Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Technical University of Kenya, in collaboration with Riara University and Anza Village, organized a Design Thinking Hackathon aimed at promoting innovation and technology. This exciting event attracted 200 participants from both universities and high schools, who engaged in a challenging 72-hour hackathon.
Participants had the opportunity to work with mentors from various fields, including prototyping, business development, and pitching. The event culminated in a dynamic pitching competition, where the top three teams from both the university and high school categories were selected for a month-long incubation program scheduled for August 2025.
The Hackathon was championed by the Department of Design and Media Studies which houses EVC at the Technical University of Kenya. It was spearheaded by the department at TUK in partnership with Riara University and Anza Village to ensure a multifaceted approach. The primary goal of the Design Thinking Hackathon is to foster partnerships between universities, institutions, and industry, while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. By doing so, the event aims to address the economic challenges currently faced in Kenya, particularly among the youth.
Winning Team: Jabali (Jabali is a learning platform designed for kids under the autism spectrum, their parents and caregivers, also focussing on the local community.)
1. Gift Saisi (Riara University)
2. Dennis Huhu (Riara University)
3. Lorraine Nyawira (Riara University)
4. Raphael Nganga (TUK)
5. Telvin Ochieng (KEMU)
6. Martine Abwao (TUK)
1st Runners Up Team: Eden Recyclers (Eden Recyclers aims at enhancing circular economy in the learning institutions through sustainable waste paper management to make pencil leads and black shoe polish)
1. Nyaga Karani Abraham (TUK)
2. Wamina Kelvin Mburu (TUK)
3. Christine Kaku (Zetech University)
4. Najma Abdi (Riara University)
5. Emmanuel Matolo (Zetech University)
6. David Soita (Zetech University)