How to Find a Technical Co-founder in Kenya (The Right Way)

The 'Coffee Shop' Pitfall

Most non-technical founders in Nairobi spend months hoping to find a CTO at a meetup. They pitch an idea, buy coffee, and get a polite nod. Two weeks later, they are ghosted.

Why? Because ideas are cheap. Good developers are drowning in job offers from Fintechs and remote US startups. They don't need your idea; they need proof of execution.

1. Stop Looking for a 'Tech Guy'

You are not looking for a freelancer. You are looking for a partner. The difference is ownership and commitment. But you cannot offer 50% ownership to a stranger.

The Orb21 Rule: Start with a 'Liability Sprint'.

2. The Liability Sprint

Don't sign a marriage contract (co-founder agreement) on the first date. Instead, agree to build one specific feature in 2 weeks.

• **Week 1:** Scoping and Design.
• **Week 2:** Code and Ship.

If they ship, you talk partnership. If they ghost, you lost nothing but two weeks.

3. Where they actually hang out

They are not at 'Networking Events'. They are on Discord, in GitHub repositories, and in builder communities like Orb21. They care about *shipping*, not *pitching*.

Conclusion

If you want a CTO, stop being an 'Idea Guy'. Become a 'Project Manager' who brings structure, customers, and clarity. That is what attracts talent.