Glovo wrapped up its participation at GITEX Kenya 2026 by reinforcing its growing role not only as a technology provider but also as a driver of startup growth and ecosystem development.
Alongside championing a more practical and inclusive approach to artificial intelligence, the company used the platform to support entrepreneurship and create pathways for Kenyan innovation to access global opportunities.
Held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Summit brought together startups, investors, policymakers, and technology leaders shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy. As part of its broader ecosystem strategy, Glovo awarded a Kenyan startup a fully funded residency at its global headquarters in Barcelona through the Glovo Kenya PowerUp Award 2026.
Speaking during the flagship panel discussion, “Smarter Informal Markets: AI for the Everyday Economy,” Caroline Mutuku, Managing Director of Glovo Kenya, said the future of AI in Africa will depend on whether technology delivers measurable value to the people powering the real economy.
“For an everyday economy to thrive, technology must act as a bridge that helps solve the daily operational challenges experienced by local merchants, riders, and customers,” said Mutuku. “The informal economy will only truly benefit from AI if it creates reliable and useful opportunities for the workers and businesses generating value every day.”
As part of its wider effort to strengthen and support the ecosystem around its platform, Mutuku noted that Glovo is deploying AI in practical ways aimed at improving experiences and outcomes for merchants, riders, customers, and internal teams.
The company said predictive intelligence tools are already helping merchants make more informed business decisions by forecasting demand, improving operational planning, reducing waste, and identifying high-activity periods.
For riders, Glovo highlighted that predictive operational systems are helping reduce downtime, improve delivery efficiency, and create more consistent earning opportunities. It also highlighted its partnership with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which includes a voluntary in-app rider safety feature designed to promote safer driving behaviour through analytics.
Glovo added that customers are increasingly benefiting from AI-powered personalization, allowing the platform to offer recommendations tailored to order history, location, and behavioral trends.
The company further said that AI is supporting productivity and operational efficiency internally through automation tools used across engineering, finance, legal, customer support, and operations.
Beyond its focus on AI, Glovo also used GITEX Kenya 2026 to deepen its support for Kenya’s startup ecosystem through strategic partnerships and entrepreneurship initiatives. As a strategic ecosystem partner and official judge at the GITEX Supernova Startup Challenge, the company reinforced its broader commitment to nurturing local innovation and creating pathways for startups to access global opportunities.
As part of this effort, Glovo presented the Glovo Kenya PowerUp Award 2026 to Geoinfortrak International Limited, recognizing the startup’s potential to scale homegrown innovation beyond Kenya and into international markets.
Through the award, Geoinfortrak International Limited will participate in Startup Campus Week this October at Yellow Park, Glovo’s headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. The residency program will offer mentorship from Glovo leadership, access to Barcelona’s startup ecosystem, strategic networking opportunities, and investor engagement sessions aimed at supporting long-term growth and international expansion.
Looking ahead, Glovo said it intends to continue strengthening Kenya’s digital economy through investments in partnerships, entrepreneurship, and technology initiatives designed to create broader and more inclusive economic opportunities.
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