Juliana Rotich

About Juliana Rotich

Crisis mapping was still finding its voice when Juliana Rotich launched Ushahidi in Nairobi. The platform would become the tool that changed how the world responds to emergencies.

Juliana Rotich is a Kenyan information technology professional who saw a problem and built a solution. She co-founded Ushahidi, open-source software designed to collect and map information during crises. The platform emerged from real need, a response to the chaos of conflicting reports during Kenya's 2007 post-election violence.

But Ushahidi was only part of her vision for East Africa's tech future. In Nairobi, she co-founded iHub, a collective tech space that became the beating heart of Kenya's startup ecosystem. iHub transformed from an idea into a physical space where developers, designers and entrepreneurs could collaborate and build.

Her work caught the attention of the world's most prestigious platforms. She became a TED Senior Fellow, recognized for ideas worth spreading. The software she created spread across continents, used by organizations responding to earthquakes, floods and humanitarian crises globally.

Rotich's influence extended into the corridors of power. She became a member of Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board, helping shape the country's long-term development strategy. Her expertise in technology and innovation made her invaluable in conversations about Kenya's economic future.

Her leadership was sought beyond borders. She served as head of East Africa Country Cluster for BASF from May to December 2018, bringing her experience to one of the world's largest chemical companies. She was also appointed as a trustee of Bankinter Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Spain, a role that recognized her impact on innovation ecosystems.

Juliana Rotich's journey shows what happens when technology meets purpose. She didn't just build software; she built pathways for others to innovate. Today, Ushahidi continues mapping crises in real-time across the globe, and iHub remains a launchpad for East African tech talent.

Her legacy is written in the code and communities she created.