Eric Kinoti

Eric Kinoti is a Kenyan entrepreneur of African descent born in Mombasa on 8 March 1984. Along with being the Founder and CEO of Shade systems EA.ltd, a million dollar enterprise that has a presence in over 6 countries, he is on the boards of several prominent East African companies. He has won several awards in East Africa and internationally, has gained recognition for his entrepreneurial endeavors, and is also a noted philanthropist.

He is the Kenyan youth patron in the Kenyan Chamber of commerce and has received recognition as a youth entrepreneur from Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. Apart from appearing on Forbes Africas Annual List of 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa twice, he received Kenya's SOMA Awards in 2014 for being the Most Influential SME Personality in Kenya in 2014.

Early life After college Kinoti worked as a cashier in a hotel in Malindi and that's where his entrepreneurial journey truly began. Since he worked in the night shift, Kinoti spent his day time buying and distributing eggs around Malindi town. A few years later, he moved to Nairobi where he distributed milk to hotels in the city. With a saving of Ksh 60,000(US$600), he borrowed almost KSh2 million (US$20,000) from a Shylock in 2009, to set up Shade Systems where he ended up paying back the money with a million shillings (US$10,000) as the interest. He claims that was the worst decision he has ever made.

Today, Kinoti sits atop five powerful companies in Kenya and has been on Kenya's government delegation to several international economic meetings. Apart from Shade systems (EA) ltd, Eric Kinoti is also a founder and director of Alma Tents Ltd, Bag Base Kenya Ltd and SafiSana Home Services Ltd.

Personal life Eric Kinoti is married to a wife with whom he has one child. He lives in Westlands suburb of Nairobi, Kenya.