Karatina University’s Directorate of Career Services, University-Industry Linkage, and Alumni Affairs hosted the 4th Annual Start-Up Expo on November 29th and 30th, 2024, under the theme “Empowering Change: Innovation for a Better Future.” The is held annually to showcase students’ creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit from various academic disciplines. Karatina University and Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology students participated in the Expo.
Participants during the 4th annual Start-Up Expos
This year’s Start-Up Expo featured 34 teams of student innovators, each presenting groundbreaking ideas and solutions to address real-world challenges. After a competitive preliminary round, 15 teams advanced to the finals, including two from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and 13 from Karatina University.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor ARSA Prof. Lucy Ndegwa addressing the participants during the 4th annual Start-Up Expo and official opening of the event.
The event was officially opened by Prof. Lucy Ndegwa, the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (ARSA), who represented the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Linus M. Gitonga. In her remarks, Prof. Ndegwa emphasized the significance of fostering innovation to drive meaningful change and equip students with practical skills to shape a better future. She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to inspiring innovation among the students.
Members of staff and participants pose for a photo during the official opening of the Expo at the Conference Hall.
Finalists presented their prototypes to a distinguished panel of judges, including industry experts and the Chief Guest, Mr. Situma M. Stephen, Acting Deputy Director and Research Scientist at NACOSTI. Projects were evaluated based on innovation, scalability, social and environmental impact, technical design, and presentation quality.
The Expo concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing exceptional projects. Karatina University teams secured the first, second, and fourth positions, while Dedan Kimathi University of Technology claimed third place. Winners received cash prizes and trophies, motivating them to continue their journey of innovation and excellence.
The Chief Guest Mr. Stephene Situma (NACOSTI) awards the AI- med vision team as the winning team at the 4th start-up Expo.
The theme, “Empowering Change: Innovation for a Better Future,” resonated throughout the event, reinforcing Karatina University’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of problem-solvers and change-makers. The Start-Up Expo remains a vital platform for fostering creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, empowering students to create solutions that contribute to a brighter future.
The winning teams of the 4th annual Start-Up Expo pose for a photo with the Chief Guest Mr. Stephene Situma (NACOSTI) after the event.