Habitat for Humanity has launched a start-up accelerator program in Kenya called ShelterTech Accelerator. The program received over 90 applications from start-ups across Kenya and will partner with five start-ups to create affordable housing solutions for low-income families. The selected start-ups will receive $50,000 investments each to develop their affordable housing products and services. The accelerator aims to increase the availability of affordable homes and is supported by several organizations, including BDO East Africa, Pangea Accelerator, IKEA Foundation, and Hilti Foundation.

1. Habitat for Humanity
Announces Start-Up
Initiative in Kenya
Benjamin Spacapan

2. Introduction
 Based in Florida, Benjamin Spacapan is a financial professional with parts of 7 years
of experience with a variety of firms. He last worked with H.I.G Capital as an
Associate. Along with his professional activities, Benjamin Spacapan has also
volunteered with several philanthropic organizations, including Habitat for
Humanity, which recently unveiled a start-up initiative in Kenya.
The ShelterTech Accelerator program saw applications from over 90 start-ups
across the country, and looks to increase the number of affordable homes available
to low-income families. To do so, Habitat for Humanity has partnered with five
Kenyan start-ups to create affordable housing solutions.
The program is backed by BDO East Africa and the Pangea Accelerator, and was
inspired by similar initiatives that Habitat for Humanity unveiled in India and
Mexico. It has also received support from the IKEA Foundation and Hilti
Foundation. It was recently announced that Gjenge, ManPro, A-Homes, Mycotile,
and The VLage were the start-ups that would be awarded the $50,000 investment.
Two other organizations, Corec and MaliJKodi, received funding to help scale-up
their businesses.