The AfroNouveau 100
Juliana Rotich, a pioneering African tech innovator, has reshaped how the world responds to crisis through technology. Not quite often? Well, that’s unless you’re talking to Dr. Juliana Rotich. For more than a decade, this Kenyan tech visionary has been turning complex challenges into powerful, people-first solutions.
Dr Juliana’s not just building apps. She’s building tools that center African voices, solve real problems, and prove that with action, innovation flows from Africa, not just to it.
It All Started With a Question
I’m guided each day by these three questions: “What are you fixing?”, “What are you making?” and “”Who are you helping?”
Juliana was born in Kenya and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In 2008, during Kenya’s post-election violence, Juliana and a small team became frustrated. The stories coming out of communities weren’t matching the headlines. Information was scattered. People grew scared. The world wasn’t listening and lives were at stake.
So Juliana Rotich, a tech innovator, co-founded Ushahidi, which means “testimony”is an open-source platform used globally in Swahili, and became one of the world’s first platforms to crowdsource reports from everyday citizens and map them in real time. Suddenly, people didn’t have to wait for news crews or officials. They could speak for themselves. Their experiences mattered. Their voices counted.
That one innovation, built in Nairobi, changed the world. This innovation ended up being used in many other countries. Furthermore, this innovation was African tech at its finest: urgent, rooted, and game-changing.
Not Just Tech for Tech’s Sake
Juliana didn’t stop at Ushahidi. She kept asking, “What do people actually need?”, “what needs fixing?”, “what can I do?”. She kept asking questions that mattered.
In areas with weak infrastructure, she saw how hard it was just to stay online. So, she helped launch BRCK,her connectivity venture, was designed for resilient internet access in hard-to-reach areas. — a durable, portable modem built to survive power outages, rough travel, and unpredictable internet. Think of it as WiFi that works wherever people are, from classrooms in rural Kenya to field offices in crisis zones.
Her tools aren’t flashy for the sake of it. They work and most importantly, they work for us. They work for African realities, not just Silicon Valley dreams.
A Thought Leader Who Actually Listens
While global institutions rush to include “African voices” in tech conversations, Juliana has already been shaping those spaces and doing it with grace.
She’s given talks at TED, advised at the World Economic Forum, sat on boards at Microsoft 4Afrika, and contributed to key conversations on digital ethics and inclusion. However, what makes her stand out isn’t just her résumé but her tone.
Juliana doesn’t lecture. She reflects. In all, Juliana brings a calm, curious presence that invites collaboration, not just admiration.
She once said, “I believe in Tech that listens–tools that serve people before platforms” That line says it all. Her work is intentional, ethical, and deeply connected to real people.
AfroNouveau Through and Through
Juliana Rotich is AfroNouveau. This is not just because of where she’s from, but how she moves. Moreover, she believes in innovation with context, power with empathy and growth that doesn’t erase tradition, but builds from it.
Juliana mentors young technologists and advocates for open knowledge. She carries herself with the kind of quiet brilliance that doesn’t need to shout to be heard.
In her world, African tech isn’t about catching up. It’s about showing up — fully, confidently, and on our own terms.
Leading by Example in Her Own Lane
Juliana doesn’t try to be everywhere at once. She’s selective and focused. Whether she’s launching a new venture or advising on digital rights, she chooses work that aligns with her values. This is exactly why her influence runs deep.
She’s not just shaping the tools of the future. She’s shaping the thinking behind them and reminds us that tech is only as strong as the people it serves. Above all, she portrays that African leadership doesn’t need validation, it needs visibility.
Building Africa’s Future One Code at a Time
Dr. Juliana Rotich didn’t wait for permission to lead. She saw a need, built a solution, and kept building.
Now, a new generation of AfroNouveau technologists is rising and they’re standing on the foundation she helped lay. Which is not just what the AfroNouveau stands for but the AfroNouveau itself.
However, she’s not done. Rather, she’s just getting started and the AfroNouveau waits for her next project.
Explore more stories of AfroNouveau tech leaders.
