Kenya’s social commerce platform Twiva, has been selected to join Spark Accelerator Program set up by Safaricom and Sumitomo Corporation.
The firm is among eight other early-stage startups which have been selected to join the inaugural accelerator program which is expected to support their growth.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven social commerce platform leverages influencers to market and sell brands’ products and services.
“Access to markets is a significant hurdle for many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Twiva addresses this by enabling brands to leverage influencers to market and sell goods on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. Utilizing AI, Twiva helps brands and influencers create compelling content,” said Peter Kironji, CEO and Co-founder of Twiva.
Twiva expects to benefit from a comprehensive support package including training, mentorship, market access, capital, technology, and product development facilitated by iHub – Cchub.
The Spark Accelerator Program is designed to fast-track product innovation and business growth for startups.
“The Spark Accelerator program aims to drive meaningful innovation through technology,” noted Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom.
The selected startups which include those in finance, future fintech, SME productivity tools, and content, will undergo a three-month capacity-building program.
“We are thrilled to extend digital financial services and contribute to Kenya and Africa’s socio-economic development through collaborations with innovative startups,” added Katsuya Kashiki, General Manager of Smart Communication Platform SBU at Sumitomo Corporation.
The program also aims to equip the startups with skills and resources to thrive, potentially leading to investment from the Spark Accelerator.
