Ongoza Information

Ongoza is an accelerator for early-stage high-growth young entrepreneurs in Kenya. We provide customized business coaching, market linkages, and access to debt financing in order to propel their growth. Our name, the imperative "Lead" in Kiswahili, represents our appeal for young entrepreneurs to become the business leaders of tomorrow. Did you know? 800,000 young people enter the Kenyan labor market every year, vying for 70-90,000 formal jobs; without opportunities, the majority are forced to start small businesses (World Bank, 2016). Without the skills, structure, or capital to grow, most of these small businesses do not have strong prospects. Ongoza exists to fill this gap. We aim to scale high-potential youth-led small and growing businesses as a means of tackling the youth unemployment challenge in Kenya and promoting a more prosperous and stable society.