Nairobi and Mombasa have been recognized as Kenya's leading startup hubs, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025. Kenya topped Africa's startup funding in 2024, raising Sh82.3 billion ($638 million).

• Nairobi improved six spots to 107th globally, while Mombasa leaped from 1,122nd to 916th.
• The Global Startup Ecosystem Index assesses 118 countries and 1,473 cities on startup activity, quality, and business environment.
• Mombasa boasts the highest growth rate in Kenya at over 104%.

Kenya has significantly improved its global standing in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, climbing five places to 58th, placing it among the top 100 business-friendly nations worldwide for the first time.

• Kenya's ranking of 58th globally marks its first appearance in the top 60, up from 63rd last year.
• In Africa, Kenya secured the second position, trailing only South Africa (53rd globally), while surpassing Egypt (65th), Nigeria (66th), and Rwanda (96th).
• The country recorded an impressive annual ecosystem growth of +33.5 percent, the highest among Africa's top five countries.

The National Treasury and the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) have disbursed Sh2.625 billion to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) over the past year through the Supporting Access to Finance and Enterprise Recovery (SAFER) Project.

• The SAFER Project, a five-year program valued at Sh7.1 billion ($55 million), has reached 36,990 beneficiaries across 32 counties in its first year.
• The funding is being channeled through participating financial institutions (PFIs), which also receive technical support.
• 12,221 beneficiaries are women, with 28.8 percent of loans extended to women-owned enterprises, and 9.7 percent of financing has gone into green economy and climate-smart projects.