KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute)

KIRDI, established under the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute Act of 2022, is a national research institution focused on driving innovation in industrial technologies. The institute provides small businesses in Kenya access to comprehensive training and affordable manufacturing facilities. KIRDI’s work is particularly important in the manufacturing sector, where high capital costs often hinder entry for women entrepreneurs.

The nano stage at KIRDI aimed to test various marketing strategies for its training and shared manufacturing facilities, focusing on increasing the number of women utilizing these resources. While social media marketing proved the most successful—attracting over 450 inquiries within two weeks despite limited funding—conversion to actual registrations remained low, largely due to perceived high costs and uncertainty around returns on investment. The referral strategy yielded minimal results, while partnerships showed potential but required longer lead times and could be more costly to establish. The findings underscore the need for more affordable training options and further exploration of shared manufacturing models to empower women entrepreneurs in this male-dominated sector.