The Top 10 innovative taxi drivers have received Sh288,000 each at the just-concluded Accelerator Program Kenya as the taxi-hailing firm seeks to enable its drivers and couriers.

During the awards ceremony in Nairobi, Bolt said it seeks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among its partners through the accelerator unveiled in April 2024.

More than 800 drivers and couriers applied for the program, with the 120 shortlisted entrepreneurs undergoing an intensive business skills training program at the Bolt Academy.

The top 20 participants then advanced to the final stage, where they showcased their variety of innovative business ideas and concepts to a panel of judges.

Ideas presented ranged from creation of charging stations for electric vehicles to creating business hubs for drivers and investing in accessible transportation options among others.

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Bolt Kenya General Manager Linda Ndungu said the accelerator program indicated the company’s commitment to elevate drivers and couriers within the Bolt ecosystem.

“They are not just service providers, but are essential members of a broader community that keeps millions of people connected across Kenya and beyond,” she Ndungu.

Each of the top 10 drivers was awarded €2,000 (over Sh280,000) in seed funding and will take part in a six-week post-mentorship program to help them further develop their ideas.

These were some of the most notable awards:

• Adrian Kagiri Amunga - Most Innovative Idea

• Antony Gwaro Nyangaresi - Most Scalable Idea

• Teddy Muthami Muriithi - Best Pitch

“Programs like the Bolt Accelerator are essential for driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Kenya,” said The Nest Innovation Technology Park Co-Founder Oluwajoba Oloba.

MSME Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang'eni lauded the ambitious accelerator program by Bolt for being aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030 economic development goals.