The seventh edition of Pwani Innovation Week opens today, Monday, October 26, 2026, at Swahilipot Hub in Mombasa, bringing together young innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to focus on youth entrepreneurship and technology-driven innovation.
The week runs under the theme “A Decade and Beyond: Youth Innovation and Coastal Futures” and coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Swahilipot Hub Foundation, which was founded in 2016. Organisers say the event is expected to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and development partners from across the region, stretching from Mozambique to Somalia, as well as participants from across Kenya. They have also set a goal of unlocking employment opportunities for nearly two million young people while attracting investors to the Coast.
The hub’s founder, Mahmoud Noor, has said the foundation has changed the lives of more than 69,000 young people over the past decade through skills training, mentorship, career guidance and networking. Its programmes began in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale and have since expanded to Kitui and Nairobi. Noor has also called for closer collaboration with county governments to create more pathways to jobs for young people.
Pwani Innovation Week Chairperson Dr Kevit Desai has described the event as a key platform for nurturing ideas that grow into successful businesses and create jobs. Participants will showcase their innovations, build professional networks and benefit from mentorship programmes offered through the Swahilipot Hub Foundation.
Government and local leaders have backed the event. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has reaffirmed the county’s commitment to working with Swahilipot, saying partnerships will be critical to creating opportunities for young people. At a pre-launch event in Nairobi in June, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat said Swahilipot Hub offers a way to experience Mombasa’s culture powered by innovation and technology.
Organisers describe this edition as the biggest so far, combining an investment showcase, a media moment and a community celebration. The week is scheduled to run until October 30, with a talent showcase, Pwani Gat Talent, at the Mombasa Gymkhana on Saturday, October 31.
