Latitude59 Kenya Edition connects Kenyan and Estonian tech communities

Latitude59, the largest startup and technology conference in the Baltics, moved its conference series outside Estonia for the first time in 2023 with a satellite event in Kenya. Last year’s positive reception from the Kenyan technology and startup sector cemented the plan for a second event in 2024. 

Kenya’s startup ecosystem is one of the leading in Africa, and local entrepreneurs are very interested in Estonia’s success story and hope to cooperate with the Estonian tech community. “Last year, Latitude59 Kenya Edition was bigger and more successful than we dared to hope for. This year, the event was even larger and more impactful. I am happy and grateful that we had the opportunity to bring together the Estonian and Kenyan startup ecosystems again and introduce them both in Africa and globally,” said Liisi Org, CEO of Latitude59.

Cooperation between Estonia and African countries is not just project-based, it’s a long-term partnership based on mutual trust to promote economic development across continents. “ESDTEV’s role is to build bridges, bring together different parties and create platforms to share knowledge and experience. We aim to cooperate with European countries and the European Commission to support the development of the African business environment to improve its credibility for the African partners themselves and European organisations,” said Kristel Rillo, ESTDEV’s advisor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Estonia’s experience developing the business environment can provide valuable lessons, but it is equally important to understand and learn from the specificities and needs of African countries. Only through mutual learning and cooperation can we create sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships,” said Henrik Kutberg, representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

Representatives of the Estonian startup and investment community say that there is enormous potential for cooperation between Africa and Europe, but it requires conscientious effort and a long-term strategy. Latitude59 has highlighted the need to focus on mutual learning and adapting solutions to local conditions.

“Estonia’s experience in developing a digital ecosystem and a support structure for the startup sector can be key to promoting the business environment in African countries. We need to find ways to adapt our solutions to local conditions and build cooperation platforms that create not only value, but also trust,” said Dag Ainsoo, representative for EstVCA and Startup Wise Guys.

According to Siim Teller, a representative of ESTBAN and a partner at Lemonade Stand, the regulations in African countries need significant improvements to become more entrepreneur-friendly. "This applies to both tech startups and traditional businesses, and it was great to see that all participants agreed on this. There’s a need for less bureaucracy, clearer regulations, and tax rules. The role of angel investors is currently modest in Kenya and elsewhere, but the potential is immense. Latitude59 Kenya is the perfect platform where investors and entrepreneurs can start turning big ideas into reality," said Teller.