Kenya’s small businesses employ more than 80% of the country’s workforce, yet many owners still lack the digital skills to compete in a market reshaped by artificial intelligence. I&M Bank is closing that gap.
Through a new partnership with Google, I&M Bank now offers eligible MSME customers free access to the Google Hustle Academy, a bootcamp programme that teaches practical AI and digital skills to help entrepreneurs market smarter, sell more, and build businesses that last.
Why This Matters Now
AI tools are no longer a luxury reserved for large corporations. They are reshaping how businesses of every size operate, and the owners who understand how to use them hold a real advantage over those who do not. For many of Kenya’s small business owners, access to that knowledge has been the missing link between potential and performance.
“Being on your side means making sure our customers are not left behind in the AI revolution,” said Shameer Patel, Director of Retail and Business Banking at I&M Bank. “Access to capital is only part of what it takes to build a resilient business. Today’s entrepreneurs also need knowledge, technology, and capability. By partnering with Google, we are deepening our role as a genuine growth partner to Kenya’s entrepreneurial community.”
What the Programme Offers
Google launched the Hustle Academy in 2022 to deliver bootcamp training in business strategy, digital skills, AI, and leadership. The 2026 cohort builds on a community of more than 20,000 graduates from previous rounds across Sub-Saharan Africa, more than half of them women entrepreneurs.
Sessions cover Google’s Gemini assistant and its Nano Banana image generation tool, alongside core business skills modules. Participants can also earn Google Career Certificates in user experience design, data analytics, and IT support.
Registrations opened on 11 May 2026 across three markets: Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria. The programme runs as single day bootcamps and 60 minute expert webinars, all at no cost to participants.
The Opportunity Behind the Numbers
The relaunch puts a sharp focus on a finding from McKinsey’s Leading, not Lagging: Africa’s Gen AI Opportunity report, which estimates that generative AI could unlock $100 billion in value for African economies. A separate SAP Africa survey published in May 2025 found that nine in ten organisations across the continent say a lack of AI expertise is already holding back their operations.
Africa’s digital economy is projected to grow from $34 billion in 2026 to $72 billion by 2031, according to figures cited in the Google announcement. For small business owners, that trajectory represents both a competitive threat and a genuine opportunity.
“Don’t just watch the digital revolution happen, lead it,” wrote Siya Madikane, Google’s communications and public affairs manager for Africa.
A Banking Partner That Goes Beyond Finance
For I&M Bank, the Hustle Academy partnership reflects something larger than a training initiative. A bank with 50 years of experience growing alongside Kenyan businesses, I&M has made a deliberate commitment to support not just what entrepreneurs need today but what they will need to compete tomorrow.
How to Enrol
Eligible MSME customers can register through the Google Hustle Academy online portal, visit their nearest I&M Bank branch, or speak directly to their I&M Bank relationship manager.
