Sebie Salim

Mastercard Foundation 2019 - 2020

Alumni

Legatum Fellow

From:

Kenya

Sector:

Financial Services

Location:

Kenya

Degree:

MBA, Sloan School of Management

Sebie is developing Tenakata, a financial inclusion venture in Kenya. There are over 2 million Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya (SME’s), and many of them do not keep records and lack business training. Through Tenakata’s platform SME’s will be able them manage their day to day business, and have better access to funds for expansion through availability of their financial records and credit scores.

Sebie was born and brought up in Kibra Slums, Nairobi. He was inspired mainly by two people: his mother, a tailor entrepreneur running a small business in the outskirts of the city; and his close friend who managing a small fashion retailer shop. Through them he recognized many of the challenges businesses face when it comes to maintaining records and getting loans from financial institutions. With 15 years experience developing fintech solutions to financial institutions, Sebie is well positioned and motivated to build this venture.

Sebie completed high school at the Starehe Boys Centre – a school for the under privileged boys in Kenya. His passion for technology was seeded in high school when he was selected to be a computer-room supervisor at the age of fourteen. After high school, Sebie received a BSc in Statistics from the University of Nairobi. He also holds a Diploma in Computer Systems Design. Sebie is Microsoft Certified Professional. Sebie is an Executive MBA Candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Management.