Biography
Rob Burnet is chief executive Shujaaz Inc., a network of social ventures based in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam. Shujaaz uses AI, insight and data – gleaned from their network of 7.5 million 15-24-year-olds across East Africa – and multi-platform media to create social and economic value for millions of young people, as well as their corporate and development-focused clients.
Shujaaz’s team of 60 young East African researchers, creatives, strategists and producers design and run their network of social ventures:
The MESH is built on a decade of data and community engagement. This digital networking venture is designed to harness the power of AI and big data to unlock value for Africa’s informal sector micro-entrepreneurs. It is the first online community for entrepreneurs in the informal economy.
The HustlaMBA is a digital and real-world learning community designed to up-skill thousands of young ‘Hustlas’ working in the informal sector.
Shujaaz is East Africa’s biggest youth brand and it sits at the heart of the business. Today, multi-platform Shujaaz has 7.3 million comic book readers, 4.4 million social media followers and receives over 60,000 SMS messages every month. Reaching 56% of young Kenyans and 24% of young Tanzanians, Shujaaz is East Africa’s biggest youth brand and it sits at the heart of the business.
Together, Shujaaz and their corporate and NGO partners have driven tangible, data-focused impact and change.
Rob arrived in Kenya from Scotland by mistake 20 years ago.
Before founding Well Told Story in 2009 he worked on large scale public interest TV, he made grants for the Ford Foundation, he set up the Kenyan visual arts studios, Kuona Trust, and he worked as a professional musician.