StArfrica in Rwanda and Kenya: new partnerships, strong female founders and a successful campaign launch
The last business trip of the StArfrica team of ZIFETS in 2025 took Elisabeth Grün and Derrick Vormawor to Rwanda and Kenya. The focus was on new partnerships, the expansion of the EXIST network in East Africa and the launch of the 10 Faces Changing Africa – Kenya Edition.
Rwanda: Networking and partnerships in higher education African Leadership University (ALU) In Kigali, the team visited the African Leadership University (ALU). The aim was to establish a long-term cooperation and to identify potential talents for the German EXIST start-up scholarship. StArfrica got to know several student teams and their start-up ideas. At the pitch event, the team gave clear, constructive feedback and showed what is important for an EXIST application. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is currently being drafted to anchor the cooperation institutionally. ALU has other locations in Mauritius and South Africa.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa)
Another key event took the team to CMU-Africa. Here, too, an MoU is being prepared to consolidate cooperation in events, innovation scouting, and incubation. The university is also the alma mater of a member of the Green Meter team, who received an EXIST scholarship last year.
University of Rwanda (UR)
Another highlight was the visit to the University of Rwanda. The team was warmly welcomed by Pascal Nyiringango and also received a detailed tour of the UniPod (University Innovation Pod). This offers students the opportunity to put theoretical knowledge into practice—including prototyping and innovation projects.
The team also met the ClimaVase team, who are showing great interest in the EXIST scholarship. StArfrica conducted a full EXIST workshop as well as an intensive feedback meeting. The cooperation will continue in 2026.
Kenya: Launch of the 10 Faces Changing Africa
From Kigali, the team travelled on to Nairobi. The official launch of the 10 Faces Changing Africa—Kenya Edition took place there. The campaign portrays ten selected female entrepreneurs and shows their companies, stories, and their impact on the local startup ecosystem. Female entrepreneurship is a core concern of StArfrica. In many African regions, women are structurally disadvantaged. The campaign creates visibility, offers a platform, and empowers women in their entrepreneurial path.
