Pitch in Nairobi.
Land in Silicon Valley.
Apply to represent Kenya at the 2025 Startup World Cup and compete for a $1M investment. Live pitch event on June 4 during the Kenya Startup Festival.
What you need to know!
We’ve partnered with Startup World Cup, KENIA, and Naiban to bring one of the world’s most prestigious pitch competitions to Kenya for the first time.
Top 10 founders will be invited to pitch live. But every eligible application will be shared with investors reviewing this year’s cohort.
Whether you pitch on stage or not, you’re getting visibility that matters.
Partners -
More Than One Stage. More Than One Winner
This is about visibility, access, and building relationships that open doors.
- Pitch live at the Kenya Startup Festival (Top 10 finalists – June 4)
- All applications reviewed by a curated group of global, regional, and diaspora investors
- Exposure to Pegasus Tech Ventures and their ecosystem of investors and mentor
- Global Finale in Silicon Valley: The winner gets to pitch for $1M at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Fall 2025 in San Francisco.
- Media Visibility: Gain post-event features and access to the Silicon Xchange network.
Learn from the Best: Startup World Cup has featured speakers and judges from the highest levels of the tech industry, including:
- Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn)
- Marc Randolph (Netflix)
- Steve Wozniak (Apple)
- Executives from Y Combinator, Sequoia, and SoftBank.
- Media Visibility: Gain post-event features and access to the Silicon Xchange network.
About Startup World Cup
A platform trusted by founders, investors, and the world’s biggest tech companies.
Backed by Pegasus Tech Ventures
A platform trusted by founders, investors, and the world’s biggest tech companies.
Startup World Cup is run by Pegasus Tech Ventures, the global VC firm behind SpaceX, Airbnb, Open AI, SoFi, Lucid Motors, and more. With over 270 investments and a presence in 35+ countries, Pegasus connects startups with capital, partners, and international expansion.
Startup World Cup Timeline
Key Dates
Application
Application is Open
Finalists Notified
May 20, 2025
Live Pitch – Kenya Startup Festival
June 4, 2025
Winner Announced
June 5, 2025
SWC Grand Finale –
San Francisco
Fall 2025
Past speakers & judges include:
( Plus, Executives from Y Combinator, Sequoia, and SoftBank)
Judges include:
( Plus, Executives from Y Combinator, Sequoia, and SoftBank)
You Don’t Need a Mic to
Get in the Room
We’re curating investor access for every strong application. If you’re solving a big problem, building for scale, or shaping the future of Africa
Sponsorship
Support bold founders. Align your brand with a global platform.
Join us in putting Kenya on the global innovation map. From thought leadership to visibility across media and tech communities, your sponsorship delivers brand and business value at every level.
In Partnership With
This initiative is hosted by Silicon Xchange, in collaboration with Startup World Cup, KENIA, and Naiban. Together, we’re building a bridge between Kenyan founders and global opportunity.