In 2014, Jennifer and Missy were both working at edtech companies in Nairobi. Introduced through mutual networks, they met over coffee to learn more about each other’s work. During their conversation they discussed all the incredible work that was happening in edtech in Nairobi, but identified that there wasn’t a place where all of these innovators could come together to share learnings, access resources and build a stronger voice around the use of technology in education together.

Missy and Jenn decided to see whether there was an interest for the community to come together and hosted the first Nairobi EdTech Meetup in November 2014. With about 12 people in the room, innovators shared their successes and challenges, and made asks or offers to each other for support or guidance.

That initial small group invited their networks to the next event and the Nairobi edtech community continued to grow and thrive. Over time, Jenn and Missy engaged with the communities in Kampala and Dar es Salaam to start running events in their local communities (led by local partners in each community). To better connect the ecosystems in each locality and across the region, EdTech East Africa was born.