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Home  /  About  /  Our Journey

Eight years, year by year.

From a single Nairobi cohort in 2017 to a pan-African platform — every stop along the way.

2017

A challenge is born

Nairobi · launch
Launch

Muthoni Kanyana founds #MyLittleBigThing under MK-Africa, partnered with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in South Africa.
2019

SDGs 1–5 · the MDGs

Thematic pivot
Pivot

After the TIFA research, the Challenge moves to a thematic SDG approach. 2019 focuses on the "unfinished business from the MDGs".
2020

The platform goes online

Academy + webinars
Online

SDGs 6–11. Online award ceremony with Sanda Ojiambo and Prof. Bitange Ndemo. UNDP-partnered Youth Digital Inclusion Webinar Series launches.
2021

SDGs 12–15 · Green agenda

KU TV partnership
Green

The Challenge focuses on consumption, climate, oceans and land. KU TV makes the cohort a reality TV show across East Africa.
2023

EduYetu, GreenLead, GreenTech

Safaricom · 34 finalists
Top 3

Safaricom crowns the 2023 champions: Ian Nyongesa (EduYetu · SDG 4), Collins Nyakoe (GreenLead · SDG 13) and Gladys Mwende (GreenTech Collectors · SDG 13) — real ventures on Kenyan campuses.
2025

SDGs Clubs · the platform era

Demo Day + Academy
8 campuses

SDG Clubs launch at eight universities and the platform goes live — AI tutor Professor Mambo, mentor office hours and public, verifiable credentials, free for every African undergraduate. Capped by a live Demo Day.
2026

Write the next chapter

Cohort opens later this year
Your turn

The 2026 cohort opens later this year — free for every young African with an idea worth backing. Join the waitlist now.
2026 cohort opens later this year

Your little idea
belongs in our big community.

Free to join. Free to learn. Free to win. Open to every young African with an idea worth backing.

Join the 2026 waitlist → Or peek inside →