Exposing The Expat Bias & Local Founder Apathy Engulfing Kenya’s Startup Scene

The startup ecosystems in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa make up the three most-funded startup hubs in sub-Saharan Africa. But unlike in Nigeria and South Africa where local players generally hold sway, the startup scene in Kenya is dominated by a population of foreign founders that some may describe as an inordinate amount.

In Kenya, expat founders raise much more money than local founders, as expat-founded startups are many times more likely to close investment deals. It appears there’s a long-standing bias towards foreign founders; it’s kind of a diversity hole and the country’s startup ecosystem now seems to be rigged against locals.