THEME: “Innovate for Impact: Scaling Kenyan MSMEs through SDG 9″
Bootcamp Dates: Sunday, October 19th – Friday, October 24th, 2025
Bootcamp Venue: The Marvel Hotel, Embu
| Lead: | Mount Kenya University |
| Affiliate Universities: | Daystar University, Kabarak University, Karatina University, Kenyatta University,Machakos University, Riara University, Strathmore University,Technical University of Kenya,Zetech University, Tharaka University |
| Workplan Timeline: | September – November 2025 |
| Project Title: | Students Teams Business Innovation Challenge |
| Goal: | To promote innovative solutions to MSMEs challenges in Kenya |
| Industry and Regulatory Partners | CUE, KEPSA, KAM, ASSEK, MSEA and MSMEs |
| Key Deliverable | At least 30 Practical-based innovative solutions to MSMEs challenges |
Phase 1: Call for Applications & Internal Vetting (September – October 2025)
| Week | Activity | Responsible | Comment |
| Week 1 September 2025 | Official launch of the “Innovate for Impact: Scaling Kenyan MSMEs through SDG 9” challenge call | Coordinator, ACCESS Kenya (MKU) | MKU to disseminate the call for concept/idea submissions to all 10 participating universities and their respective ACCESS student club coordinators. |
| Week 2 & 3 September 2025 | Each university Internal Marketing & Idea Generation | All 10 Coordinators | University ACCESS Coordinators to actively promote the call within their institutions.Student clubs to form teams, brainstorm, and develop their concept notes |
| Week 4 September 2025 | Each university Internal Vetting & Nomination | All 10 Coordinators | Each university conducts its internal vetting process for submitted concept notes.Vetting criteria to include originality, feasibility, potential impact on MSMEs, alignment with SDG 9, team capability, and clarity of presentation. |
| Week 1 October 2025 | Each university nominates their top business idea (one per university) to represent them at the bootcamp.October 6th, 2025: Universities submit the nominated top business idea, represented by 3 students from the winning group, to MKU. MKU to consolidate all nominated ideas. |
NB:
- This workplan provides a structured approach to the Kenya’s ACCESS Student Clubs Competitions, aiming to deliver impactful solutions for Kenyan MSMEs while nurturing entrepreneurial talent within the participating universities.
- See Separate Call/Poster for Details
Contact:
Dr. Henry Yatich
ACCESS 2.0 Project Coordinator
hyatich@mku.ac.ke /+254 721 303 105
