Biography
Innocent Farai Chikwanda is an entrepreneur and innovator dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance connectivity and productivity in African communities. Raised in Ruwa, Zimbabwe, Chikwanda was inspired by a family emphasis on impactful education, which led to a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Master’s studies in Intelligent Computing Systems at Ashesi University through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Chikwanda is the founder of two startups - Chariot Africa, focused on rural digital access, and 1village, specializing in event intelligence. Chikwanda is also an alumnus of UC Berkeley’s SCET and SkyDeck Pad-13 Incubator.
As a Rhodes Scholar, Chikwanda intends to pursue Advanced Computer Science and an MBA at Oxford University, aiming to contribute to Africa’s technological advancement.
Beyond technology, Chikwanda has served on the Melton Foundation Board (2022) and as President of the Zimbabwe Child Parliament (2018–2019), where he contributed to significant legislation, including the Marriage Bill of 2019, which outlawed child marriage. Chikwanda is also passionate about adventure, travel, puzzles, podcasting, debate, and, ever so often, mind sailing.