Deadline Date: April 12, 2026
The 3rd Edition SME Innovation Excellence Awards is requesting applications to support Kenyan SMEs in successfully implementing and commercializing innovations that boost efficiency and economic growth.
The awards focus on scouting and identifying at least 200 SMEs that have integrated smart and resilient innovative measures in their processes to rapidly expand and withstand dynamic market conditions across various sectors countrywide, linking at least 20% of these SMEs with ecosystem players for finance, markets, incubation, and regulatory support, and strengthening the Kenyan innovation ecosystem through knowledge exchange with at least thirty (30) industry experts serving as judges.
This year’s awards feature six inclusive categories targeting participation from all forty-seven counties: Imara Business Innovation Award for the best overall business innovation, Malkia Business Innovation Award for the best women-led or owned innovation, Chipukizi Business Innovation Award for the best youth male-led innovation, Binti Chipukizi Business Innovation Award for the best youth female-led innovation, Biz Mashinani Innovation Award for the best grassroots innovation outside urban capitals, and Biashara Green Innovation Award for the best innovation in the green and circular sector impacting community livelihoods.
Eligible participants must have innovations legally registered in Kenya and owned by a Kenyan citizen, be aged 18 years and above, demonstrate protection of intellectual property or proprietary technology, and show that their innovation has been implemented and commercialized with high value on growth, efficiency, and sustainability. For youth-led categories, participants must be strictly between 18 and 35 years of age, and previous winners from the 1st and 2nd editions are not eligible.
For more information, visit KEPSA.
