Kenya's top funded startups
Discover Kenya’s top funded startups in 2026, from Sistema.bio and Zeno to Apollo Agriculture, and the 16 deals shaping East Africa’s innovation scene.
Kenya’s startup ecosystem keeps proving its strength. In the first half of 2026 alone, local ventures pulled in $157 million across 16 publicly reported funding deals. Climate tech, clean energy, and agritech sectors led the charge.
Here’s a look at Kenya’s top funded startups, what they build, and who drives them forward.
Kenya’s Top Funded Startups in 2026
Sistema.bio ➠ $53M
Sistema.bio topped the list, raising $53 million in the first half of 2026. That single round made up roughly a third of all capital raised by Kenyan startups this period.
Co-founded and led by CEO Alex Eaton, a former sustainability director at charity: water, the company designs and sells modular biodigesters that turn animal waste into biogas and organic fertilizer.
Farmers across Kenya and beyond use Sistema.bio systems to cut fuel costs and boost crop yields. The startup operates from Nairobi and reaches farmers in multiple countries, including India.
CrossBoundary Energy ➠ $40M
CrossBoundary Energy secured $40 million to expand its distributed renewable energy business. The company sits under CrossBoundary Group, co-founded by Matt Tilleard and Jake Cusack, and builds, owns, and operates solar, wind, and battery storage projects for commercial and industrial clients across Africa.
Its portfolio already covers hundreds of millions of dollars in solar assets, giving businesses cleaner and cheaper power without upfront capital costs.
Zeno ➠ $25M
Zeno, a Nairobi-based e-mobility startup, raised $25 million in Series A funding. Founded in 2022 by CEO Michael Spencer, a former Tesla executive who led Model 3 production ramp-up, the round combined equity and debt, backed by investors including Congruent Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital.
Zeno builds the Emara electric motorcycle and runs a battery-swapping network across East Africa. The new capital will help the company clear a waitlist of over 25,000 retail and fleet customers while expanding its charging infrastructure.
Victory Farms ➠ $15M
Victory Farms raised $15 million to grow its tilapia farming operations on Lake Victoria. Co-founded in 2015 by CEO Joseph Rehmann and Steve Moran, the company has grown into sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing fish farm.
It supplies fresh, affordable tilapia to households and retailers through its Victory Fresh brand, aiming to deliver accessible protein to millions of Kenyans.
Mogo ➠ $6.2M
Asset financier Mogo Kenya, part of the international Eleving Group, secured Ksh 800 million, about $6.2 million, in local-currency debt from a syndicate led by I&M Bank and Ecobank.
The funding supports Mogo’s asset financing for motorcycles, vehicles, and smartphones. Shifting toward domestic funding also helps the company reduce foreign exchange risk while scaling mobility lending for Kenya’s informal sector.
ARC Ride ➠ $5M
ARC Ride raised $5 million to grow its Battery-as-a-Service model for electric motorcycles. Founded in 2019 by CEO Joseph Hurst-Croft alongside co-founder Karl Boyce.
The Nairobi-based company designs and assembles electric bikes, including the Bidii Boda and Corbett models, while running swap stations that let riders exchange batteries quickly. ARC Ride positions itself as a leading provider of clean, affordable urban mobility in Africa.
Sanivation ➠ $3.3M
Sanivation picked up $3.3 million to expand its sanitation and waste management work. Co-founded by CEO Andrew Foote and COO Emily Woods, the company partners with local governments in African secondary cities to treat fecal sludge and convert it into non-carbonized fuel briquettes.
Its Naivasha plant demonstrates how waste can become a resource rather than a public health hazard.
MyCredit ➠ $3M
MyCredit Limited raised $3 million to grow its lending and insurance services. Licensed as a Digital Credit Provider by the Central Bank of Kenya, the company offers quick loans and business financing to individuals and small enterprises.
Its management team includes experienced banking professionals guiding the firm’s growth across Nairobi and beyond.
Apollo Agriculture ➠ $2.1M
Apollo Agriculture secured $2.1 million to continue supporting small-scale farmers. Co-founded by Eli Pollak, the company uses agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology to help farmers access quality inputs, financing, and insurance.
Apollo Agriculture serves farmers across Kenya and Zambia, aiming to make commercial farming more profitable for smallholders.
4G Capital ➠ $2M
4G Capital raised $2 million to expand its financial services for micro and small enterprises. Founded in 2013 by Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, now the company’s Executive Chairman.
The business has supported enterprises across Africa with working capital loans and financial literacy training. Julian Mitchell took over as CEO in 2024, and the company now employs close to 1,500 people across Kenya and other African markets.
Electric Africa ➠ $698K
Electric Africa secured $698,000 in fresh funding, joining the wave of climate-tech and energy startups drawing investor attention this year.
The deal reflects growing interest in Kenya’s clean energy sector as more capital flows toward electrification projects across the region.
Jacaranda Maternity and Family Hospital ➠ $600K
Jacaranda Maternity and Family Hospital raised $600,000 to expand maternal healthcare services. The hospital chain grew out of Jacaranda Health, founded by Nick Pearson, and later spun off its hospital operations as a standalone social venture.
It now runs multiple branches across Nairobi, including Ngong Road, Umoja, and Kahawa West, offering NHIF-accredited maternity and gynecological care focused on affordability and dignity for mothers and newborns.
SokoFresh ➠ $500K
SokoFresh raised $500,000 to expand its solar-powered cold storage network. Co-founded by Denis Karema and Andrew Thinguri.
The award-winning company connects smallholder farmers, particularly avocado growers, to high-value markets. SokoFresh’s cold-storage-as-a-service model has already earned it an Ashden Award for climate innovation.
Cherehani Labs ➠ $300K
Cherehani Labs secured $300,000 to grow its network of solar-powered veterinary labs. The company delivers AI-powered animal health diagnostics to rural livestock farmers, helping extension officers and veterinary doctors collect samples and protect farmers from livestock losses.
Hakimu ➠ $200K
Hakimu, a Kenyan legal-tech startup, raised $200,000 in pre-seed funding from Madica. Co-founded by Rawan Dareer, Ahmed Ahmed, and Ahmed Elbashir.
The company builds AI-powered legal infrastructure and search tools for African judiciaries. The investment includes an 18-month growth program with executive coaching and mentorship.
SafeRide ➠ $100K
SafeRide rounded out the list with $100,000 in funding, one of several notable deals tracked in the State of Tech in Africa Report. The Kenyan startup continues building its presence in the local tech ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture
Kenya’s top funded startups this period show a clear pattern: climate, energy, and agritech dominate investor interest. From biodigesters to battery-swapping motorcycles, Kenyan founders are building solutions that tackle real problems in energy access, food security, and healthcare.
As Kenya’s startup festival season approaches and new companies continue entering the market, expect small startups in Kenya to keep pushing into these same high-growth sectors.
For job seekers, startups in Kenya hiring right now span fintech, agritech, and clean energy, offering fresh opportunities in one of Africa’s most dynamic innovation hubs.
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