The Circular Economy Innovation Cluster (CEIC) Connect Forum brought together Nairobi’s most promising circular economy entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and policymakers, marking a significant milestone in the city’s journey towards systemic circular transformation.
The forum showcased ventures reimagining how resources flow through Nairobi’s economy turning waste into value, embedding social inclusion into business models, and proving that environmental sustainability and commercial viability can thrive together.
Alongside the venture presentations, CEIC officially launched the Circular Venture Blueprint: ESO Principles a practical guide co-created by 14 leading organisations across Bengaluru and Nairobi to strengthen support for circular economy ventures.
Over the past three years (2023–2025), the CEIC programme has worked to build more than individual ventures it has cultivated an innovation cluster designed to drive system change. The programme has engaged early and late-stage entrepreneurs, Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs), and county officials through capacity building, stakeholder forums, and ecosystem collaboration.
“Here in Nairobi, we are witnessing entrepreneurs reimagine what’s possible even in cities where policies and infrastructure are designed for linear economies,” said Patricia Jumi, Managing Director and Co-Founder of GrowthAfrica.
She said over three years, CEIC has proven that building innovation clusters not just supporting individual businesses creates the conditions for systemic change. “We’ve seen ventures develop locally rooted solutions that simultaneously tackle waste, resource efficiency, and social inclusion,” Ms Jumi said.
“But the real transformation comes from reimagining how the entire ecosystem operates: how ESOs deliver support, how investors recognise circular value, how policymakers enable rather than hinder circularity. When we collaborate across these actors, system change becomes possible.”
The forum highlighted ventures working across waste management, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and materials innovation. These entrepreneurs have participated in targeted capacity building in both circular economy principles and entrepreneurship fundamentals, gaining improved market access and embedding circular practices into their operations.
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