kayana

26/11/2025

Kayana is expanding Women to Watch, our platform that spotlights women breaking barriers.

We’re looking for a Content Contributor & Co-Editor to join our editorial team and help us tell more stories.

Who we’re looking for:
✅ A skilled writer, journalist, content creator, or storyteller
✅ Strong editor with excellent language control
✅ Someone passionate about women’s leadership & entrepreneurship
✅ Someone who is detail-oriented, reliable, and works well with deadlines

If you believe your voice can help amplify the stories we’re telling across the continent, we’d love to connect. Or, if you know someone who fits this description, spread the word!

24/11/2025

What happens when women entrepreneurs get real about the barriers they face?

We hosted JASIRI's intimate and timely conversation on the biggest challenges facing women-led businesses, ranging from systemic funding gaps to unspoken societal expectations.

Despite making up nearly a third of entrepreneurs in Africa and driving significant economic and social impact, women-led startups continue to receive only 2-3% of total investment.

The session explored what inclusive support looks like, discussed how entrepreneurship ecosystems can better reflect women's realities, and co-created practical solutions for growth.

Thank you to every founder who showed up and contributed to the conversation, and to Jasiri for Africa and partners like ASSEK, for facilitating these meaningful interactions.

18/11/2025

As the year comes to a close, we’re creating space for a candid conversation about the realities, the challenges, and the triumphs of being a woman in business today.

Across sectors, so much has been invested in supporting women entrepreneurs. But we want to hear from you:
Have you felt that support? Has it reached you where it matters?

And as we look ahead to 2026, we’re asking an even deeper question:
If you could redesign the kind of support that would truly move your business/start-up forward, what would it be?

Join fellow women founders and business owners for a reflective townhall with JASIRI that can shape what meaningful support looks like for us.

📅 20 November 2025
📍 Kayana Create
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3LBbFG2

10/11/2025

The Association of Countrywide Innovations Hubs (ACIH) continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) and MSMEs through collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy.

At the Biashara Collective Business Forum, we were honoured to host Savio Wambugu, the Chairperson of ACIH, as a guest speaker. Savio shared valuable insights on how the association is decentralizing innovation and empowering regional hubs to support entrepreneurs across Kenya.

He emphasized the importance of building strong local ecosystems that nurture entrepreneurship, drive digital transformation, and create sustainable growth opportunities beyond major cities.

We celebrate ACIH’s continued efforts to champion collaboration, policy engagement, and innovation that enable businesses to thrive across the country.

24/10/2025

Are you ready? Here's the lineup of activities:
💼 Cottage Industry Plenary - Building resilient business enterprises
⚽🏀 Charity Football & Basketball Tournaments
♻️ Kilicycle - Community recycling drive
🛍️ Shopping & food vendors
🎨 Music, art & vibrant children's activities
📚 Book swaps

📅 November 1st
📍 Kiota School, Dennis Pritt Road Campus

Get your ticket: https://wildedigital.hustlesasa.shop/?product=68156

24/10/2025

Small businesses are told to automate everything; schedule your posts, streamline your sales, track every click. And yes, AI can save time and money. But is efficiency enough?

Pat reminds us that while AI is powerful, it’s the people around your brand who keep it alive. Communities create loyalty, spark conversations and turn one-time buyers into lifelong advocates.

The real opportunity for SMEs isn’t choosing between AI and community, but knowing how to use both: AI for scale, and community for strength.

https://youtu.be/aGzP50ES6pY?si=avq5EYpELVuiyWcy

Small businesses are told to automate everything; schedule your posts, streamline your sales, track every click. And yes, AI can save time and money. But is ...

21/10/2025

The Biashara Collective (formerly the Kenya Cottage Industry Expo) returns on November 1st in partnership with Wilde Digital Concepts and Kilimani Project Foundation.

The expo brings together entrepreneurs, regulators, and industry partners for two days of networking, peer learning, and some fun activities thanks to the Kilimani Community Festival. We will have music, food, culture, shopping & wellness!

📅 Date: November 1st

📍 Venue: Kiota School, Dennis Pritt Road Campus

Get your Ticket to attend the plenary session: https://wildedigital.hustlesasa.shop/

14/10/2025

What a delightful morning spent with Women Leaders tackling the subject of AI with Joy Buolamwini. She shed light on various areas of use cases in education, health, and technology, asking some provocative questions and inspiring great discussions.

Thank you to everyone who participated and Qhala for hosting this collaboratively with Kayana.

10/10/2025

Excited to announce our new partnership with the Kilimani Project Foundation!

This year, the Cottage Industry Expo, now rebranded as The Biashara Collective, will join forces with the Kilimani Community Festival for a vibrant day of learning, music, food, culture, shopping, and wellness.

📅 Date: November 1st
📍 Venue: Kiota School, Dennis Pritt Road

Grab your tickets now 👉🏽 https://wildedigital.hustlesasa.shop/

Interested in showcasing your products? Get in touch via +254718 275748 or +254796 758 773 for more details on how to join our vendor lineup!

Cottage Industry Kenya

07/10/2025

What does legacy truly mean, and how do we begin to build it while we’re still in the process of becoming?

These were the powerful questions that anchored our latest edition of Candid Conversations, , held under the theme Legacy in the Making.

The session brought together three remarkable panelists who shared raw, authentic reflections on how they're creating their own legacies through the everyday choices and the courage to build something meaningful.

, the Chief Financial Services Officer at , fondly known as “Mama Mpesa,” shared that legacy begins with clarity of purpose, understanding your “why” and staying rooted in it, even as roles and seasons evolve.

, Co-Founder and Executive Director at , reminded us that overcoming systemic barriers requires intentionality in creating systems that work for women, because no woman truly succeeds in isolation.

And , the founder of , offered a glimpse into what it means to create impact through entrepreneurship.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and to our incredible panelists and moderator, , for sharing their stories and wisdom with such authenticity.

03/10/2025

A good time was had at Candid Conversations!

Thank you for joining us ladies 🙏

Click the link in bio to subscribe to our email newsletter or join our community.

02/10/2025

Thank you, Ecobank Kenya, for partnering with us at Candid Conversations (A Candid Handbook For Women Doing Business In Kenya)

Through Ellevate, Ecobank’s specialized banking program, women entrepreneurs gain easier access to capital while also strengthening their leadership, skills, and networks. This empowers women-led businesses to grow sustainably, reach new markets, and scale with confidence.

👉 Learn more about how Ellevate can support your business journey today! https://ecobank.com/ci/commercial-banking/ellevate