Great innovators are rarely shaped by grand beginnings. Often, their journeys begin with small moments of curiosity that refuse to fade. A question becomes an idea, an idea becomes a pursuit and eventually that pursuit grows into something capable of changing industries.
For Zimbabwean entrepreneur Justice Mukaro, the spark came during his teenage years in a boarding school in Masvingo. What started as a personal setback eventually grew into a vision that now places him among a rising generation of African innovators determined to shape the continent’s technological destiny.
Justice is part of a new class of founders who are not simply building startups. They are building infrastructure, knowledge systems and platforms designed to ensure that Africa has a meaningful voice in the future of artificial intelligence and digital technology.
Through his company Strateji, Justice is working to create tools and systems that make artificial intelligence safer, smarter and more relevant for Africa. His journey, however, began with a simple but powerful question sparked by an unexpected loss.
The Curiosity That Started It All
Justice was born and raised in Masvingo, a city rich in history and cultural significance. Growing up there shaped his outlook on innovation and problem solving, grounding his ambitions in the realities faced by everyday people.
His entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly while he was still in high school.
“I was born and raised in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. My journey into innovation began quite unexpectedly when I was 17 years old in high school.”
At the time, Justice had brought a smartphone into his boarding school even though the rules prohibited such devices. The phone was later stolen, leaving him in a difficult position.
“At the time, I had smuggled a smartphone into my boarding school something that was not allowed. Unfortunately, the phone was stolen, and because it was not permitted at school, I could not report the incident to the authorities.”
While many students would have simply accepted the loss, the incident triggered something deeper for Justice. Instead of moving on, he began asking how stolen devices could be traced and why systems to prevent their resale were not widely accessible.
Studying Computer Science at A Level gave him the technical tools to explore those questions further.
“Since I was studying Computer Science at A-Level, I began researching how stolen phones could be tracked digitally and what systems existed to prevent the resale of stolen devices.”
That curiosity slowly evolved into something much larger than a school incident. Justice realized that the problem of stolen mobile phones was widespread across Africa, particularly in informal markets where buyers often had no way of verifying whether a device had been reported stolen.
Seven years after that moment in school, the idea matured into his first startup.
“Seven years later, that early curiosity led me to found iSearch, a startup aimed at tackling the widespread trade of stolen mobile phones across Africa.”
The platform enabled consumers to check a phone’s IMEI number before purchasing it, helping them determine whether the device had been reported lost or stolen. It was a practical solution rooted in a real problem that many people across the continent encounter daily.
Looking back, Justice sees that early experience as the moment that set him on the path toward entrepreneurship.
“Looking back, my educational journey played a significant role in shaping this path. Studying Computer Science gave me the tools to explore solutions, while my personal experience gave me the motivation to build something meaningful.”
Identifying Africa’s AI Gap
While his first venture focused on a practical consumer problem, Justice soon began paying closer attention to the global explosion of artificial intelligence technologies.
In 2023, as new AI platforms began transforming industries worldwide, Justice noticed something troubling. Many of these systems struggled when asked questions about African contexts. The answers were often inaccurate, biased or simply uninformed.
“However, as I spent time interacting with many of these systems, I quickly noticed a significant problem; they were often highly inaccurate, biased or uninformed when it came to African contexts.”
The issue stemmed from a fundamental gap in the way these technologies were built. AI systems rely heavily on large datasets during training and African data has historically been underrepresented.
“This largely stemmed from the scarcity of African datasets used to train these models.”
Recognizing the implications of this gap, Mukaro launched Strateji with the goal of building Afrocentric datasets that could make artificial intelligence more accurate and relevant for African users.
“Recognizing this gap, we launched Strateji with the initial goal of building Afrocentric datasets that could help make artificial intelligence more relevant and accurate for Africa.”
As the company evolved, its mission expanded beyond data collection. Through discussions with researchers, technologists and policymakers, Justice began to see that the issue went deeper than datasets.
Africa also lacked the digital infrastructure needed to fully participate in the global AI ecosystem.
“These conversations highlighted even deeper challenges around data sovereignty, transparency, and the need for infrastructure that allows Africa to participate more meaningfully in the global AI ecosystem.”
Today Strateji’s work focuses on building decentralized systems that support cloud computing, ethical algorithms and local data ownership.
The company is currently collaborating with the decentralized infrastructure network Flux to help build what could become Africa’s first decentralized cloud ecosystem. “Through a partnership with Flux, we are currently working on building Africa’s first decentralized cloud ecosystem.”
This partnership will pair Strateji’s AI stack with Flux’s globally distributed computing infrastructure to power the Amanzi Cloud, Africa’s first decentralized cloud network for AI development.
The startup itself remains lean but ambitious. Strateji is incorporated in the United States and currently operates with a team of six individuals dedicated to advancing responsible AI development for Africa.
Building Technology for African Realities
One of Strateji’s most notable projects demonstrates Justice’s philosophy of designing technology that aligns with how people actually live and work across the continent.
The company developed a data collection platform tailored for African conditions, particularly for organizations operating in remote or underserved communities.
Rather than relying on traditional online forms that require stable internet connections, the platform integrates with WhatsApp, one of the most widely used communication tools across Africa.
