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Mark Kaigwa

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Mark Kaigwa
Born
Mark Kaigwa

(1988-01-18) 18 January 1988 (age 36)
Nairobi, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
Alma materStrathmore University
Occupation(s)Business Executive, Author
Known forDigital research
Marketing.
Notable workCo-Writer of Pamoja Mtaani
TitleCEO and Founder at Nendo

Mark Kaigwa (born 18 January 1988), is a Kenyan entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker.[1]

Kaigwa is the founder and CEO of Nendo, a Nairobi-based digital marketing company, he founded in 2013.[2][3] Born in Kenya, Kaigwa has been recognized to contribute on African digital innovation and technology. Kaigwa is a co-writer of Pamoja Mtaani, the first African video game, produced by Warner Bros. in 2007.[4] Through Nendo, Kaigwa is known to release annually the African social media trend report, the first was released in 2014.[5] Kaigwa is also a co-founder and partner at Afrinnovator, a digital media and analytics company. In 2013, Kaigwa was recognized among the 30 under 30 Best Young Entrepreneurs in Africa by Forbes.[6]

Early life

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Kaigwa was born on 18 January 1988 in Kenya. He pursued his university studies in Business and Information Technology at Strathmore University in Kenya.[7]

Career

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In 2007, Kaigwa co-wrote and consulted on Warner Bros. Interactive's first African video game, Pamoja Mtaani.[8] He worked as an animator and creative consultant for Warner Bros in 2008. From 2009 to 2010, Kaigwa served as a senior copywriter at Brainwave Communications Ltd. Between 2010 and 2013, Kaigwa was a partner at the African Digital Art Network, where he contributed to the research, writing, and curation of African animation.[9] In 2017, Kaigwa served as a mentor for XL Africa, an acceleration program launched by the World Bank, for five months. He is also the course director of Media Leaders Africa, a program owned by the BBC.[10]

Business career

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Kaigwa rose to prominence in Kenya's tech scene in 2009 when he founded GotIssuez, a consumer service startup that operated as an online suggestion box, enabling consumers to document their experiences online.[5]

Nendo

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Kaigwa is the founder and CEO of Nendo, a digital marketing company based in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded in 2013, Nendo supports ambitious leaders and teams in engaging Africa's connected audiences, covering over 20 African countries. Nendo's first social media Trend Report, released in 2014, monitored online social habits among Nairobi's tech-savvy community and predicted trends for 2015.[11][7]

In 2014, Kaigwa through Nendo, released the digital publication "A to Z of Kenyans on Twitter," offering insights into the Kenyan Twitter landscape by identifying key influencers and trends. This publication serves as a valuable resource for understanding social media dynamics in Kenya, particularly how Twitter is leveraged for communication and influence. The initiative underscores Nendo's dedication to digital research and highlights the increasing significance of social media in Kenya's digital ecosystem.[12]

Afrinnovator and African Digital Art

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Kaigwa is a co-founder and partner at Afrinnovator, a digital media and analytics company focused on business, economics, and investments in Africa.[13] He is also a partner at African Digital Art, an online network that serves as a leading resource for creative inspiration in animation, illustration, photography, and design from Africa.[14]

Social impact

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Kaigwa has provided insights into the use of social media during crises, notably recounting the Westgate shopping mall terrorist attack in 2013, where he analyzed how terrorists communicated via social media with government officials and the broader impact of smartphones and social media in Nairobi.[15] Kaigwa was one the 40 finalists from the African continent presented their creations at the 2013 DEMO Africa technological innovation. He proposed 9 tips to boost Africa's Tech Sector in 2014.[16][17]

In 2016, Kaigwa was a featured speaker at ISACA's first-ever Africa CACS Conference, which brought together professionals in governance, risk, and cybersecurity. At the event, he shared his insights on the digital landscape in Africa, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity and governance in the rapidly evolving tech environment. His participation in this conference underscores his role as a thought leader in the African technology sector.[18]

In June 2018, Kaigwa participated in a discussion on the impact of social media during the 2017 Kenyan general election, focusing on the rampant misinformation. Through Nendo, he developed the "Stop Verify Reflect" quiz to help combat fake news by teaching users how to identify it. Kaigwa emphasized the need for better measures by the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and advocated for improving media literacy.[19]

Other considerations

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Kaigwa has made animated movies and has been actively involved in curating African Digital Art. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to digital media, technology, and entrepreneurship in Africa. Kaigwa is a member of the Kenyan chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and an alumnus of its acceleration program. He also serves as a non-executive director of FinCredit Ltd, a Kenyan microcredit institution.[8][10]

Recognitions

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  • 2013: One of the 30 under 30 Best Young Entrepreneurs in Africa by Forbes.[9]
  • 2018: One of the Top 25 Men in Digital by DigiTalk Kenya.[20]
  • 2022: The 2nd runner-up in the Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK) SDG Pioneer awards.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Entrepreneur Mark Kaigwa: Investors need to keep a keen eye on Africa". www.thehabarinetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  2. ^ "Mark Kaigwa | Communications specialist from Nairobi – DW – 03/21/2014". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  3. ^ "Experts tip on social media, fake news". Monitor. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  4. ^ https://digital.lib.washington.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/8172b492-7808-478d-a01d-36cab9da4f2d/content
  5. ^ a b Mulupi, Dinfin (2014-05-22). "Mark Kaigwa carving a niche as Kenya's social media expert". How we made it in Africa. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  6. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "30 Under 30: Africa's Best Young Entrepreneurs". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ a b "Trends tracker". Business Daily - Top 40 Under 40. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  8. ^ a b Mark Kaigwa: Tracking digital trends in East Africa | Design Indaba. Retrieved 2024-08-24 – via www.designindaba.com.
  9. ^ a b Koba, Melchior. "Kenya: Mark Kaigwa helps companies engage with digital audiences". www.wearetech.africa (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  10. ^ a b Kaigwa, Mark W. (2013-12-13). "Kenya at 50: how social media has increased the pace of change". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  11. ^ "More than meets the eye: In conversation with Mark Kaigwa – eLearning Africa News". 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  12. ^ Murage, George (2014-10-07). "Mark Kaigwa Launches The Nendo A to Z of Kenyans On Twitter Publication". JUUCHINI. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  13. ^ kulundu, mary (2017-06-14). "Top 8 Under 30 millionaires in Kenya (2017)". Pulselive Kenya. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  14. ^ "The top 10 youth millionaire entrepreneurs in Kenya". 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  15. ^ "Interview with Mark Kaigwa | Explore Content | The Media Majlis". mediamajlis.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  16. ^ Ecofin, Agence. "Les 9 conseils de Mark Kaigwa pour booster le secteur africain des technologies en 2014". Agence Ecofin (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  17. ^ "Les 9 conseils de Mark Kaigwa pour booster le secteur africain des (...) - OSIRIS : Observatoire sur les Systèmes d'Information, les Réseaux et les Inforoutes au Sénégal". www.osiris.sn. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  18. ^ Jefwa, Baraka (2016-07-21). "ISACA's First-ever Africa CACS Conference features Techpreneur Mark Kaigwa". CIO Africa. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  19. ^ "Fighting Fake News on the Digital Frontier of Elections | IFES - The International Foundation for Electoral Systems". www.ifes.org. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  20. ^ "Summit to Explore Effects of Social Media on Business". ChimpReports. 2015-11-30. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  21. ^ Masuku, Andile (2017-06-01). "The Expat Founder Debate and a Busload of Accidental Hot Takes Feat. Mark Kaigwa". TechCabal. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
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