Our story

Igniting Change: Uniting Dreamers, Doers, and Leaders for a Better World

Our collective purpose is clear: to build a regenerative economy where business and profit serve our people and the planet.

280 +

Impact Makers

80 +

Impact Hubs

Who We Are

We connect and enable change-makers in Nairobi, Kenya to collaborate and learn from each other’s expertise and provide an environment to support them to build successful social enterprises in Kenya.

Our impact journey

2000

Seeds of Change

In the Year 2000, a group of passionate and idealistic graduates from United World College (UWC) Atlantic in Wales organised a groundbreaking millennium event at London’s Royal Festival Hall. They gathered influential figures, including Nobel Prize winners and even the Dalai Lama by video, to discuss pressing global issues

2002

Defying Convention

The impact of their event caught the attention of the United Nations World Summit, earning them a unique invitation to organise a side-summit to the upcoming World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2003. However, these visionary young Impact Makers chose to reject the traditional workshop format and venue and co-created a people’s summit in Soweto, where they collaborated with local activists who had turned a neglected wasteland into the inspiring Soweto Mountain of Hope (‘SoMoHo’), showcasing the power of community-driven change

2005

The first Impact Hub opens its doors

In 2005, with the experiences of the millennium event and SoMoHo still fresh in their minds and hearts, the group saw a growing need for a physical space where like-minded individuals could come together to connect and collaborate. Fuelled by their vision, they founded the first Impact Hub transforming a run-down London loft. Named ‘The Hub’ initially, this space became the nurturing ground for community-building, sustainable practices, and the perfect blend between activist passion and entrepreneurial ingenuity. The first habitat for social innovators was born.

2005-2011

Cultivating collaborative growth

As The Hub in London took root, like-minded others in other cities realised that the model had the potential to meet the needs of their local communities. They began to co-create a network of Impact Hubs, cultivating collaborative growth across cultures and contextualising the model through bottom-up participation of local impact makers as founding communities. As this network grew, each new Hub reflected the unique needs and challenges of its local community while sharing a common vision for systemic change in the world.

2011-2018

Empowering Global Impact

In 2011, a significant milestone was reached with 15 Impact Hubs from around the world co-founding the Impact Hub Association. This enabled our Network to expand its global footprint, establishing 100+ Impact Hubs in 60+ countries. As the concept of ‘hub’ gained recognition, we rebranded from ‘The Hub’ to ‘Impact Hub,’ reinforcing our unwavering commitment to fostering positive social and environmental change through entrepreneurial action.

2021

The Beginning

In 2021, we partnered with Impact Hub Network. The aim is to accelerates the transition of local communities and economies towards sustainability, inclusion, and resilience.

2022

Empowering the Many

In 2022, we partnered with Shared Studios and Musuem of the UN to create global connections and bring “The Many” into the Climate Conversation. The aim was to mobilize “The Many” to raise their voices, take agency, and help change the narrative around who holds power.

2023

A New Chapter

We unveiled our thrilling partnership with Ikigai, a renowned name in co-working and events. This venture signaled a new chapter in our journey, showcasing our dedication to delivering exceptional co-working and event experiences. To celebrate, we hosted a highly successful joint event, laying the foundation for an innovative and dynamic partnership.

Additionally, our alliance with Prochange Africa for an electrifying online finance lecture series sparked a buzzworthy experience, providing invaluable insights and expertise in the finance domain. The event was truly memorable, leaving a lasting impression on all participants.

Ongoing

Vision 2030

As our Network advances into the future, our journey of transformation and impact remains boundless. Fueled by our values of trust, courage, and collaboration, we strive to create more meaningful connections and drive innovative solutions, paving the way for a radically better world. By 2030, we envision being beacons of the business of the future, harnessing diverse forces for good and collectively leading the impact economy to shape our present and future