Young Scientists Kenya

What Young Scientists Kenya does

Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) is a Nairobi-based non-profit education initiative established in 2017 through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Government of Kenya, and the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya. The organization delivers a three-pillar STEM education program — STEM Outreach & Mentorship, the annual National Science and Technology Exhibition, and the Winners' STEM Bootcamp — targeting secondary school students across all 47 Kenyan counties, with secondary school teachers as a parallel beneficiary segment. YSK is modeled on the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in Ireland and operates under the patronage of President Kenyatta, with government agencies (notably the Kenya Industrial Property Institute, KIPI) mandated to provide free intellectual property support to winning student innovators.

YSK's underlying technology consists of a digital platform for project submissions, virtual event infrastructure (developed during a 2020-2021 digital pivot), and AI-focused educational content delivered through its Experience AI program. The exhibition is structured as a two-stage competition (abstract submission followed by full project) with independent judging across four categories: Technology, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Biology & Ecological Sciences, and Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences. The platform integrates with the Kolibri learning platform for career resources and operates under Kenya's Data Protection Act (DPR 2021) as a registered Data Processor and Data Controller.

YSK operates as a non-profit with no participation fees charged to students or schools. Funding flows from partnerships and sponsorships across government (Ministry of Education, RISA Fund / UK International Development, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Space Agency), corporate partners (Safaricom, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Kevian, Mombati Rolling Mills, Mombasa Cement, Umoja Shoe Company, Mzuri Sweets, SEACOM, Konvergenz, Old Mutual Investment Group), academia (Strathmore University), and international donors including Google.org ($300,000 grant, October 2024) and the Institute of Physics. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Ben Roberts (Group CTIO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies), with a lean secretariat led by National Director Dr. Eng. Victor Mwongera.

Name

Young Scientists Kenya

Legal name

Innovative Young Scientists Kenya

Website

https://ysk.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Young Scientists Kenya is a non-profit that runs a nationwide STEM program — county outreach, an annual National Science and Technology Exhibition, and a Winners' STEM Bootcamp — serving secondary school students and teachers across all 47 counties of Kenya.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy) (EDAMABAF)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Science competition platform
• Student mentorship services
• STEM outreach programs
• Innovation bootcamp

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership and Sponsorship Funding: YSK is a non-profit initiative funded through partnerships with government agencies (Embassy of Ireland, Ministry of Education), corporate sponsors (Safaricom, Liquid Intelligent Technologies), and foundations. No direct revenue is generated from student participation.
2. Event Partnership and Support: Partners provide in-kind support including venue, equipment, awards, apprenticeships, and funding for program delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Young Scientists Kenya operates a nationwide STEM education initiative that gives secondary school students across Kenya an opportunity to demonstrate innovation and showcase scientific talents. Its three core programs are the STEM Outreach & Mentorship Program (live demonstrations and career guidance across all 47 counties), the annual National Science and Technology Exhibition (a judged competition across four scientific categories), and the Winners' STEM Bootcamp (commercialization, IP, and entrepreneurship training for top winners), supported by a structured Awards Program.

