In Kenya, people are either connected to jobs by friends or you really hustle to get a good job.
As much as women have been given several opportunities, it is also a challenge to get jobs. With the gender gap in place many women find it hard to start their own business. But Helen Njoroge created a startup known as Tenders Kenya, a startup that would make a difference by connecting women entrepreneurs with business opportunities by providing access to the tender environment in the country.
Why did Helen begin her journey?
In 2013 the government of Kenya reserved 30% of all government tenders for women, youth and persons with disabilities. With many procurement systems online. Helen created Tenders Kenya so it could offer a digital, cost effective and efficient channel where all entrepreneurs, and more so the youth in Kenya would access all procurement opportunities, and not only government but also private sector opportunities. This would save people a lot of time and would be able to do things in a more systematic and organized way.
But how would this help Kenyans as well?
Currently, Kenyans have to buy newspapers to keep up with these tenders. The difference is that since this product is online, it’s cost effective since people can view them online on the website, subscribers can also receive daily procurement alerts to their emails. Their service to their subscribers is also efficient and reliable. Helen is driven towards innovative and technologically-driven products and services that offer reliable and cost effective solutions to consumers.
What next for Tenders Kenya?
Like any startup the aim is to expand Tenders Kenya to allow both the government and private sector to post their procurement opportunities in our website. This will allow them to save on advertising costs, as well as maximize the responses they are to receive. They currently have over 10,000 subscribers who access their website on a daily basis!