Assek Announces The Upcoming Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit For East Africa

The Association of Startups and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK) has announced the upcoming Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit for East Africa (RIESEA), happening on April 10–11, 2025, at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

This two-day summit is set to convene leading voices from across East Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape, including startups, investors, policymakers, development partners, researchers, and ecosystem enablers. The goal is to shape bold conversations, influence policy, and catalyze investment and growth across the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

RIESEA 2025 will provide an inclusive and action-driven platform that elevates local solutions and encourages regional collaboration. Through keynotes, expert panels, workshops, policy roundtables, and curated networking experiences, the summit aims to strengthen the region’s innovation infrastructure and accelerate inclusive economic transformation.

“East Africa’s innovation space is at a turning point,” said Mercy Kimalat, CEO of ASSEK. “RIESEA is more than a summit, it’s a regional movement focused on collaboration, scale, and sustainability for startups and SMEs. We invite ecosystem players from all walks to be part of this transformative journey.”

Mike Mutungi, Chairperson of ASSEK’s Board, added: “Our vision is to position East Africa as a powerhouse for entrepreneurial growth. RIESEA is a critical milestone toward this future, offering space for honest dialogue, impactful networking, and the shaping of policies that work for our region.”

Who Should Attend?

The summit welcomes a diverse audience, including:

• Government and policy leaders
• Entrepreneur Support Organizations (incubators, accelerators, coworking spaces)
• Start-ups and SMEs across all sectors
• Investors, financial institutions, and development partners
• Civil society and professional associations
• Academic and research institutions
• Corporate leaders and partners
• Members of the media championing innovation and entrepreneurship

Whether you’re an innovator, thought leader, or ecosystem catalyst, RIESEA 2025 offers a front-row seat to the future of East Africa’s innovation economy.

To register and explore the summit agenda, visit this link.