Learning Journey to Silicon Savannah

The Silicon Savannah is where huge needs meet a newly interconnected society. With Digital Africa as a starting point for new contacts and future cooperation. Europe is only beginning to recognize this side of Africa – our Learning Journeys are accelerating that.

Kenya is the economic powerhouse in East Africa – with a population of over 50 million people and a skilled youthful population. While Kenya has great potential for a coordinated international labor market, Austrian and German businesses are critical players on the demand side.

Our Learning Journey will be focused on linking key Kenyan minds to join international participants in co-designing solutions for a global labour market. The overall aim is to match talent to the right opportunities within and across borders.

What will you get from the Learning Journey?

Access to agile people and organizations
Starting points for further contacts and cooperation
Ideas and Concepts of how to deal with the shortage of skilled people
Understanding new approaches to collaborations
New insights and understanding of Africa’s relevance
Insights into a different digital transformation

Who should join us on the Learning Journey?

1. CEOs, CIOs.
2. Business angels and incubators.
3. Decision-makers in the fields of politics, business, technology, development cooperation and migration.

Generally speaking, we are looking out for entrepreneurial-thinking people. We think they can get the most out of this program.

Program

Monday	Approaching Silicon Savannah
Morning	Context and Opportunities
Afternoon	Field visits to successful Startups
Evening	Dinner with Nairobi business people
Tuesday	Digital Africa
Morning	The Mobile Money Story: field visits to financial institutions and fintechs
Afternoon	Further field visits
Evening	Visit to the National Park
Wednesday	Digital Africa
Morning	The Healthtech ecosystem
Afternoon	The Emergytech Ecosystem
Evening	free
Thursday	Urban Africa
Morning	Field visits to coworking spaces and startups
Afternoon	Nairobi’s informal settlements
Evening	Networking Dinner
Friday	Co-creation
Morning	African-European Collaboration
Afternoon	Synthesis: defining principles
Sa/Su	optional: 2-day Safari to one of Kenya’s famous National Parks

When?

Next date:
Monday to Friday, January 11 to 15, 2027

Individual travel to Nairobi on the Sunday before.
We start on Monday at 8 am and end on Friday at 2 pm.

What are the costs?

Booking before October 15, 2026: EUR 2.100,– plus 20% VAT
Booking before December 1, 2026: EUR 2.400,– plus 20% VAT
Booking from December 1, 2026: EUR 3.100,– plus 20% VAT

The fee includes a program of lectures, company and field visits, five lunches, coffee and tea catering and one dinner. Hotel stays and travel to and from Nairobi are not included.

What people who participated in our Learning Journeys say

“I knew Kenya already very well. But in this Journey, I have really got to know another side. I want to become a facilitator for serious European business engagement in Africa.“

Florian Demmer, Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Coolibree GmbH, Austria
“The Learning Journey has been an outstanding experience! The selection of companies and people we met was truly amazing – from urban to digital to entrepreneurial Kenya. It felt like decades of experience condensed in just a few days. There is just so much going on right now in Kenya – a living lab in itself and we had a chance to grasp this spirit. The trip has definitely inspired me – to learn more and go back.“

a.o.Univ.Prof. Dr. Barbara Stöttinger, Dean WU Executive Academy, Vienna
“I’ve been touring the world’s Innovation Hot Spots for many years. The Silicon Savannah Journey was the best I’ve experienced so far. There are few regions that are so diverse and have such an enormous potential. Experiencing the innovative power of digital Africa has touched me deeply.”

Stephan Grabmeier, Zukunfstinstitut GmbH, Germany
“I only knew the promoted program and that was already very good. But the reality then has exceeded my expectations many times! Best Learning Journey ever – strong impact on my life.“

Bernhard Hoetzl, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of kompany.com, Managing Partner of funkensprung.com
“Enhancement of knowledge, fascinating ideas, exciting travel colleagues, start of new ideas ….“

Roland Tscheinig, CEO, OBJENTIS Software Integration GmbH
“My expectations have been completely exceeded – such diversity and variety of topics and encounters could not have been expected. I am very impressed by Kenya and its dedicated people.“

Jutta Jakobi, Deutsche Messe AG
“Dear Mr. Stoisser, … as a diplomat, I see myself as an “interpreter between cultures” – and you do it in the private sector, you have your target audience which you know and which trusts you. I would like to support you and your partners in exploring these possibilities, opening doors, taking advantage of opportunities – and, if necessary, averting dangers.”

Dr. Christian Fellner, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria in Kenya

Background

Since 2017, ECOTEC and Identifire together with local collaborators have run Learning Journeys for Austrian/German business people in Kenya. Themed The Silicon Savannah, the main aim of these missions has been to showcase Nairobi’s technology ecosystem and to facilitate an in-depth immersion of the Kenyan business and innovation context for the participants.

This Learning Journey is a further development. The collaboration with Kenyan stakeholders will be deepened with a focus on the challenging topic Skilled Labor Migration.