Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2024 took place on November 28 in A.S.K Dome, Nairobi! Latitude59’s second satellite event in Africa gathered 2000 people, being more than twice the size than the previous year. One thing is for sure – we’ll be back next year!
“Latitude59 is a global platform connecting innovators around the world. We have people from almost 40 countries represented among the almost 2000 attendees. So much is happening, the inspirational discussions on the stage, the workshops, the startups pitching, the matchmaking, but most of all I would want to ask you to stay present, stay curious, not judgmental, and create those meaningful connections. This is why we are here. To see different perspectives and experience each other’s stories. Let’s build this amazing global village. And let’s always, always be bold,” said Liisi Org, the CEO of Latitude59 in her opening speech of Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2024, pointing out that the ambition is to grow into the highest quality startup and tech event in Africa.
“Thanks to our deeper understanding of the ecosystem and incredible partners and friends here in Kenya, this event exceeded our expectations. Kenya is one of the most welcoming startup ecosystems I have ever been to and it makes total sense to connect Estonia and Europe with Kenya. This could be like a launch pad for global comapnies and organizations to expand to African markets, and vice-versa. I’m glad to announce that we’re already planning for next year and the interest from potential partners is bigger than ever,” she added.
The key focus of Latitude59 is to connect ecosystems and help startups succeed. Out of all the attendees, nearly half were startup ticket holders – 900 in total, which indicates the great interest and potential of the local startup community to break through, forge connections and have an impact. In addition, 121 investors signed up, representing 35 funds from all around the world. Investors have an important role in building a prosperous startup ecosystem and while the startup investment scene in Africa is not yet bubbling, there is a lot to learn from conversations. That’s why the Investor Day, held one day ahead of the main conference had such an important role.
“Our collaboration with Latitude59 in Kenya is more than an event—it’s a strategic platform to transform Africa’s investment landscape. By bringing together policymakers, venture capitalists, and innovation leaders, we’re creating a powerful ecosystem that breaks down barriers, connects stakeholders, and accelerates startup funding. From our Investor Roundtable addressing regulatory challenges to launching the Smart Africa VC Lab, we’re not just talking about change. We’re actively designing the infrastructure that will unlock Africa’s immense entrepreneurial potential. This partnership represents our shared vision: making Africa’s innovative solutions investable, scalable, and globally competitive,” said Rym Jarou, Smart Africa’s Unit Manager for Technology-Driven Entrepreneurship.
Latitude59 provides a global platform for not only African and Estonian but also international founders and innovators to find connections that are valuable to them. With that, they have an opportunity to discuss different innovations they have created, secure partnerships and build on already international relations.
Daniel Erik Schaer, Estonian Ambassador to Kenya and South Africa, highlighted the importance of collaboration between Kenya and Estonia: “Estonia is a small country, and partnerships are essential for us. Many of our bold startups are already active in Africa, so I hope you’ll use this opportunity to connect, explore, and work together to create something extraordinary.”
Secretary, ICT – Security and Audit Control at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy Emmanuel Kata Kimeu described Latitude59 as a critical bridge between the Estonian and Kenyan ecosystems and a platform for startups to connect with local and global investors: “Youth is the driving force of Kenya’s economy, and Latitude59 helps transform their innovative ideas into fully functioning enterprises. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Latitude59 team for choosing Kenya and Nairobi as a key destination.”
The L59 Pitch Competition in Kenya
The highlight of every Latitude59 event is the pitching competition for early-stage startups. This year’s L59 Pitch Competition in Kenya attracted 382 applications from 37 countries, with only ten startups making it to the final pitch stage at the ASK Dome in Nairobi. VunaPay emerged victorious, impressing the jury with its impactful solution for farmers and its scalable potential.
“The competition this year was really tough. But the choice of the winner was unanimous among the jury. I was glad to witness 3 female founders pitching on the stage, all of them being impact startups. The focus this year in general was heavily on impact startups, there were strong candidates – many were ready to raise a round and had a properly functioning product!”said Liisi Org, who was also part of the jury.
VunaPay was selected as the overall winner of the L59 Pitch Competition in Kenya, securing a trip and a booth at Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, covered by Latitude59. In addition, VunaPay will get a fast-track access to Tallinn’s Pitch Competition 2025 (for two years in a row now, the prize pool of the L59 Pitch Competition has been one million euros!)
In addition to Latitude59, Cloudplexo, EMERGING Valley, IHUB and SPURT GROUP also contributed to the competition’s Prize Pool and had a chance to present an award for startups of their choice. The partners’ awards went to:
- Infobip “Walk the talk” Award – Twiva
- Cloudplexo – all the finalists
- EMERGING Valley Award – NoMa, VunaPay, Twiva
- IHUB – Afya Mama, Paycloud Africa, Vuna Pay
- SPURT GROUP – “Spurt Group Award” (incl Annual SpurtX! Subscription; $2000 Workforce Development; €4200 Investment Readiness Award) – Eco Nasi, NoMa, Paycloud Africa, Afya Mama
Thank You for the Support
We are grateful to all our partners and friends who have made Latitude59 Kenya 2024 happen. The biggest thank you goes to: ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tech Safari & Caleb Maru, The Kenyan Wall Street, Anza Village, Diligence Africa, Trade Estonia, GIZ, Smart Africa, BelvaDigital, ALX, ShipShap, AWS Underrepresented Founders, Spurt Group, Silicon Overdrive, Cloudplexo, AdoptoMedia, Trific, Sling Money, Estonian Cleantech Association, Yaga, Infobip, Roam-Electric Car & General, all our amazing community partners, and the European Union „NextGenerationEU“ for supporting with funding.
About Estonia
Estonia is home to the highest concentration of unicorns in Europe, boasting 865 startups per 1M people. For years, Estonia has been a role model in the global tech scene. Many Estonian startups, such as Bolt, Admiral Markets, and Yaga, are already active in Africa.
About Latitude59
Latitude59 is the flagship startup and tech event of the world’s first digital nation, Estonia. Latitude59 is the most international, impactful, and diverse startup and technology conference in the Baltic States and New Nordics. The 12th edition, held in Tallinn, Estonia in May, attracted over 3,500 attendees, including more than 900 startup representatives and nearly 600 investors. The event featured 195 speakers, 40% of whom were women. In total, participants came from 65 countries worldwide.
