Social commerce start-up Twiva joins Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator

Kenyan AI-powered social commerce platform Twiva has been chosen for the Spark Accelerator Program by telecoms giant Safaricom.

The start-up, which uses influencers to market and sell brands' products and services will get training, mentorship, market access, capital, technology, and product development, facilitated by iHub.

Twiva was founded in 2020 and helps MSMEs get better market access by leveraging influencers to market and sell goods on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

The Spark Accelerator features eight other early-stage start-ups selected from over 200 applicants in Kenya, spanning embedded finance, future fintech, SME productivity tools and content.

The ventures will go through three months of capacity building, although the funding size of the programme has not yet been disclosed.

The accelerator will invest in the start-ups primarily in debt and equity.

“We are delighted to welcome these startups into the program. Their unique solutions leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for millions of Kenyans. We are eager to support them in refining their offerings and scaling their impact," said Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at iHUB.

Launched in collaboration with M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation, the Spark Accelerator is aimed at fast-tracking product innovation and business growth for promising start-ups.