Endeavor Kenya has kicked off the third edition of its Scale Up program, an initiative aimed at helping growth-stage founders overcome common scaling challenges and achieve long-term success. The initiative, launched in Nairobi, brings together a new cohort of entrepreneurs who have already established product-market fit and are now ready to scale. Through deep, targeted mentorship, curated peer learning and access to Endeavor’s global network of experts and investors, the program aims to help founders strengthen their strategies, expand sustainably and build companies that drive lasting economic change.
The Scale Up program is part of Endeavor Kenya’s wider mission to accelerate the success of entrepreneurs who are solving real challenges in their communities. It answers the question of how to move from a promising startup to a scalable enterprise by matching founders with domain experts, experienced mentors and a network of like-minded peers who understand the nuances of growth in emerging markets.
Supporting Founders Through Targeted Mentorship and Real-World Learning
Each edition of the Scale Up program offers fresh insight into what truly drives growth for African entrepreneurs. One of the core lessons Endeavor Kenya continues to champion is that deep, targeted mentorship produces measurable results. By pairing founders with experts who understand their industries, the program ensures that guidance translates into real traction.
The program’s Scale Up Academy has also evolved to use real company case studies, helping founders turn shared challenges into actionable strategies. This practical approach not only enhances learning but also fosters collaboration, allowing founders to draw lessons from each other’s journeys.
Endeavor Kenya’s leadership emphasizes that scaling a business is not just about speed but about clarity, resilience and community. Entrepreneur-first funding, curated mentorship and well-designed convenings have become the pillars of its approach. These elements create an environment where partnerships and growth happen naturally. Through this program, Endeavor Kenya reinforces the idea that backing ambitious founders is more than just good economics; it is a long-term investment in Africa’s future.
Meet the Founders Driving Africa’s Scale-Up Story
The third Scale Up cohort features a diverse group of high-potential founders who are solving complex challenges in finance, agriculture, technology, education and consumer markets. Each one represents the spirit of innovation and determination that defines Kenya’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Radhika Bhachu, Co-Founder and CEO, Ndovu
Ndovu is a micro-investment platform giving users simple, affordable access to both local and global financial markets to grow their wealth. Positioned as a “Betterment for Africa,” Ndovu uses algorithms to assign each customer a personalized investment strategy, enabling them to invest in unit trusts and ETFs for consistent returns. Beyond investing, the platform also provides financial education, empowering users to make informed decisions and build long-term financial security.
Denis Karema, Co-Founder and CEO, SokoFresh
SokoFresh builds and leases solar-powered cold rooms that help farmers preserve the quality of their harvests and reduce losses. By providing access to better storage and connecting smallholder farmers to markets, SokoFresh addresses the 40 percent post-harvest loss that affects food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Its model not only helps farmers earn more but also promotes sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.
Dominique Kavuisya, Co-Founder and CEO, Taimba
Taimba is a B2B cashless platform that connects smallholder farmers directly to urban vendors through mobile technology. By removing inefficiencies in the food supply chain, Taimba ensures that farmers receive fair prices and vendors access affordable, quality produce. The company addresses a critical issue in African cities where households spend over 52 percent of their income on food, helping make fresh produce more accessible and affordable.
Brian Dempsey, Founder and CEO, Power Financial Wellness
Power Financial Wellness has reimagined workplace banking through a customer-centric digital platform that connects employees to tailored financial solutions across payments, credit, savings and insurance. The platform facilitates salary payments, advances, savings and loans, operating under Power’s own licenses or through partnerships with banks. Power is improving financial inclusion and empowering employees to manage their money with confidence.
Rob Alhadeff, Founder and CEO, Jackfruit Network
Jackfruit Finance is Africa’s first fully digitized school lender, providing affordable, tailored loans to low-resource private schools. By addressing the financing gap that prevents schools from improving infrastructure and expanding capacity, Jackfruit enables better learning environments. Its Jackfruit Hub connects schools to vetted suppliers for infrastructure, energy and learning materials, reducing costs and maximizing every investment in education.
Sneha Mehta (Co-Founder and CEO) and Jade Oyateru (Co-Founder and COO), Uncover
Uncover is a tech-enabled skincare company focused on underserved women’s markets. Using a data-driven approach, the company develops personalized skincare solutions and delivers them through an omnichannel model. Operating in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and among the U.S. diaspora, Uncover meets the growing demand for quality, affordable skincare while empowering women to take control of their beauty and wellness routines.
Marita Mutemi, Founder and CEO, Peleza
Peleza helps organizations prevent fraud, avoid bad hires and stay compliant through KYC and KYB background checks. Operating across 42 countries, Peleza partners with both government and private sources to provide verified data that ensures compliance and protects brands. Its solutions are helping companies across sectors build safer, more transparent business ecosystems.
This dynamic group of entrepreneurs exemplifies the kind of talent Endeavor Kenya seeks to nurture. They are innovative, ambitious and deeply committed to solving African problems with scalable, technology-driven solutions.
Endeavor’s Global Impact and Local Vision
Endeavor is a global organization that supports high-impact entrepreneurs in more than 45 markets worldwide. Since its founding, the network has grown to include over 2,900 entrepreneurs who have collectively generated $88.5 billion in revenue and created more than 4 million jobs.
The organization operates on what it calls the Endeavor Multiplier Effect, a model where successful founders are encouraged to pay it forward by mentoring, investing in and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through its co-investment fund, Endeavor Catalyst, the organization invests in the same founders it supports, making it one of the world’s top early-stage backers of startups that have become billion-dollar companies outside the U.S. and China.
Endeavor’s values, Entrepreneur First, Network of Trust, Go Big, One Endeavor, Pay It Forward and Always Agile, define its culture and guide its global mission. In Kenya, these principles translate into programs that prioritize local founders’ needs while connecting them to global opportunities.
By launching its third Scale Up cohort, Endeavor Kenya is not just supporting a new group of entrepreneurs. It is helping shape a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem for the continent. As each founder scales their impact, they contribute to building a more resilient economy and a more hopeful future for Africa’s business landscape.
