Nairobi's iHub Seeks Investment For New Hardware Hackspace, Gearbox

Summary: One of the stalwarts of the Kenyan tech scene wants to move beyond its focus on software and apps by offering hardware workspace for design and rapid prototyping.

iHub, the Kenyan tech hub which has been at the heart of the African app development scene, has announced that it is to open a new 'makerspace' within its Nairobi offices, to be called Gearbox.

The organisation says that it has received a donation of equipment from social enterprise Re:Char which includes CNC machines, generators and power tools, and it is hoping to find $50,000 investment for smaller equipment such as soldering stations and 3D printers before it opens its doors properly later in the year.

iHub co-founder Eric Hersman, who also helps to organise Maker Faire Africa, says that he hopes that Gearbox will help to attract a new audience to iHub.