Nura Kemis 
BetaLab, Britam’s Corporate Innovation Hub, has now set up operations at the Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre (Trific) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to accelerate financial services innovation and scale its startup investments across Africa.
BetaLab’s objective is to back startups tackling innovative challenges in areas such as claims processing, SME financing, savings solutions, and healthcare, among others, with investment capital to test and scale their operations.
BetaLab is also seeking to raise funding over the next few years.This fund will be directed towards scaling startup operations.
Since launching officially in early 2024, BetaLab has developed a strong pipeline of investor-ready startups. Currently a few startups are under incubation offering services ranging fromArtificial Intelligence (AI) motor claims assessments, SME and Groups’ financial management solutions and financial inclusion and protection for boda boda riders.
Britam is exploring joint ventures and equity partnerships with these startups to further drive industry transformation.
Additionally, six startups have graduated from BetaLab’s pre-incubation program, with three advancing to incubation.
“With Africa’s digital financial services sector expanding on the back of a booming young population, rising smartphone penetration, regulatory shifts, and growing financial inclusion, BetaLab’s expansion provides a launchpad for innovative solutions bridging critical gaps in insurance and financial services,” said Britam Group MD & CEO Tom Gitogo.
Through this space, startups and innovators will now have direct access to the collaborative workspace, advanced testing environments, and direct access to mentors, industry leaders and venture capital.
Mr Gitogo indicated that BetaLab plans to extend into Britam’s chosen markets in Africa – seven countries and counting – as it shapes tech-led solutions across the continent’s financial services sector.
“BetaLab is also focused on achieving operational maturity, where its initiatives directly contribute to customer acquisition, business efficiency, revenue growth, and industry disruption,” he said.
Innovation and partnerships are core pillars for Britam, with strategic collaborations—ranging from startups to established firms—unlocking new growth frontiers and driving the future of insurance.
“We’re strengthening our ties with innovators to drive greater impact. Beyond modernizing traditional insurance, we aim to establish long-term partnerships that drive sustainable industry transformation,” explained Britam Partnerships & Digital Director Evah Kimani.
To nurture top tech talent, Betalab has a well-structured capacity-building internship program. This initiative provides hands-on training from system development and technical product development to Product Analysis and Management, with opportunities for full-time employment within Britam’s ecosystem.
BetaLab also fosters innovation culture within Britam.The hub has spearheaded internal hackathons, leading to nine viable staff-generated ideas, while also supporting external hackathons with universities and other eco-system partners to foster industry-wide advancements.
Notable innovations that have emerged from BetaLab, include Bella, Britam’s AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot that offers customers seamless access to insurance and investment services,a Travel Portal to support Agents streamline Travel policy issuance and management.
Looking ahead, BetaLab will continue to facilitate investor pitches, industry hackathons, and product co-creation initiatives.
“To drive thought leadership and innovation, BetaLab will deepen its partnerships with institutions of higher learning, tapping into cutting-edge research and emerging technologies,” said Ms Kimani.
