Julie Mwai

A Kenyan tech entrepreneur revolutionizing education access through mobile technology

About Julie Mwai

Julie Mwai is the founder of M-Safiri, a groundbreaking edtech platform launched in 2020 that provides affordable access to quality education for rural Kenyan students through SMS-based learning. This innovation has reached over 500,000 students in regions lacking internet infrastructure, making her a key figure in Africa's digital education transformation.

Impact & Achievements

Mwai's work addresses Kenya's education gap where 60% of secondary schools lack electricity. By partnering with telecom giant Safaricom, M-Safiri delivers curriculum-aligned content via SMS and USSD - technologies accessible even on basic feature phones. Her system includes:

• Real-time exam preparation materials
• Teacher training modules
• Parental engagement tools

In 2022, her initiative won the MIT Solve Education Challenge, receiving $100k funding. Mwai was also named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential Women in 2023 by Forbes Africa.

Future Vision

Mwai plans to expand to Uganda and Tanzania while developing AI-driven adaptive learning features. Her long-term goal is creating Africa's first continent-wide education network using low-tech solutions that truly democratize learning opportunities.