Our Past Events
INNOVATION FUNDING AND COMMERCIALIZATION WEBINAR
The webinar was held on 31st July 2024. The participants had a chance to Learn about the different avenues or models of funding innovation, how to access funding opportunities, and how to commercialize your research and innovation, among other things. The speaker of the session was Mr. Stephen Gugu, the Co-founder, and Director of Viktoria Venture, a Kenyan company that is helping early-stage companies obtain seed funding from angel investors and forge networks necessary for growth.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND MANAGEMENT WEBINAR
The intellectual property and management webinar was held on 30th July 2024. The webinar gave a chance to the participants to get to learn more on the intellectual property management. The speaker of the session was Dr. Moses Ollengo, Director of DeKUT Research, Technology Management and Community Linkages.
GOOGLE I/O EXTENDED EVENT
The event was held on 27th July 2024. Google I/O is an annual regional event proudly organized by Google, aimed at gathering forward thinking individuals
who are actively shaping the future of Android, Web, IoT – Robotics, AI, and Cloud technologies. It served as a day of inspiration through engaging sessions, enlightening workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities. Google I/O Mt. Kenya stands as a testament to the vibrant tech community in our region, drawing over 500 exceptional engineers from various corners of the Mt. Kenya Region, the majority of them coming from the DeKUT tech community. With meticulously curated tech talks delivered by industry experts.
DeKUT HACK
Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors with the support from the DeKUT Startup and Incubation Centre planned a one week virtual hackathon targeting DeKUT students. DeKUT Hack aimed at driving innovations towards the themes of climate, healthcare, and Agriculture by using the emerging technologies. The hackathon commenced on the 1st July 2024 to 7th July 2024. The Hackathon climax was held physically on Saturday 13th July 2024 from 12 noon where there was final pitching and the top the top three team were awarded cash prizes
DeSIC INCUBATION PROGRAM COHORT II
CYBER SECURITY TRAINING
The Cyber Security training was held at the DeKUT Startup and Incubation Centre on the 19th April 2024 where the participants were equipped eith knowledge and tools they need to defend against cyber attacks and bounce back stronger. it is not just about cyber security; its about cyber reilience. They were also taken through six critical steps that enhance the digital safety and ensure continued success in todays digital world. The event was sponsored by GFA Consulting Group-SKIIVE PROJECT
DeKUT Entrepreneurial & Commercialization Master Plan Validation Workshop
DeKUT i2B Storming Night II
This event offered guidance on the process of developing a viable idea to address a particular problem. Selected participants presented their ideas, and others were grouped around these concepts to collaboratively generate pitches. The objective of this event was to equip participants with the skills needed to generate innovative ideas, simulate commercialization processes, and effectively pitch their concepts.
Invitation to join the DeKUT Startup Centre Acceleration Program
The EOI was seeking applications from interested startup companies in the University and outside the University community to join the DeKUT Startup and Incubation Center for an acceleration program towards forming a self sustaining company
DeKUT i2B Innovation Weekend
The DeKUT i2B Innovation Weekend was organized by the DeKUT Startup and Incubation Centre and the DeKUT Science and Technology Park.
The event was open for Students, Staff and Alumni of DeKUT. The event started on Friday, the 3rd of November, at 5:30 p.m. to Saturday, the 4th of November, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
During this event, refined and developed ideas/concepts were pitched, evaluated and voted for by the participants and judges. Participants were grouped around themed concepts/prototypes to develop the same towards becoming a business enterprise or startup company. Experienced coaches guided the teams to navigate the various requirements in developing a successful start-up, and later, the teams pitched to potential investors or partners.
DeKUT Research Commercialization Webinar
DeKUT Startup and Incubation Centre Webinar
This was a brief informative session on Innovation and startup ecosystem at DeKUT. It was mainly targeting the first years to create awareness of the existence of the DeKUT Startup and incubation Centre(DeSIC) which is strategically positioned to guide in the journey of developing an idea or innovation into a business.The webinar provided the students with a comprehensive overview of the functioning of DeSIC which comprises of both the incubation centre (DeHUB) and the Startup Centre.
Visit by Dr. Konde (UNECA)
Dr. Victor Konde from United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Wednasday 23rd August, 2023 visited DeHUB since its a key partner to the Research – Innovation Ecosystem and Entrepreneurship Education Office (R-IEEED) which hosted him. Five incubatees at DeHUB had a chance to showcase their projects and in addition three startup companies also had a chance to showcase their products to the guest.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
On the 21st of June, DeHUB hosted an Intellectual Property Management event featuring Paul Chege, Assistant Manager-Patents at KIPI (Kenya Industrial Property Institute) and George Mwangi, DeKUT, TISC (Technology and Innovation Support Center). The event focused on the essential aspects of IP management, including the identification, assessment, and protection of intellectual property assets through legal mechanisms such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Enforcing IP rights to prevent unauthorized use and infringement by others was also emphasized. In today’s fiercely competitive global market, effective IP management is paramount as intellectual property assets can significantly enhance a company’s value and competitive edge. Participants gained valuable insights into safeguarding their innovations and creations, ensuring they can harness the full potential of their intellectual property in the dynamic business landscape
Veenky Naturals Product Launch
Veenky Naturals is one of the startup company under the DeSIC. The Company launched its first hair Product , the hair booster oil, on 24th May 2023.
The event aimed to raise awareness of the company’s existence in the
University and outside DeKUT and the various hair products it produces.
DeKUT i2B WEEKEND
DeKUT i2B Weekend aimed at empowering participants to create a startup from ideation to execution within just 48 hours (about 2 days). It provided a vibrant environment for like-minded individuals, founders, and investors to interact and network. Throughout the weekend, attendees accessed mentors, coaches, and industry experts who offered guidance and feedback on their business ideas. The event’s unique feature lied in its focus on technology and entrepreneurship, aligning perfectly with the university’s status as a pioneer in technology advancements in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa. The i2B Weekend was an exciting journey, with participants pitching their ideas, forming teams, developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and ultimately launching their businesses. This experiential learning opportunity offered immense potential for growth and networking, providing the steppingstones for entrepreneurial success.
DeKUT i2B STORMING NIGHT
The DeKUT i2B Storming Night was a brainstorming session where 51 participants registered to pitch their ideas. Hosted by DeStaC and DeHUB with support from Film Hub and Science Park, the event aimed to provide a platform for like-minded students to interact and share their innovative business startup ideas. Participants were given 60 seconds to present to a panel of facilitators. The event also involved group pitching, where participants with similar ideas presented and shared their pitches.
CELO WORKSHOP
The successful collaborative event organized by GDG (Google Developer Group) and CELO with support from DeHUB brought together 59 technology enthusiasts, developers, and professionals at the Auditorium in the Resource Center. The event focused on exploring the latest advancements in blockchain technology and its applications. Guests enjoyed inspiring keynote sessions covering decentralized finance (DeFi), smart contracts, and blockchain interoperability. The hands-on workshop provided practical experience with blockchain development, building decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts.
The TinyML Workshop was a resounding success, attracting over 40 attendees. The event aimed to educate participants about the emerging field of Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) and its diverse applications.
The workshop featured two distinguished speakers, Solomon Githu and Joe Musya, who provided valuable insights into TinyML and IoT. Solomon Githu’s presentation covered fundamental concepts of TinyML, optimization techniques for deploying machine learning models on resource-constrained devices, and a hands-on workshop on data collection, model building, and deployment to Microcontrollers. Joe Musya conducted a workshop on building IoT products with Waziup LoRa boards. Both sessions were informative and engaging, leaving attendees with a comprehensive understanding of TinyML and IoT.