The Countdown Begins for the IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit

Tech entrepreneurs, trade experts, government representatives, and developers from all around Africa and beyond will come together

Tech entrepreneurs, trade experts, government representatives, and developers from all over Africa and beyond will be converging for the IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit. This invitation-only event is set to take place on May 30, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Nairobi Westlands.

As the countdown begins for the highly anticipated IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit, anticipation is running high. The event, which will bring together the best and brightest minds in technology and trade for an exclusive gathering, is set to be a pivotal moment in the integration of Web3 technologies into the global trade landscape.

The summit will feature interactive workshops, live coding sessions, and engaging speakers, all focused on IOTA’s decentralized trading infrastructure. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about and experiment firsthand with TLIP (Trade Logistics Information Pipeline) and TWIN (Trade Worldwide Information Network), two groundbreaking frameworks that are revolutionizing the future of global trade through Web3-powered trade ecosystems.

The IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit will spotlight how blockchain can reshape global trade. A special welcome address by Dominik Schiener, Co-Founder of the IOTA Foundation, will set the tone, emphasizing the region’s strategic role in digital transformation.

Later, during the morning sessions, keynote sessions and technical deep dives will focus on decentralized ledger technology and its real-world application in supply chains, customs, and logistics.

Attendees will witness the TWIN framework in action, with Erick Sirali of TradeMark Africa unveiling how this decentralized tool connects trade stakeholders. Live demos will illustrate how data flows securely and efficiently across borders, enabling scalable, compliant, and interoperable trade systems in the region.

TLIP takes center stage during the panel session. Led by Antony Magayu of the IOTA Foundation, it features regional experts tackling practical issues in customs clearance and compliance. The panel includes DB Schenker’s James Kagiri and Trademark Africa’s Shiro Ann Mbiruru, showcasing how TLIP is already influencing East Africa's logistics backbone.

From 1:15 PM, developers are invited to join a two-hour hands-on workshop featuring live coding with IOTA's frameworks and the new MoveVM environment. This session, led by IOTA's technical team, is designed for builders who want to dive into IOTA's decentralized architecture and build their first applications in the Web3-powered trade ecosystem.

Later, a presentation on business innovation will showcase available grants, ecosystem programs, and the upcoming MENA IOTA Moveathon. East Africa's Wambui Wanjiku will walk participants through ways to plug into the global IOTA development community and unlock new funding and scaling opportunities.

As cross-border logistics challenges grow and regional stakeholders increasingly seek solutions for trade transparency and interoperability, interest in blockchain technology is surging in East Africa. IOTA's TLIP and TWIN are already gaining ground, signaling a major shift in how the continent approaches customs, shipping, and trade data.

In a move that underscores its commitment to innovation and community building, IOTA is empowering local developers and entrepreneurs with developer grants and open-source tools to create the next generation of Web3 applications. By providing these resources and fostering an inclusive environment for innovation, IOTA aims to drive real-world change and economic development in the region.