Catalysing Growth: An Analysis of Innovation Hubs and Gendered Dynamics in Kigali's Startup Ecosystem (2010-2025)

This conference paper critically examines the role of innovation hubs in Kigali’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, analysing their gendered dynamics and impact on women’s leadership between 2010 and 2025. It addresses the research problem that, despite Rwanda’s progressive gender policies and the proliferation of hubs designed to catalyse entrepreneurial growth, women remain underrepresented as founders and leaders of high-growth technology startups. Employing a qualitative, feminist political economy approach, the study draws on semi-structured interviews conducted in 2024 with 30 female and male entrepreneurs, hub managers, and ecosystem stakeholders, supplemented by policy analysis and participatory observation within three prominent Kigali hubs. The findings reveal that while hubs provide crucial infrastructure and networking, they often inadvertently perpetuate gendered barriers. These include gendered networking patterns, a predominant focus on male-dominated tech sectors, and mentorship models that fail to address specific socio-cultural constraints faced by women, such as access to capital and disproportionate domestic responsibilities. The paper argues that for hubs to be truly transformative, they must move beyond gender-neutral programming to intentionally design for inclusion. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to African feminist scholarship on entrepreneurship, offering evidence-based insights for hub operators and policymakers to reconfigure support mechanisms. This is essential for harnessing the full innovative potential of Rwanda’s women and achieving equitable economic governance.