2nd Edition Newsletter: How Market Access is Shaping Entrepreneurs’ Growth

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Live Your Dream (LYD) Enterprises Ltd e-Newsletter Edition 2

Dear Live Your Dream Community,

One thing is standing out in the current entrepreneurial ecosystem: Market access. With the growth of technology, leveraging THE DIGITAL MARKETPLACE is becoming a need, especially in this fast-changing and interconnected economy. As an entrepreneur, do you have access to a market and a digital marketplace strategy to give you a competitive edge for economic growth and sustainability?

This newsletter episode highlights the impact that most entrepreneurs experience when they have access to the market: The Digital Marketplace locally and regionally.

POWER MONDAY

As a business owner or entrepreneur, have you encountered Business networking challenges that may be holding you back from scaling your business? Last week week’s Power Monday session drew over 80 participants, featuring Kysebire Talitwala-Greigg, Co-founder of the Afrikan MSME Collective, who shared insights on How to Build Networks to Grow Your Business.

In this engaging and interactive discussion, participants explored key networking principles, the power of strategic collaborations, how to identify the right networks to accelerate business growth, and much more.

Just in case you missed this session, you can listen to the recording here. To be part of these powerful Monday morning conversations, register at: [email protected]. We guarantee you a good start to the week.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UPTO

Celebrating the Rise & Growth of MSMES in Nyamira & Homa Bay County

More than 50 Entrepreneurs went through the capacity-building program, 26 MSMEs were mentored in the Cross-Border Trade and e-Commerce Capacity Building Program for MSMEs in Kenya, implemented by Live Your Dream Enterprises Ltd (LYD) in collaboration with GIZ-PeCI Initiative.

Through this program, besides implementing various digital strategies, MSMEs had a better understanding of e-payment solutions, cross-border logistics, and e-payment solutions. The mentorship sessions further strengthened the MSMEs’ navigation of digital compliance, trade regulations, and market intelligence.

We appreciate the mentors who deliberately walked with the MSMEs. Much appreciation to Mercy Okoth, Johnson Mboya, Robert Lasu, Bernard Odongo, and Moses Mauga for creating time, expertise, and skills that successfully enabled the MSMES to rise.

Live Your Dream Long Term Sustainability Plan

As an organization whose focus is to provide simple, holistic, and affordable growth solutions to owner-managed MSMEs, empowering them to grow profitable and sustainable businesses; we are currently setting up a long-term sustainability plan, which is focusing on CREATING and BUILDING successful businesses, while strengthening entrepreneur support institutions.

Cohort 2 of Women in Digital Business ToT Program is in Progress

The Women In Digital Business Training of Trainers (WIDB-ToT) is underway! This transformative program, in partnership with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO) and Microsoft Philanthropies, is empowering women entrepreneurs with essential digital skills to harness technology for sustainable business growth. The 30+ ToTs will catalyse scalability of the program, while unlocking new revenue streams for their organizations.

Led by our experts Edna Onyach and Otieno Paul Peter, the participants are exploring practical modules on building an online presence, selling online, leveraging website technology, e-commerce tools, adult learning principles, and gender sensitive training.

This follows the inaugural cohort, where 10 trainers were certified in March 2025.

If you are interested in joining the next cohort, kindly register here, or email us: [email protected]

What You Should Not Miss

End Of Year Meet & Greet Dinner Event

October 31st, 2025, we will host the End of Year Meet & Greet Dinner Event at Nairobi Club from 5 PM to 10 PM.

Join us and immerse yourself in insightful keynote sessions, engaging panel discussions, and exclusive networking opportunities. Connect with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and policymakers as we explore strategies for the growth and sustainability of MSMEs in today's entrepreneurial landscape.

Early bird rate: KES 3,500
Late payment rate: KES 4,000
Payment is made via Paybill 247247, Account Number: 439331.

Upcoming Ecosystem opportunities & Events

The Joint Innovation Facility Deadline has been Extended

The Joint Innovation Facility Expression of Interest is now accepting submissions! The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) is calling on African-led innovation consortia to apply for catalytic funding of €100,000 to €250,000. The Africa partner must be from the 14 Africa project priority countries which are Benin, DRC, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.  JIF supports ventures in innovative areas such as Blue Tech, Energy, Smart Mobility, and Smart Cities - through funding, mentorship, investment readiness support, and visibility.

Find more information here.

GIZ-SME Loop Applications Open!

Are you under 35 and running a business in Nairobi or Kiambu?
Apply now to access entrepreneurship training and non-commercial credit to grow your business!

🔹 Eligible sectors: Agro-processing, Agriculture, Circular Economy, Green Energy & E-Mobility
🔹 Must have 2+ staff & Ksh 1M+ turnover
🔹 Women-led businesses encouraged!

Deadline: August 22, 2025. Learn more here are apply here.

Call for Applications: Kenya’s Participation at the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2025

The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) invites interested and eligible exporters to apply for participation in the upcoming Intra-African Trade Fair - IATF 2025, scheduled for 4th – 10th September 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.

This year’s edition, themed "Gateway to New Opportunities", is projected to attract over 2,000 exhibitors and 35,000+ visitors, buyers, and conference delegates from across the globe.

✍The Knowledge Corner✍

Petroleum Retail Networks-The Unexpected E-commerce Ally

Did you know that one often-overlooked player in Africa’s e-commerce story is the petroleum retail network? Data confirms its growing strategic importance. Africa is expected to have over 500 million e-commerce users, driven by increasing internet access and mobile payments.

Recognizing this, Jumia, the continent’s largest e-commerce platform, has partnered with Vivo Energy, which operates over 2,000 Shell and Engen petrol stations across Africa. These stations now serve as pick-up and payment hubs in Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire- a game-changing solution to the persistent challenge of last-mile delivery.

Know you know, stay tuned for the next Knowledge corner!

Live Your Dream provides simple, affordable, and holistic growth solutions to owner-managed MSMEs, enabling them to grow profitable and sustainable businesses.

With a focus on African entrepreneurs CREATING & BUILDING their businesses, its foundational commitment lies in providing comprehensive capacity-building interventions designed to foster sustainable development. The organization offers a broad portfolio of services, including various forms of Training, Business Development Services (BDS) such as Mentorship, Coaching, and Advisory. Additionally, LYD provides Training of Trainers (TOTs), Consulting, Leadership, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

To partner, or for any questions or inquiries, you can reach out to us via: [email protected]

Contact details Phone number: 0735448445 or 0733666924

email address: [email protected]

P.O. BOX 101748-00101 Nairobi, Kenya

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