TechMoran has launched StartupEast, a new platform aimed at discovering, showcasing and connecting the next generation of startups building across East Africa with investors, customers, strategic partners and other ecosystem players.
TechMoran is an African technology and startup media company covering technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, investment and digital transformation across Africa.Through its journalism, events and ecosystem initiatives, TechMoran connects entrepreneurs, investors, technology companies and decision-makers across the continent.
“StartupEast is about finding the founders and companies that are still early enough to surprise the market,” said Sam Wakoba, Co-Founder of TechMoran. “There are founders across East Africa building real businesses, solving difficult problems and winning their first customers without necessarily having the visibility that comes with a major funding round. We want to find them early and connect them to the people and opportunities that can help them grow.”
The launch of StartupEast comes with a regional call for startup nominations, inviting founders, investors, customers, corporations, ecosystem organisations and members of the wider technology community to nominate promising startups that deserve greater visibility and access to opportunities.
StartupEast will culminate in the StartupEast Conference & Awards 2026, scheduled for December 3, 2026, in Nairobi, bringing together founders, investors, technology companies, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners from across the region.
Startup Nominations Now Open
TechMoran is seeking nominations for early-stage startups developing innovative products, solving meaningful problems and demonstrating potential for growth and scale.
Eligible startups must be based in or operating across East Africa, have raised less than $2 million and be less than eight years old. The nationality of the founders will not determine eligibility.
StartupEast is particularly interested in startups with prototypes, minimum viable products (MVPs), early customers or initial market traction.
Nominations are open across sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, health technology, agritech, climate technology, enterprise software, commerce, logistics, mobility and education, among others.
The nomination process is open to both founders and the wider ecosystem. Founders can nominate their own companies, while investors, customers, corporate leaders, ecosystem organisations and technology community members can nominate startups they believe deserve to be discovered.
Building More Than an Awards Programme
StartupEast is being developed as more than an awards initiative. The platform will serve as a startup discovery and connection platform designed to build relationships around emerging companies across East Africa.
Startups will have opportunities to gain visibility, connect with investors and potential customers, access mentorship, develop strategic partnerships and engage with other founders.
Ahead of the flagship conference, StartupEast will also host monthly #TechNights, bringing together founders, investors, technology leaders and ecosystem partners for conversations, networking and potential deal-making.
The events will provide an ongoing platform for discovering emerging startups, sharing ideas and building relationships leading up to and beyond the December conference.
“We are deliberately looking beyond the pitch deck,” Wakoba said. “We want to understand the founder, the problem they are solving, the strength of the product, early traction, the size of the opportunity and whether the business has the potential to scale.”
Following the nomination period, startups will undergo an evaluation and shortlisting process. Selected finalists will advance to public voting and will be recognised at the StartupEast Conference & Awards.
Connecting Startups With Opportunity
StartupEast is built around the idea that recognition is most valuable when it creates access to opportunity.
For early-stage companies, the right investor, enterprise customer, strategic partner, mentor or technology partner can have a greater impact on growth than an award alone.
“We don’t want this to be about trophies,” Wakoba said. “Recognition matters when it creates opportunity. For an early-stage startup, being discovered by the right investor, landing a first enterprise customer, finding a strategic partner or attracting exceptional talent can be far more valuable than an award itself.”
StartupEast will seek to facilitate connections between founders and venture capital investors, angel investors, corporate executives, technology companies, potential customers and strategic partners.
The platform will also create a pipeline of emerging startups that can be followed and supported as they move from early product development towards commercial growth.
Finding East Africa’s Next Generation
East Africa has emerged as one of Africa’s key technology and innovation markets, producing companies that have transformed sectors including financial services, commerce, logistics and agriculture.
StartupEast aims to identify the companies emerging behind those established success stories.
“The Silicon Savannah story is still being written,” Wakoba said. “We have already seen what East African founders can build, but the next generation will emerge from places and sectors that may not yet be obvious. StartupEast is about finding those companies early.”
The inaugural StartupEast Awards will feature categories including Startup of the Year, Most Promising Startup and Founder of the Year, alongside sector categories covering artificial intelligence, fintech, health technology, agritech, climate technology and enterprise technology.
Nominate a Startup
The search for East Africa’s next generation of startups starts with the region’s technology community.
Founders, investors, customers, corporate leaders and ecosystem players are encouraged to nominate startups that are building strong products, solving meaningful problems, attracting early customers or demonstrating significant growth potential.
Startup nominations are now open through TechMoran.
The StartupEast Conference & Awards 2026 will take place on December 3, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Those interested in attending the conference can register through StartupEast.
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