Notify Logistics on Monday announced the launch of the Notify Entrepreneurs Program.

This comes after Notify recently raised Sh45 million in seed capital to be channeled to the Program seeking to reduce the cost of doing business for small businesses.

The logistics firm says the move is aimed at ensuring that more entrepreneurial ventures are established and they thrive in the retail sector.

Notify is a leading growth accelerator for small businesses in the retail sector in Kenya and has supported more than 10,000 small businesses in the last three years.

The company has encouraged entrepreneurs across Kenya to take advantage of the program available in the Notify Malls located in Nairobi, Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa.

Since 2018, Notify Logistics has supported small businesses which are unable to afford a physical outlet on their own or hire someone else besides the owner of the business.

The firm says the ‘small-businesses’ employ about 60 per cent of the total working population in Kenya hence playing a key role in the economic growth of the country.

“With this innovative business approach, we will reduce the cost of doing business for small

businesses thereby ensuring more entrepreneurial ventures come into existence and thrive,” said Steve Waweru Nderitu, Notify Logistics CEO.

He said data from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) there were about 7.41 million MSMEs in Kenya, only 1.56 million are licensed, whereas 5.85 million are unlicensed.

“This high number of unlicensed SMES indicates that this is the right time to create room for SMES to thrive and grow and Notify is ready to support these businesses,” he said.

The Notify Entrepreneurs Program is set to provide affordable business space at an annual fee of Sh20,000 in any Notify Mall fully serviced with shop attendants and licenses.

“We have partnered with manufacturers like Luminarc, Maser, among others both locally and internationally to make it easier for businesses in our Entrepreneurs Program to source for products to sell,” added Waweru.

The Notify Entrepreneurs Program also seeks to help entrepreneurs acquire capital by connecting them to investors who are ready to invest in growing businesses.

It will further incorporate a 10-week entrepreneurship training to be led by successful entrepreneurs to inspire and empower new small business owners in Kenya.

To help small business overcome their logistics challenges, Notify Logistics has negotiated partnerships that will enable free countrywide delivery to clients who buy from any of the small businesses in any Notify Mall countrywide and also from the e-commerce platform.

“We are thrilled to welcome entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the country to join the Notify Entrepreneurs Program as we accelerate them to the next level in their businesses,” added Notify Logistics co-founder Hellen Nderitu.