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Next: 9 March 2027
244 million businesses.
One of them is yours.
Africa SME Summit 2027 brings together the people who build, finance and serve Africa's small and medium businesses — founders, investors, banks, universities and governments — to open markets across borders and close the gap between African SMEs and the capital they need. Nairobi hosts; the agenda is Africa's. The programme also carries the launch of the Nairobi County Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strengthening Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
244 million
businesses — about 12.7 million employ other people; the rest are one-person enterprises
Africa, 2020 estimate. IFC / World Bank, Estimating the Number of Firms in Africa · 2025
1.4 billion
people in one continental market, with a combined GDP of about USD 3.4 trillion
African Continental Free Trade Area. African Union Secretariat, as reported by ThisDay · 2026
93%
of those businesses are informal
Africa, 2020 estimate. IFC / World Bank, Estimating the Number of Firms in Africa · 2025
Host country, for scale: 7.41 million micro, small and medium enterprises (1.56 million licensed, 5.85 million unlicensed) in Kenya. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2016 MSME Survey (reference year 2015) · 2016
2026 in review
The summit happened. This is what came out of it.
15 October 2026, Ole Sereni, Mombasa Road: an awards stage, five keynote voices and six commitments from county, industry and academia.
First place · Awards
WetBlu by Misshiks
Doris Wanjiku
A women-owned Nairobi leather brand making premium, functional bags and accessories designed to last.
Second: EMON Authentic Foods. Third: Smartcom Traders.
In their words
“Industry and academia must become strategic partners rather than occasional collaborators.”
Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak
Principal Secretary, Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education
What was agreed
6 commitments
- Set up the tripartite working group right after the Summit
- Name the county director as point of contact
- Map MSMEs on one platform; track growth yearly
…and 3 more.
The road to 2027
From this summit to the next.
Nairobi County Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strengthening Strategic Plan 2026–2030. 50 in every 100 supported MSMEs reaching a third year by 2030, up from 25 today. 9 March 2027 is where the plan launches.
15 Oct 2026
Process starts at the Summit
Nov 2026
Partnership agreement; steering committee
Jan 2027
Diagnostic and baseline
Mar 2027
Plan launch, Africa SME Summit 2027
Jun 2027
Platform pilot; first 100-SME cohort
Sep–Oct 2027
Borås exchange; first scorecard
Tickets · 2027
Book early and save KES 1,000
Planned delegate prices for 9 March 2027. Choose a ticket below and an Africa SME Summit associate will reach out to complete your booking.
Early bird
Limited release
KES9,000
≈ USD 70
- ✓Full-day access to the summit programme
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
Standard
Full rate
KES10,000
≈ USD 75
- ✓Full-day access to the summit programme
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
US-dollar amounts are approximate, at KES 130 to the dollar (checked 26 October 2026). Prices are set in Kenya shillings. Exhibiting or sponsoring? Exhibit · Partner.
The venue
Ole Sereni, Nairobi.
The summit returns on 9 March 2027 to Ole Sereni, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, where the 2026 summit was held.
Take part in 2027
Three ways to be in the room.
Be first to know
Get 2027 updates.
Tell us who you are, pick the tracks you care about and choose a ticket. You will see your price straight away, and an Africa SME Summit associate will reach out to complete your booking. We will also send you the date and tell you when tickets open.
2026 partners
Convened alongside
Questions
What people ask
- When is the Africa SME Summit 2027?
- 9 March 2027, at Ole Sereni, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Are tickets on sale?
- Not yet. The planned 2027 delegate prices are KES 9,000 for the early bird and KES 10,000 for a standard ticket. Join the updates list and you will be told the moment booking opens.
- What is the 2027 summit for?
- Africa SME Summit 2027 brings together the people who build, finance and serve Africa's small and medium businesses — founders, investors, banks, universities and governments — to open markets across borders and close the gap between African SMEs and the capital they need. Nairobi hosts; the agenda is Africa's. The programme also carries the launch of the Nairobi County Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strengthening Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
- What happened in 2026?
- The 2026 summit took place on 15 October 2026 at Ole Sereni. The recap has the photographs, the award winners, what the speakers said and the six commitments made on the day.
- Can I exhibit, sponsor or speak in 2027?
- Tell us. Stand, partnership and session enquiries are open now through the exhibit, partner and contact pages, and the team will confirm 2027 terms as the date is fixed.
#SMESUMMITKE