Thandiwe Muriithi

Pioneered initiatives to empower African women in tech, founding AfroTech Hub in 2020 to bridge the gender gap

Thandiwe Muriithi: A Catalyst for Gender Equality in African Tech

Thandiwe Muriithi is a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for women's empowerment in technology, best known for founding AfroTech Hub in 2020. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Muriithi identified a critical gap in access to tech education and opportunities for African women while working in Silicon Valley. She returned to Africa determined to create pathways for underrepresented voices in the tech sector.

Founding AfroTech Hub

AfroTech Hub has become a cornerstone initiative, providing coding bootcamps, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities specifically tailored for African women. By 2023, the organization had trained over 5,000 women across 15 African countries through partnerships with institutions like UN Women and Tech4Africa. Muriithi's work has been featured in TechCrunch and BBC Africa, highlighting her innovative approach to combining grassroots community building with global tech networks.

Innovative Impact Strategies

Muriithi introduced the 'Tech4Change Fellowship' in 2022, a program that pairs African female developers with international tech firms for six-month placements. This initiative has led to 70% of participants securing permanent roles in global companies like Andela and IBM's Africa Innovation Lab. Her TEDx Nairobi talk on 'Building Digital Ecosystems for African Women' has garnered over 2 million views, amplifying her message globally.

Policy Advocacy

Beyond direct programming, Muriithi advocates for policy changes through her role at the African Union's Digital Economy Commission. Her 2024 white paper 'Closing the Gender Tech Divide: A Framework for African Nations' influenced Kenya's new digital inclusion policies requiring 40% female representation in government tech projects. This work was praised in Foreign Policy Magazine as 'a blueprint for equitable tech growth.'