“The platform functions similarly to traditional tools like Google Forms, but with a key difference: it is delivered through WhatsApp, one of the most widely used communication platforms across Africa.”
This approach makes it significantly easier for organizations such as NGOs to gather information directly from communities that may lack consistent internet access or advanced digital infrastructure.
The system allows users to submit multiple types of data including text, images, GPS locations, audio and video. Questionnaires can also be delivered in local languages, making the data collection process far more inclusive.
By adapting advanced systems to everyday communication platforms, Strateji has created a bridge between complex digital tools and the realities of communities across Africa.
Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship
Like many entrepreneurs building deep technology companies, Justice has faced significant obstacles along the way. One of the biggest challenges has been securing funding for early stage ventures that require extensive research and infrastructure before generating revenue.
“The ecosystem for early-stage tech startups particularly those building deep technology solutions can be quite difficult, especially when you are trying to develop innovative ideas that require time, research and infrastructure before they generate revenue.”
Instead of focusing solely on traditional investment channels, Justice chose to invest time in building relationships with mentors and experienced founders.
“One of the most valuable lessons I learned during this journey is the importance of relationships and mentorship.”
One of the mentors who shaped his perspective is business coach Charlie Hugh-Jones, whose advice left a lasting impression.
“The people you know will connect you to the people you need to know.”
That philosophy helped Justice build networks that supported the growth of his ventures and opened doors to new opportunities.
It also reinforced a broader truth about entrepreneurship. Success is rarely built alone. Behind every startup is a network of mentors, collaborators and supporters who contribute to the journey.
Recognition on the Global Stage
Justice’s work has begun to attract international attention.
In 2024 he was selected as a runner up at the BRICS Youth Innovation Summit in South Africa, an achievement that led to an invitation to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum later that year.
In 2025 he received another significant honor when he was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a prestigious initiative that supports emerging African leaders working to create positive change across the continent.
These milestones highlight the growing global recognition of Africa’s innovation ecosystem and the role entrepreneurs like Justice are playing in shaping its future.
A Vision Beyond Technology
Justice’s work extends beyond entrepreneurship. He is actively involved in initiatives that connect technology, sustainability and youth empowerment.
He currently serves as Director for IT and Innovation at the Zimbabwe Youth in SDGs Trust, where he helps young people leverage technology and innovation to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
He is also a New Generation Program Fellow under the Climate Leadership Initiative, where he collaborates with other emerging leaders focused on climate action and sustainable development. “I am currently a New Generation Program Fellow under the Climate Leadership Initiative, where I engage with other emerging leaders who are working on solutions related to climate action and sustainable development.”
Interestingly, Justice also collaborates with the creative industry as a corporate model, working with Sankara and Exclusive Modeling agencies. The experience reflects his belief that leadership and influence can exist across multiple fields.
Looking Toward the Next Frontier
Among the technological trends Justice finds most exciting is the global shift toward decentralized computing.
These systems prioritize transparency, resilience and digital sovereignty by distributing infrastructure rather than concentrating it within a few centralized platforms.
Justice believes this shift could play a transformative role in Africa’s digital future.
One of the projects he is most excited about is the upcoming pilot launch of AmanziCloud, an initiative designed to create more secure and accessible cloud solutions for the continent. “In terms of what is ahead for us, one of the projects I am most excited about is the upcoming pilot launch of AmanziCloud later this year,’ said Justice.
The project represents another step toward his broader mission of building digital infrastructure that empowers African communities while ensuring data ownership remains within the continent.
The Mindset That Drives the Journey
For Justice, entrepreneurship is not defined by certainty. It is defined by belief in a vision that others may not immediately understand.
“One of the most significant lessons I have learned throughout my entrepreneurial journey is the importance of believing in your vision, even when it does not immediately make sense to others.”
He describes the entrepreneurial journey as one that requires patience and persistence.
“In many ways, entrepreneurship often means being willing to ‘look crazy until you don’t.”
That philosophy also shapes the advice he offers to aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those starting with limited resources. Justice believes that before building a company, founders must first focus on building themselves.
“The first thing you build, before the company itself, is the founder. In many ways, the founder is the company’s first product.”
In practical terms, he says this means investing deeply in personal growth, mindset and resilience because the discipline, vision and character of the founder often determine the direction and survival of the business itself. Limited resources, he adds, should never be viewed purely as obstacles. Instead, they can become powerful drivers of creativity and innovation, forcing entrepreneurs to develop unconventional solutions and smarter ways of building.
Justice also emphasizes the growing role of digital platforms in shaping modern entrepreneurial journeys. Social media, he explains, has become a powerful tool for founders to share their ideas, document progress and connect with communities that believe in their vision. Those connections can evolve into mentorship, partnerships, collaborations and even investment opportunities.
At its core, Justice believes entrepreneurship is rarely a solitary journey. It grows through relationships, shared values and communities that support and strengthen the vision.
Standing at the intersection of innovation, leadership and technology, Justice Mukaro represents a generation of African entrepreneurs who are not waiting for the future to arrive. They are building it.
And in his case, that future can be traced back to a small moment in a Masvingo boarding school. A stolen phone. A curious student. And a question that refused to disappear.
Sometimes the most powerful innovations begin with the simplest question of all.
Why not fix the problem?
