Exposing The Expat Bias & Local Founder Apathy Engulfing Kenya’s Startup Scene

By  |  July 13, 2020

The startup ecosystems in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa make up the three most-funded startup hubs in sub-Saharan Africa. But unlike in Nigeria and South Africa where local players generally hold sway, the startup scene in Kenya is dominated by a population of foreign founders that some may describe as an inordinate amount.

In Kenya, expat founders raise much more money than local founders, as expat-founded startups are many times more likely to close investment deals. It appears there’s a long-standing bias towards foreign founders; it’s kind of a diversity hole and the country’s startup ecosystem now seems to be rigged against locals.

Most Read


Nigeria’s Crypto Traders Take Business Underground Amid War On Binance

Nigeria’s heightened crackdown on cryptocurrency companies over the naira’s slide is driving the


Kenya Is Struggling To Find Winners After Startup Funding Boom

Kenya, the acclaimed Silicon Savannah, is reeling from turbulence in its tech landscape.


The New Playbook Behind Private Equity’s Quiet Boom In Africa

Private equity (PE) investment in Africa has seen a remarkable upswing in recent