Somo

Growing up in a village lined with coconut trees, Kevin saw two problems piling up: mountains of discarded husks and youth struggling to find work. So, he asked a bold question: What if this waste could be worth something? That question sparked the birth of Koredo Koir, a venture that converts coconut husk waste into beautiful, eco-friendly products like doormats and rope goods. But like many big ideas, getting it off the ground wasn’t easy. In its early days, Koredo faced challenges scaling production. Limited resources made it hard to meet demand. That changed when he partnered with Somo and received funding through our partnership with BESTSELLER FOUNDATION. With that support, Kevin got a coir processing machine, doubling their recycling capacity and creating new jobs. Today, Koredo Koir recycles up to 35 kilograms of coconut waste every month and employs eight people from the local community. “We’re not just making products, we’re creating livelihoods and protecting our environment,” Kevin says. His dream? To scale across Kenya’s coast! 💚 We’re proud to support changemakers like Kevin through Somo and beyond. And huge thanks to all our partners who make this impact possible. #SomoEntrepreneurStory Wilkister Adie | KEN TUJU | Mohammed Kea | Vitalma Juma | Hajj Idd Hamisi | Ali Mwakiboko

We're excited to share that 40 Somo entrepreneurs participated in an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) training session held last week under the GIZ and gDIH Green and Digital Pathway Program. This strategic initiative was designed to embed ESG principles into early-stage business models, equipping entrepreneurs with the frameworks and tools to identify risks, enhance operational resilience, and align with global sustainability standards. Through practical sessions covering all three ESG pillars, the changemakers gained actionable insights to drive long-term value creation, improve impact measurement, and position their ventures for future investment-readiness. A big thank you to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for making this possible! GIZ Kenya | European Union | African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) | Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) | gDIH Kenya

Are you an #entrepreneur in agriculture, manufacturing, or the blue economy based in Kakamega County? We're excited to share a unique opportunity, brought to you through our partnership with Social Initiative, to help you strengthen your business, foster sustainable growth, and create meaningful employment in your community. If you are looking to grow, innovate, and connect with the right resources, this is for you! Check the flyer for more details and apply here - https://bit.ly/44BePiS! Wilkister Adie | Collins Otieno | Faith Nanjala | Grace Olack | Jean Ashers | Livingstone Amule

We’re excited to share the impactful progress made in Q2 through our targeted entrepreneurship training programs across various counties in Western Kenya! Busia & Siaya We launched the Social Initiative Training, focusing on entrepreneurs leading change in the Green and Blue Economies. These sessions equipped participants with practical skills to grow their ventures sustainably, particularly in agriculture, aquaculture, and climate-smart enterprises. Kisumu We delivered the Buruka Training to a dynamic group of entrepreneurs in manufacturing and agro-processing. The program helped refine their business models, enhance production processes, and unlock greater value across the agricultural value chain. These initiatives are part of our broader expansion efforts and reflect our continued commitment to empowering grassroots entrepreneurs and driving local economic growth. Stay tuned for more updates, and if you're interested in collaborating or supporting our mission, we'd love to connect! Wilkister Adie | Collins Otieno | Faith Nanjala | Jean Ashers | Grace Olack

Somo is so honoured and grateful for this recognition!

Kenya’s coastal communities rely heavily on fisheries, tourism, small-scale trade, and marine resources, with over 65% of the population engaged in these sectors. With the #BlueEconomy projected to generate over 2 million jobs by 2030 and contribute KES 500 billion annually to the national GDP, the potential for long-term impact is enormous. To support this momentum, we’re excited to invite small and growing #businesses in the blue economy based in Mombasa to join our one-week masterclass this July. This is a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and access critical business development support, including financing, smart tech tools, and other resources to help scale sustainably. 📌 Application Deadline: 10th July 📄 View the flyer and register your interest here: bit.ly/4kfGQ5j Wilkister Adie | KEN TUJU | Mohammed Kea | Vitalma Juma | Hajj Idd Hamisi | Ali Mwakiboko

