Modes of Innovation and Enterprise Development by Nairobi’s Mobile Tech Startups

Open AIR Working Paper No. 22/2020

31 Pages Posted: 13 Jul 2020

See all articles by Victor Nzomo

Victor Nzomo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jacquelen Mwangi

Strathmore University - Strathmore Law School

Louisa Matu-Mureithi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Caroline Wanjiru Muchiri

Strathmore University

Isaac Rutenberg

Strathmore University - Strathmore Law School

Date Written: June 8, 2020

Abstract

This paper sets out findings from research into innovation dynamics in the mobile technology ecosystem in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The findings are drawn from a survey of 25 mobile tech startups, all but one of which were, at the time of the research, located at, or were linked to, one of Nairobi’s numerous tech hubs. The survey results provide insights into the startups’ approaches—in support of their innovation and enterprise development efforts—to open collaboration, human resource development, knowledge governance, and scaling.

Keywords: mobile tech startups, tech hubs, innovation, collaboration, human resource development, knowledge governance, scaling, partnerships, networking, openness, informality, Nairobi, Kenya

JEL Classification: O30, O31, O32, O33, O34, O39

Suggested Citation

Nzomo, Victor and Mwangi, Jacquelen and Matu-Mureithi, Louisa and Muchiri, Caroline Wanjiru and Rutenberg, Isaac, Modes of Innovation and Enterprise Development by Nairobi’s Mobile Tech Startups (June 8, 2020). Open AIR Working Paper No. 22/2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3630991

Victor Nzomo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jacquelen Mwangi

Strathmore University - Strathmore Law School ( email )

P.O. Box 59857
P.O. Box 54668
Nairobi, Nairobi 00200
Kenya

Louisa Matu-Mureithi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Caroline Wanjiru Muchiri

Strathmore University ( email )

Kenya

Isaac Rutenberg (Contact Author)

Strathmore University - Strathmore Law School ( email )

P.O. Box 59857
P.O. Box 54668
Nairobi, Nairobi 00200
Kenya

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