About the Incubator

Mettā Nairobi in partnership with Fashion Scout ran a 6 week Boot Camp for 11 fashion businesses aimed to address growth-stage challenges such as customer acquisition, market scalability, secure collaborations, financing, and investment. The Bootcamp curriculum equipped the participants with Product fit frameworks and go to market strategies to achieve the scalability and sustainability of their businesses.

The curriculum comprised 19 workshop sessions that covered a diverse set of topics such as brand identity, garment pricing, trend forecasting sales and marketing strategies, financial modelling, exportation, sustainable fashion, intellectual property law, and taxes. Industry professionals in the Kenya fashion scene and renowned experts facilitated these sessions.

Mid-way through the Bootcamp, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted our program delivery process to a fully remote set up which allowed participants to successfully complete all incubator sessions online. An in-person showcase was planned as part of the programme and this evolved into a digital showcase with all 11 fashion designers showcasing their brands. Read more about the showcase.

In response to the challenges associated with the pandemic, the initial Pre-COVID 19 allocation of five seed grants valued at KSH 3,275,000 was made available to all participants through 11 seed grants valued at KSH 3,580,000 to encourage innovation and business continuity.

Extensive post-program support will be provided to the cohort by Mettā and Fashion Scout to ensure efficient seed grant management and increased industry partnerships. Further announcements of the program will be updated on the site in November 2020.

Meet the experts

Leading minds in the business of fashion provide support to the 11 fashion entrepreneurs. Meet the team:

Ann McCreath (Founder, KikoRomeo)

Pierra Ntayomba (Founder, Haute Baso Clothing Brand)

Kendi Kamwambia (Partner and Investment Manager, HEVA Fund)

Wakiuru Njuguna (Support and Compliance Manager, HEVA Fund)

Victor Muriithi (Founder, Julikana Agency)

VIctor Derrick Karanja (Founder, The Portfolio Interactive)

Stephen Maina (Managing Director, LeapFrog and Facebook Blueprint Consultant)

Bernard Outah (Regional Director, World Fair Trade Organization Africa & Middle East)

Sammy Thuita ( E-Commerce Business Development Manager, DHL Express)

Judy Chebet ( Partner, Chebet & Munyaka Advocates Llp)

TerryAnne Chebet (Founder, Keyara Organics)

Meet the Coaches

The fashion designers had immense and continued support from industry frontiers and certified business coaches. Meet the team:

Michelle Johnson (Founder, One Hundred Years-Kenya)

Cece Ojany (Founder, The Main Protagonist Coaching)

Akinyi Odongo (Founder, Akinyi Odongo)

Julian Macharia (Founder, Well Made Strategy)

Ogake Mosomi (Founder, Ogake Bridal)