Rapid technical skills training providers or skill intermediaries that offer short-term, applied, intensive technology skills training paired with collaborative problem-solving and other soft skills development. These could be beneficiaries under the components of Strengthening the Ecosystem’s Support Infrastructure.
Students
These include Kenyan students from tertiary academic institutions that could directly benefit through participation in the Industry-Academia Platform. In addition, students could also benefit from tuition subsidies provided to technology bootcamp providers under component 1. Participation of female students will be encouraged by the project.
Technology Bootcamp Providers
SMEs
These include Kenyan firms, whose annual turnover falls between KSH 50 million and KSH 1 billion (US$0.5- US $10 million). This turnover may be from the previous financial year or be an average annual turnover from the previous three years. KIEP will encourage participation from women-run SMEs. SMEs could be beneficiaries under the SME Linkages and Upgrading Program.
Startups
These include Kenyan startups that could be beneficiaries under the Industry-Startup Linkages Program, and the International Acceleration Process. In addition, Kenyan startups could also benefit indirectly through participating in programs run by accelerators/incubators that are supported by the project.
Accelerators or Incubators
These include accelerators or incubators operating in Kenya.Accelerators are defined as organizations that offer fixed-term, cohort-based programs that include seed investment, connections, mentorship, educational components, and culminate in a public pitch event or demo day to accelerate startup growth. Incubators are organizations that help startups to develop and grow by providing services such as management training or office space, also referred to as hubs and innovation centers. These could be beneficiaries under the component of Strengthening the Ecosystem’s Support Infrastructure.
Corporates
These include large businesses that could be indirect beneficiaries through increased access to high-potential, local talent (students); through open innovation with startups; and through improved performance of SME suppliers along their supply chain. While corporates may not be direct beneficiaries of the project, they could gain indirectly through the various project components and through positive spillover effects.