Blab Tech
Nairobi International Financial Centre Deepens Partnership with ChainBLX to Launch AI Hackathon Initiative
On 19 June 2026, the Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) announced a new phase of its collaboration with ChainBLX SPC, a boutique investment and corporate development firm. The partnership now extends beyond the SCC Fund SP to include the Art Fund SP and FlowPrompt.ai, a visual no‑code AI orchestration platform. The expansion will support the launch of the Prompter Community, a program that will host hackathons, investment opportunities and capacity‑building activities aimed at African innovators, entrepreneurs, developers and creators.
The announcement, issued through a Globe Newswire release, states that applications for the Prompter Community are open to Kenyan innovators and startups via the FlowPrompt.ai platform and will remain open until 1 September 2026. Selected participants will receive free access to the platform, mentorship and exposure to potential investment pathways. Winners will be announced at Digital Davos in January 2027, a side event of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
NIFC, a state corporation under Kenya’s National Treasury, has long pursued a mandate to position Nairobi as a leading international financial centre and a gateway for global investment into Kenya and Africa. The new partnership builds on a successful engagement through ChainBLX’s SCC Fund SP and is intended to reinforce Kenya’s standing as Africa’s premier innovation and financial hub.
According to the release, Daniel Mainda, CEO of NIFC, said: “Kenya is no longer simply participating in the global digital economy; we are deliberately shaping its future. This partnership represents a strategic investment in African talent, ideas and innovation. By bringing together capital, technology and entrepreneurship, we are building pathways that will enable Nairobi to become not only Africa’s financial gateway, but also a global centre for innovation and digital value creation.” He added that the competitiveness of nations will depend on their ability to attract capital, nurture talent and build ecosystems where ideas can scale globally.
Karl Seelig, CEO of ChainBLX SPC, commented that Kenya offers “one of the most forward‑looking investment environments globally” and expressed excitement about deepening the commitment through the Art Fund SP and FlowPrompt.ai. He said the partnership would help empower African innovators to solve global challenges.
FlowPrompt.ai, the platform that will power the Prompter Community, is described as a cutting‑edge visual no‑code AI orchestration tool. The platform allows users to build practical solutions in artificial intelligence, creative technologies, digital infrastructure and sustainable development without writing code. The initiative aims to unlock the potential of Africa’s youthful population by enabling participants to create solutions that can be scaled across the continent.
The partnership aligns with Kenya’s broader national agenda to accelerate digital transformation, create high‑value jobs, attract global investment and position Nairobi as the preferred destination for technology‑enabled enterprises seeking access to Africa’s rapidly expanding markets. By integrating a no‑code AI platform with a structured hackathon and investment program, the initiative seeks to lower barriers to entry for developers and entrepreneurs who may lack traditional coding skills.
The press release notes that Daniel Mainda will serve as one of the head judges for the hackathon series. The program’s structure will include a series of hackathons, mentorship sessions and exposure to investors, with the final showcase scheduled for Digital Davos in January 2027.
The partnership underscores Kenya’s growing attractiveness as an investment destination and reinforces NIFC’s mandate of connecting global capital with local opportunity. The initiative is positioned as a concrete step toward building a vibrant ecosystem that supports African innovators and contributes to the continent’s digital economy.
As of the date of the announcement, applications are open until 1 September 2026. The winners will be unveiled in January 2027 at Digital Davos.
The partnership is a development in the broader context of Kenya’s efforts to strengthen its financial and innovation infrastructure, and it reflects a growing trend of public‑private collaborations aimed at fostering technology talent across Africa.
The announcement, issued through a Globe Newswire release, states that applications for the Prompter Community are open to Kenyan innovators and startups via the FlowPrompt.ai platform and will remain open until 1 September 2026. Selected participants will receive free access to the platform, mentorship and exposure to potential investment pathways. Winners will be announced at Digital Davos in January 2027, a side event of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
NIFC, a state corporation under Kenya’s National Treasury, has long pursued a mandate to position Nairobi as a leading international financial centre and a gateway for global investment into Kenya and Africa. The new partnership builds on a successful engagement through ChainBLX’s SCC Fund SP and is intended to reinforce Kenya’s standing as Africa’s premier innovation and financial hub.
According to the release, Daniel Mainda, CEO of NIFC, said: “Kenya is no longer simply participating in the global digital economy; we are deliberately shaping its future. This partnership represents a strategic investment in African talent, ideas and innovation. By bringing together capital, technology and entrepreneurship, we are building pathways that will enable Nairobi to become not only Africa’s financial gateway, but also a global centre for innovation and digital value creation.” He added that the competitiveness of nations will depend on their ability to attract capital, nurture talent and build ecosystems where ideas can scale globally.
Karl Seelig, CEO of ChainBLX SPC, commented that Kenya offers “one of the most forward‑looking investment environments globally” and expressed excitement about deepening the commitment through the Art Fund SP and FlowPrompt.ai. He said the partnership would help empower African innovators to solve global challenges.
FlowPrompt.ai, the platform that will power the Prompter Community, is described as a cutting‑edge visual no‑code AI orchestration tool. The platform allows users to build practical solutions in artificial intelligence, creative technologies, digital infrastructure and sustainable development without writing code. The initiative aims to unlock the potential of Africa’s youthful population by enabling participants to create solutions that can be scaled across the continent.
The partnership aligns with Kenya’s broader national agenda to accelerate digital transformation, create high‑value jobs, attract global investment and position Nairobi as the preferred destination for technology‑enabled enterprises seeking access to Africa’s rapidly expanding markets. By integrating a no‑code AI platform with a structured hackathon and investment program, the initiative seeks to lower barriers to entry for developers and entrepreneurs who may lack traditional coding skills.
The press release notes that Daniel Mainda will serve as one of the head judges for the hackathon series. The program’s structure will include a series of hackathons, mentorship sessions and exposure to investors, with the final showcase scheduled for Digital Davos in January 2027.
The partnership underscores Kenya’s growing attractiveness as an investment destination and reinforces NIFC’s mandate of connecting global capital with local opportunity. The initiative is positioned as a concrete step toward building a vibrant ecosystem that supports African innovators and contributes to the continent’s digital economy.
As of the date of the announcement, applications are open until 1 September 2026. The winners will be unveiled in January 2027 at Digital Davos.
The partnership is a development in the broader context of Kenya’s efforts to strengthen its financial and innovation infrastructure, and it reflects a growing trend of public‑private collaborations aimed at fostering technology talent across Africa.
