Young entrepreneurs at the Coast with promising business ideas will be able to access investments of between $5,000 (Sh646,000) and $20,000 (Sh2.5 million) following the launch of a technology and innovation hub in Mombasa aimed at helping start-ups overcome the challenge of raising early-stage capital.
The Close the Gap Tech Hub at The Creek, located in Mkomani, Nyali, has been established to provide aspiring business owners with access to financing, mentorship, business development support, digital skills training and shared workspaces under one roof.
The facility is expected to serve between 200 and 250 people each day, bringing together innovators, freelancers and small businesses seeking to develop products, refine business ideas and connect with investors.
Speaking during the launch, Baron Olivier Vanden Eynde, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kenya to the Kingdom of Belgium, said many young entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding even after developing viable products, making access to investment a critical step towards building sustainable businesses.
He said the hub's accelerator programme and impact fund will provide qualifying start-ups with investments ranging from $5,000 (Sh646,000) to $20,000 (Sh2.5 million), as well as guidance on business growth and product development.
"Our goal is to help young people become employers rather than job seekers," he said.
According to Vanden Eynde, the centre has been designed to support entrepreneurs from the idea stage through to commercialisation by providing facilities where they can build prototypes, test products and receive expert advice.
He added that the initiative seeks to create businesses capable of generating long-term employment instead of focusing solely on launching new ventures.
The hub also includes maker spaces, meeting rooms, event facilities, a café, accommodation and affordable access to refurbished computers, enabling entrepreneurs to develop both digital and physical products in one location.
Baron Olivier Vanden Eynde speaks during the digital skills training. (Photo: Courtesy)
Outgoing Belgian Ambassador to Kenya Peter Maddens said Kenya's youthful population presents significant opportunities for innovation if young people are equipped with the right skills, infrastructure and support.
He noted that with most of the country's population under 25, facilities that nurture creativity and entrepreneurship are becoming increasingly important as formal employment opportunities remain limited.
Former Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo said information and communication technology, together with artificial intelligence, could open up new economic opportunities beyond major towns.
He urged young innovators to develop digital solutions capable of improving sectors such as agriculture, education and rural enterprise, saying technology should be used to solve local challenges while creating employment.
Ndemo added that innovation centres should evolve beyond providing internet connectivity and instead become places where young people create products, develop businesses and generate income.
Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya Henk Jan Bakker said digital skills are becoming increasingly valuable as labour markets continue to change.
He observed that while competition for formal employment remains high, technology and entrepreneurship provide alternative pathways for young people to earn a living and establish businesses.
The launch also marked the soft opening of the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Mombasa, located within the innovation hub, further strengthening international collaboration around entrepreneurship and innovation.
Youth representative Isabell Kanina encouraged young people to take advantage of the opportunities available through the facility by developing practical skills and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures instead of relying solely on formal employment.
The hub is expected to strengthen Mombasa's growing innovation ecosystem by providing entrepreneurs with access to finance, mentorship, training and professional networks, as the county seeks to expand opportunities in the digital economy alongside its traditional sectors of tourism, transport and maritime trade.
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