Mapping the Kenyan Entrepreneurial Network

Research by Endeavor Insight

May 7, 2025

Starting in 2025, Endeavor Kenya and Endeavor Insight will conduct research on high-growth entrepreneurship in Kenya. The research will assess companies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem using network mapping analysis — a methodology that traces the flow of people, capital, and information between entrepreneurs. The study will examine the following questions: 

• What has been the historical growth trajectory of the ecosystem? 
• What are the main challenges that founders of scaling companies face?
• How can decision-makers better support founder-led growth in the ecosystem?

In addition, we are partnering with Africa Practice to strengthen the link between research findings and policy.

The Multiplier Effect™ in Action: How Kenyan Founders Are Paying It Forward

The founder-led growth that the study will focus on is inspired by the Multiplier Effect™ phenomenon that Endeavor has researched for more than a decade. This work recognizes that entrepreneurial success extends beyond profit and valuation — true impact lies in how founders reinvest their success. When experienced entrepreneurs train, mentor, and invest in the next generation of successful founders, they create exponential impact that drives job creation, innovation, and stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Multiplier Effect of Ken Njoroge, Cellulant 

Ken Njoroge, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded Cellulant in 2004 — a Pan-African payments company offering a single API platform that enables businesses to accept online and offline payments through mobile money, cards, and bank transfers. Over the years, Njoroge has inspired many employees at Cellulant to start their entrepreneurial ventures. 

Explore the multiplier effect that Ken has generated in the ecosystem through mentorship, investments, former employees, and serial entrepreneurship.

Endeavor Insight is the research division of Endeavor that provides data-driven analysis and visualizations showing what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive. Our research team of economists, data scientists, and policy analysts specializes in understanding the needs of high-impact entrepreneurs and evaluating the networks that enable them to scale up and pay it forward to the next generation of entrepreneurs. For more information, contact [email protected].

Endeavor Kenya, Endeavor’s first affiliate office in Sub-Saharan Africa supports entrepreneurs and companies in the scale-up phase — enterprises that have passed through the initial start-up phase and who demonstrate the potential for high growth and impact. We do this by promoting the right mix of talent, funding, and networks to accelerate high-impact entrepreneurship that can transform economies in the region. For more information, contact [email protected].

Africa Practice is a mission-led strategic consulting firm advising investors and development partners across the continent. We work to shift the narrative, rewrite the rules, and reimagine markets. For 20+ years, we have been partnering with global investors, development partners, policy-makers and other changemakers to drive transformation on the continent. We maintain an unrivalled footprint across Africa through our local presence in 9 hubs. Africa Practice has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2021 and achieved B-Corp status in 2024.