🎉🌟Somo is a Winner in #ThePowerofLocal Challenge! Out of nearly 900 applications from 17 countries, our project, Driving Financial Inclusion with Digital Innovation and Holistic Entrepreneur Support, has been chosen to receive $15,000 in funding. But this win isn’t just ours. It belongs to the bold, inspiring #entrepreneurs we back every day. To the communities rewriting what’s possible. And to the belief that local innovation, when funded, scales global impact. Take Emma Omany, founder of Busu, an Afrocentric, customer-focused, plant-based skincare brand she launched from her kitchen. With limited access to capital and production space, Emma struggled to scale her impact. Through Somo’s business training, access to a production facility, seed funding, and a non-commercial loan made possible through our partnership with the Standard Chartered Foundation and Youth Business International (YBI), she now employs six women and supplies skincare products to clients with eczema, sensitive skin, and a commitment to wellness. Emma’s journey is one of many that prove bold, locally rooted ideas, when supported, can create real, lasting change. See how we’re building systems that truly work, not just in theory: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDHjiD6v A huge thank you to Ashoka for backing this vision. The work continues!

Most entrepreneurs don’t lack ambition. Access is the real bottleneck. How can we design ecosystems where finance, circular infrastructure, and technology reinforce one another? And how can we accelerate support for small and growing businesses by improving access to these critical components? Recently, we convened a vibrant Stakeholders’ Event under the theme: “Powering Small Businesses through Access to Finance, Shared Circular Hubs, and Smart Tech.” The conversations revealed a central insight: sustainable growth doesn't stem from isolated solutions; it��s built through interconnected, resilient ecosystems that respond to the lived realities of small and growing businesses. For these businesses, the equation is clear. Without financing, smart tools remain out of reach. Without smart tools, efficient scaling is nearly impossible. And without shared infrastructure, overhead costs consume fragile margins. The ambition is there, but what’s missing is access. Infrastructure exists, but it’s fragmented and unaffordable. Capital exists, but it’s risk-averse and mismatched to local realities. Technology exists, but it’s too often designed without context in mind. So the core question became: How do we connect the dots? The insight was simple, but powerful. Sustainable growth doesn’t come from one-off solutions. It comes from ecosystems that reinforce each other. → Where shared circular hubs reduce barriers to entry. → Where blended finance bridges the early-stage funding gap. → Where smart tech is built to plug into what’s already working. Ultimately, we need to build systems that reflect how small businesses truly operate: In real communities. Under real constraints. With real urgency. That’s how we move from ambition to traction, and from traction to transformation. This transformation will require action from investors willing to take informed risks. Because if we agree that access, not ambition, is the problem, then the path forward becomes clear. Big thanks to all our partners, collaborators, and supporters who brought their insights, energy, and vision to the conversation. Amelia Hopkins Phillips, Catherine Masolia, Wilkister Adie, Moraa Maureen, Celestine Otieno, Tracy J. Wanjiru, Temesi Weboko, Rukia Hatibu, Collins Otieno, Abudo Silas, Peter O. Oloo, Robert Wahome, Shedrack Mkwepu, CHRP Dorcas nyamanya, Sheryl Raquel, Lilian Wanjiku, Charles Warria, Adote Brenda, Sinapis, Social Capital Foundation, Kenneth Muchina, Erastus Makena, Kenneth Kibet, Aloyce Kimata, Eunice Asena, Sheila Mumbi

Teamwork makes the dream work! #SomoTeam

They’re the backbone of our economy, but hardly ever the headline. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) quietly power our communities, creating jobs, incomes, and real, lasting growth, especially for women, youth, and those pushed to the margins of traditional systems. We’ve seen this clearly with Somo entrepreneurs, who have created and improved 19,239 jobs across communities in Kenya and Tanzania. But the potential goes way beyond this. #MSMEs already do the hard work. What they lack is access. → Access to finance. → Access to smart tech for growth. → Access to shared circular hubs that meet them where they are. This year’s #WorldMSMEDay is a reminder, if we want sustainable growth, we need to back the people actually building it. That means closing the funding gap. That means betting on local entrepreneurs. That means building systems that reward grit, resilience, and innovation, no matter the size. To every #SomoEntrepreneur defying the odds, and to every partner standing beside them, we see you, we celebrate you, and we’re building this future together. Happy World #MSMEDay2025!