Two Kenyan startups among 10 finalists for NBA Africa innovation prize

Kenya will once again have a strong presence on the continental innovation stage after NBA Africa unveiled the 10 finalists for its second Triple-Double Startup Accelerator, with two Kenyan companies making the cut.

The finalists, drawn from five African countries, will pitch their ideas at a Demo Day slated for December 5 at Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.

The programme, now in its second year, focuses on elevating early-stage African startups shaping the future of sports and the creative economy. More than 700 applicants threw their hats in the ring, but only 10 made it to the final shortlist.

Kenya’s flag will be flown by ProPath Sports and Safia Health, both promising ventures rooted deeply in the country’s growing sports tech and wellness ecosystem.

ProPath Sports, a data-driven talent development company, says it is transforming how young athletes are discovered and nurtured in Kenya. Its iSTEAM program blends athletic performance evaluation with holistic talent development – an approach that aligns with Kenya’s push to professionalize youth sports.

On the wellness front, Safia Health is building a unified platform that supports athletes with personalized fitness, recovery and mental wellbeing regimens. For a country where structured athlete welfare has remained a stubborn gap, the Kenyan health-tech startup brings a modern, integrated solution to the table.

NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi described the finalists as proof of a rising wave of African innovation.

“The quality of this year’s applications reflects the incredible talent and creativity among Africa’s young entrepreneurs as well as the important role that the sport and creative industries are playing in the continent’s development,” said Ms. Akamanzi.

“These startups represent the bold spirit of innovation rising across the continent – where creativity meets purpose, and ideas have the power to scale beyond borders.”

Beyond the Kenyan representatives, the final pool includes startups from Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa working in virtual reality, blockchain-based art investment, athlete performance analytics, creative collaboration and more.

Five of the ten will be selected to receive financial support and join CMU-Africa’s 12-month Business Incubation Program.

Last year, Kenya’s HustleSasa was among the four prize-winning companies to receive funding and mentorship during the inaugural edition, setting a precedent for strong Kenyan participation in the accelerator. The others were: Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), and UBR VR (Egypt).