationSpotlight – exploring the stories of ventures within our GDI Hub Accelerate portfolio. Hereis a story of Riziki source, who completed our Kenyan Based Innovate Now Accelerator. In today’s digital age, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. From social media to online shopping, we rely on technology to […]
Signs TV case study
Signs Media TV was launched in 2015 when the company applied to the Communication Authority of Kenya for permission to run a television station broadcasting in sign language and was granted the permission. In February 2017, Signs Media started broadcasting on free-to-air platforms – Signs TV and is also found on channels like GoTV and […]
Innovation Spotlight: Building a walking companion for the visually impaired.
This blog is part of our weekly #InnovationSpotlight-exploring the stories of ventures within our GDI Hub Accelerate portfolio. Here we meet Hope Tech , a start-up that completed our Kenyan-based Innovate Now Accelerator. Having attended an integrated high school, Brian, the CEO and founder of Hope Tech Plus Limited, chose to design solutions for visual impairments when he was given […]
Innovation Spotlight: Creating universal access to safe and appropriate sanitation, through innovating accessible toilets for people with disability.
“Talking about going to the toilet almost seems like a taboo in many African societies. We talk about it in hushed tones, and this is something that we should speak about freely.” Sylvia Nyaga Sylvia remembers living with her grandfather, who was a person with mobility challenges. As a young child, she did not understand […]
Completing the communication cycle – how a mentoring experience began a journey into machine learning and avatars to create a new sign language interpretation tool.
22-year-old Elly Savatia’s journey in innovation started quite early in his high school years. “I remember seeing a student who used crutches almost fall while using the stairs, and I thought of a prototype of a staircase that would reconfigure itself into a ramp or stairs based on the need.” Says Savatia. This was the […]
Assistive Tech for children and learning dominates Innovate Now’s 5th Demo Day, as Africa’s first disability accelerator drives momentum in the digital innovation space
Innovate Now held its 5th Demo Day on the 5th of August 2022 in Nairobi. The Demo Day was the first one under the digital assistive technology an entrepreneurship project-a partnership between GDI Hub, ICT Norway and Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD). In a hybrid fashion combining in-person and online demos, eight assistive technology ventures […]
Innovate Now Cohort 2.0: call for applicants
PRESS RELEASE Innovate Now Accelerator Programme Seeks Mobile Solutions to Assist Persons with Disabilities Programme opens submissions for second cohort with focus on mobile as a bridge to assistive technology NAIROBI – May 13, 2020: Innovate Now, Africa’s first Assistive Technology Accelerator is seeking applications from innovators across the African continent who are dedicated to developing […]