Nairobi, 3 September 2025 – As part of our commitment to pursue excellence through continuous improvement in learning and growth, Tedi Africa had a rare opportunity to undertake a specialist business training symposium organised by Silver Lining, a longtime business partner. The one-day workshop held on the 3rd of September 2025 at the Sarit Center, Nairobi attracted a dozen of business-minded individuals from across Kenya – including host communities and refugees. Tedi Africa has been a longstanding partner with Silver Lining dating back to late 2022 when we first joined their highly curated and individualised innovative SLAP program.
SLAP, short for Silver Lining Action Plan is a ‘tech-enabled, data-driven SaaS program based on behavior change science that helps Small Business Owners set and hit their growth goals’ according to the company’s webpage. The 13-month program, backed by years of behavior change science study, has the sole purpose of supporting small business owners and social ventures committed to scaling their growth. It is a specialised business tool created to enable entrepreneurs to scale their growth by measuring their plans, actions and intentions. As a tool for trade, SLAP provides foul-proof business insights for SMEs and venture startups like Tedi Africa to align passion to social change. As Carissa Reiniger, CEO, Silver Lining reveals:
‘We know for a fact that when small businesses succeed, more jobs are created, more kids go to school and communities flourish. We know that small business success has a BIG impact on our global economy.’
The one-day workshop focused on the basic tenets that set up SMEs for success or failure and the technical aspects of the SLAP software. Besides the policy constraints and technical challenges that SMEs face e.g. lack of proper documentation, limited funding, high cost of operations, and capacity gaps, Reiniger believes that SMEs are also confronted with behavioral challenges such as a shift in mindset and a burning desire to succeed at all odds.
For us, the workshop was an important way to explore how to conduct our social mission with a business acumen and to learn about the challenges social entrepreneurs face in their efforts to scale and fund-raise amidst shifting global development priorities. As Reiniger eloquently stated, SMEs are critical players for broader community impact as they create and facilitate jobs, provide employment opportunities for families and contribute to community development and restoration by enhancing skill sets. Particularly insightful was her conviction that ‘silver is about winning together’ stressing the importance of collaboration and shared prosperity. Additionally, her emphasis on the crucial role of managing time and money in line with one’s business and social mission was especially transformative.
Such a revelation closely aligns with our mission and objectives as a community-oriented social venture committed to tackling abject poverty through the triple yet interconnected nexus of Technology, Education and Entrepreneurship – what we call the TEE nexus. Nyalony Koang, our Finance Intern who represented us during the event found the workshop incredibly engaging and invaluable. In her own words:
‘I left the workshop inspired and enriched by the interactions with accomplished entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. The training left me with the powerful reminder that starting a business demands more than just ambition; it requires a burning desire supported by commitment, strategic planning, skills and adequate resources.’
We are thankful to Silver Lining for the opportunity to learn and grow. We look forward to applying the SLAP techniques in our entrepreneurial journey.