NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The young tech enthusiast and women’s empowerment activist is among the 30 Zimbabweans selected for the Washington Fellowship, part of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. She says this “life-changing opportunity that only comes once in your life” will help her accumulate enough knowledge to “become an improved version” of herself.

“Using the tools of emerging and new technologies, I think Zimbabwe can spur its own growth,” says Irene, who is co-founder and Community Manager of Hypercube Technology Hub.

The hub, which launched in September 2013, is an innovation space that aims to stimulate and support tech-based youth entrepreneurship.

In the past months, Hypercube has organized and hosted new and innovative programs, such as Startup Weekend, Startup Bus Africa and the Technovation Challenge, all of which help young entrepreneurs conceptualize and launch tech-based business ideas.

“With the way the world is moving, there is a need for continuous improvement and innovation, especially through technology,” she says.

During her time as a Washington Fellow, Irene will spend six weeks at Northwestern University in Evanston, Chicago, where she hopes “to learn a tremendous amount from the Farley Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Innovation and New Ventures Office.”