Let’s Shut Down 90% of Startups in Kenya

Let’s Shut Down 90% of Startups in Kenya

Byelviswarutumo

Introduction

It’s time we said it plainly.

Kenya doesn’t need more startups.
At least not the kind we’re seeing today.

Because truthfully, most startups in Kenya are not solving any real problems. They’re selling nothing but hype, vibes, and wishful thinking wrapped in fancy pitch decks.

The startup scene is crowded with PowerPoint CEOs and LinkedIn evangelists, but the average mwananchi can’t name five startups they use every day—because most of them don’t solve actual needs.

Real People Use Real Solutions

Ask any Kenyan which “startup” they interact with regularly. The answer is simple:

  • Safaricom
  • M-PESA
  • Equity Bank
  • Airtel
  • Jumia (sometimes)
  • Mbugua’s hardware shop (often)

And why?
Because those businesses solve problems.
They offer real value.
They are easy to use, accessible, and built for the customer.

Now contrast that with what many so-called startups in Kenya are offering:

  • Apps to book a public toilet
  • Crypto wallets with no exit strategy
  • Delivery services that need three logins and an OTP to order an avocado
  • Teams with five co-founders and no paying users

That’s not innovation. That’s confusion.

Where Most Startups Go Wrong

Let’s break it down.

  1. No clear problem is being solved
    Many Kenyan startups are “Uber for X” copies of western models that don’t work in the Kenyan context.
  2. They pitch to investors before talking to users
    It’s all about the valuation, not validation. People are building businesses for VCs—not for Kenyans.
  3. They collapse when donor funding ends
    If your startup dies the moment the grant dries up, was it ever sustainable?
  4. They hire titles, not talent
    Chief Visionary. Growth Hacker. Product Ninja. Yet no one can fix the bugs or sell the product.
  5. They forget the most important person: the customer
    If your business website requires 15 steps to complete a transaction, you’ve lost the plot.

For a great example of business systems that actually serve people, check out this breakdown on how to build a personal brand that converts or why freelancing in Kenya is a viable model.

The Real Startup Checklist

If you want to build something that matters in 2025 and beyond, here’s the bare minimum:

  • Solve a real, urgent problem
  • Make the solution simple and accessible
  • Price it fairly and transparently
  • Talk to users — before you talk to VCs
  • Build a basic website that works on both mobile and desktop
  • Learn digital tools — from AI productivity to content marketing

Don’t Chase Funding — Solve Problems

Startups that survive aren’t chasing PR or social media applause. They’re quietly solving pain points—day in, day out.
They aren’t tweeting about impact. They’re building it.

If you’re serious about growing a real business in Kenya, start with utility—not aesthetics. Check out these posts to help you rethink your strategy:

Final Thoughts

We don’t need more startups shouting on LinkedIn.
We need quiet businesses that solve problems.
We need systems that work.
We need people building from pain points, not from pitch decks.

So here’s your challenge:

“If your startup can disappear today and nobody would notice — then it was never needed to begin with.”
— Elvis W.

📘 Want to build something real? Start with mindset.
Grab your copy of Skill Up or Stay Stuck — a straight-talking guide on how to actually succeed in Kenya’s noisy digital economy.

Let’s build businesses that matter. Not just brands that trend.

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