Africa-born, but active globally, