Biogen Kenyas wins KSh100000 Prize at Cytonn Entrepreneurs Hub

Biogen Kenya emerged the overall Cytonn Entrepreneurs Hub KSH 100,000 funding for its renewable energy project that makes bio-diesel oil from Waste vegetable oil.

Mr. Brian Lukano, the founder of Biogen Kenya during his pitch to the investors on Thursday, said his business converts waste vegetable oil into bio diesel and he projected the business to have a market size of Ksh 28 million by 2030 in Kenya.

Brian Lukano is the @CytonnInvest #eHub winner pic.twitter.com/jTtYuS87di

— David Indeje (@David_Indeje) December 8, 2016

Ms. Everlyne Owiti, founder of FirmStart Playschool was the second runners up receiving Ksh 50,000.

FirmStart Playschool is involved in pre-elementary education for children between the ages of 1.5 to 3 years. According to Owiti, FirmStart Playschool encourages a different approach to learning. By factoring in the interests of the children, a playful and a very interactive manner of instruction and integrated curriculum is applied. Her dream is to take FirmStart Playschool to full kindergarten level for children up to 6 years of age in the next few years.

“The award means the world to me. What started as an idea and someone believed in it, it means everything? It will go a long way to helping me in branding and marketing strategy,” said the speechless Everlyne.

“In the next two years, I am going to get my own premises to cut on rent expensive, provide transport for the children and with time expand to other environs. The future is bright and wide as it can be,” she added.

Kristine Gichuhi, founder Kristy’s Farms was the third winner. Kristy’s Farms was established with a focus on the delivery of fresh farm produce to its customers. One area of focus for Kristy’s Farms is dairy farming where they provide tested, pasteurized and safe milk to homes and businesses.

“The money will help me to complete the roofing of premises. The award means I am doing the right thing, an assurance that I am on the right track. You try, you fail, you try again and eventually you will succeed,” said an optimistic jovial Kristine.

On the Cytonn foundation’s e-hub program she said, “It is an inclusive program. The entrepreneurs interact with actual business people who have made it. It is an end to end training, partnerships and the technical support is amazing.”

“For my business, my vision is to deliver safe foods,” she said.

Others who pitched their business from the Foundation’s inaugural e-Hub class include: Erick Sitati, Isaac Maritim, Lucy King’ori, Paul Ng’ang’a ad Solomon Mwangi.

Read: Cytonn to Offer Training to Young Entrepreneurs Through New eHub Initiative

Edwin Dande, the Managing Partner Cytonn Investment speaking at the investors forum said entrepreneurship is all about creating jobs.

“Entrepreneurship is all about creation, creating ideas and creating jobs. In any country, 80 percent of jobs are created by small businesses. Small businesses are nothing more than entrepreneurs who have passion to start something and create jobs.”

The Cytonn eHub, the program is a 12-week mentorship program that seeks to enhance knowledge and capabilities on how to start, develop and run successful enterprises.

The Cytonn Foundation is an initiative of Cytonn Investments, focused on giving back to the society through skill development. The foundation focuses on three main causes namely, entrepreneurship, training and mentorship (already being carried out through the Cytonn Young Leaders Programme) and Financial Literacy.