's Road to Moonshot brings Africa's startup debate to Nairobi

It was a drizzly evening in Nairobi on July 2, but the mood inside Delta40, a venture studio hosting TechCabal's Road to Moonshot event, was electric. Over 120 founders, investors, operators, and executives had gathered for an evening of discussions, networking, and sharing experiences. The event was evidence of the growing influence of Kenya in African technology conversations and its status as a regional hub.

Kenyan startups had raised nearly $1 billion in 2025, a significant chunk of the continent's total startup funding. This milestone underscored the importance of the East African market, which TechCabal's parent company, Big Cabal Media, was renewing its commitment to. Tomiwa Aladekomo, the CEO of Big Cabal Media, was in attendance, and he took the opportunity to push back against the notion that Africa's startup scene is a single market.

Aladekomo argued that the Kenyan ecosystem is quite different from Nigeria's, and it's a distinction that was evident in the guest list and conversations. Founders and investors from companies like Safaricom, PawaPay, Watu, Delta40, and others spent the evening discussing the realities of building businesses in East Africa. The tone was less formal, with a focus on sharing experiences and advice, rather than the usual conference presentations and panel discussions.

TechCabal's decision to bring Road to Moonshot to Nairobi reflected its renewed commitment to the East African market. The company has been covering Kenya's technology industry for several years, but Aladekomo announced that it was expanding its team to include two reporters, a partnerships lead, and a fourth member joining soon. This move was a vote of confidence in the market, and it's an indication that TechCabal is serious about telling the stories of East African startups.

The conversations at Road to Moonshot were centered around the challenges and opportunities of building businesses in East Africa. The region's unique context, from its growing mobile penetration to its vibrant startup ecosystem, was a key theme throughout the evening. Founders and investors shared their experiences, offering advice and insights to those looking to tap into the market.

Tomiwa Aladekomo's opening speech set the tone for the evening, emphasizing the idea that Africa's startup scene is just getting started. There are big companies still to be built and big problems still to be solved, he said. This mindset was palpable throughout the event, with attendees focused on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

• TechCabal's Road to Moonshot event gathered over 120 founders, investors, operators, and executives in Nairobi on July 2.
• Kenyan startups raised nearly $1 billion in 2025, a significant chunk of the continent's total startup funding.
• Big Cabal Media is renewing its commitment to the East African market, with an expanded team and a focus on telling the stories of East African startups.

As I reflect on the evening, I'm struck by the sense of community and collaboration that defined the conversations. It's clear that TechCabal's Road to Moonshot is more than just an event, it's a platform for building connections and sharing experiences. As the startup ecosystem in East Africa continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how TechCabal's renewed commitment plays out.