Product overview

Young Scientists Kenya operates as a unified STEM education initiative with three interconnected core programs: the STEM Outreach & Mentorship Program (delivering hands-on demonstrations and career guidance to students across all 47 counties), the annual National Science and Technology Exhibition (providing a competitive platform for students to showcase research projects judged across four scientific categories), and the Winners' STEM Bootcamp (commercialization and entrepreneurship training for competition winners). The programs are supported by a structured Awards Program that incentivizes participation through cash prizes, scholarships, and technology devices. The organization functions as a platform connecting secondary school students with academic mentors, industry professionals, and institutional partners to foster STEM careers and innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Outreach & Mentorship Program A nationwide outreach program that exposes high school students and teachers across Kenya's 47 counties to science experiences, mentorship, career guidance, and inquiry-based STEM learning through live demonstrations and innovation activities.
• National Science and Technology Exhibition An annual premier platform for secondary school students to compete and showcase practical STEM solutions through a two-stage competition (abstract submission and full project), with independent judging across four scientific categories and award ceremonies.
• Winners' STEM Bootcamp An annual business bootcamp for national competition winners providing training in commercialization, enterprise development, intellectual property, patenting, and pitching skills, with industry mentorship and linkages to internship and scholarship opportunities.
• YSK Awards Program A structured awards system recognizing outstanding student STEM projects with cash prizes, trophies, scholarships, and smart devices across four category awards (Technology, Biological & Ecological Sciences, Chemical Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Social & Behavioural Sciences), plus special awards for innovation in EdTech, ASAL regions, STEM inclusivity, and IoT.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 abstracts submitted annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Embassy of Ireland in KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-founder of YSK, providing founding support and international connection to BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Ireland.
• Ministry of Education, KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of YSK through MOU signed in 2017. Provides institutional support and national reach across Kenya's education system. Government agencies provide free support for all student Intellectual Property.
• Safaricom PLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides smartphones for winners, headsets for participants, and BLAZE platform support. Key sponsor providing technology prizes and marketing visibility.
• Strathmore UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports bootcamp by providing project analysis and direction for actualization. Faculty member Dr. Julius Butime serves on YSK Board as Dean of School of Computing and Engineering Sciences.
• Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides patent filing services at no cost for eligible student innovations. Supports IP actualization for winning projects.
• Liquid Intelligent TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support. Group CTIO Ben Roberts serves as Chair of YSK Board.
• Global MinimumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting STEM ecosystem development.
• Kenya Space AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency partner supporting space science and technology initiatives.
• Institute of Physics (IOP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational scientific organization providing support for physics-related STEM education.
• Concern WorldwideminorOthersHosts YSK office at Concern Worldwide Offices in Westlands, Nairobi.
• Science for Nature and Community Association CollaborationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing sustainability focus and tree planting initiatives during outreach programs.
• Kenya Forest ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting environmental sustainability initiatives including tree planting.
• Mabati Rolling MillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing site visits and industrial exposure for bootcamp participants.
• Swahilipot HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner providing mentorship and workshop facilitation for bootcamp.
• Cadogan & Mugo LLP / Adroit LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal partner, with Partner Sheila Cadogan chairing IP & Actualisation Committee.
• Old Mutual Investment GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner, with Group Managing Director Anthony Mwithiga chairing AFRM Committee.
• Sandrose LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject management support through board member Magdalene Wanyaga.
• KonvergenzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner supporting YSK programs.
• KevianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting YSK initiatives.
• Mombasa CementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing site visits for bootcamp participants.
• Umoja Shoe CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing site visits and entrepreneurship exposure for bootcamp.
• Mzuri SweetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing site visits for bootcamp participants.
• SEACOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology/connectivity partner providing industry exposure for bootcamp participants.
• Nyali CinemaxminorOthersProvides free movie screenings as entertainment for bootcamp participants.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): Global K-12 STEM fair with affiliated regional/national partner fairs worldwide. YSK's exhibition structure (independent judging, category awards, winner selection) directly mirrors ISEF's affiliated-fair design, and YSK winners can be linked to international ISEF participation.
• FIRST Robotics: Global K-12 STEM engagement program operating in many countries including Kenya via partner chapters. Overlaps with YSK in targeting secondary school STEM participation, mentorship, and competition pathways, though with a robotics/engineering focus rather than open research.
• Science Olympiad: Established U.S. K-12 STEM competition with tournament structure and broad category coverage. Comparable as a long-running secondary school STEM competition format, though it focuses on team-based events rather than YSK's individual research projects.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow: Global corporate-sponsored student innovation competition with mentorship and prizes. Directly comparable to YSK's combination of corporate sponsorship (Safaricom/Liquid) and student project competitions.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University: Pan-African higher education institution with strong STEM and entrepreneurship focus, producing graduates who often emerge from student STEM competitions across Africa. Comparable as a downstream destination for YSK alumni and as a parallel African STEM talent developer.

Others

• Andela: Africa-focused technology talent development company that bridges African STEM talent to global employment. Adjacent peer, as Andela benefits from the same broader African STEM talent pipeline that YSK's competitions help cultivate at the secondary school level.

Direct peers

• Conrad Challenge: Multi-category student innovation competition that culminates in commercialization-style pitches and mentorship. Comparable to YSK's Winners' STEM Bootcamp, which similarly focuses on commercialization, IP, and pitching for top students.
• BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition: BTYSTE is the Irish national science fair on which Young Scientists Kenya is explicitly modeled and with which YSK maintains an ongoing collaboration through the Embassy of Ireland. Both run annual K-12 STEM competitions with county-level outreach, exhibitions, and winner pathways.
• Regeneron Science Talent Search: U.S. premier high-school STEM research competition with a judged project submission model, scholarship prizes, and alumni pipeline. Closely comparable to YSK's National Science and Technology Exhibition in format, judging, and demographic focus on secondary school innovators.

Regional players

• Moringa School: Kenyan-based tech and STEM vocational training provider with industry-linked curriculum. Comparable as a parallel Kenyan STEM education ecosystem player that draws from similar secondary school talent pools, but focused on job-ready tech training rather than pre-tertiary research competitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YSTKenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Young Scientists Kenya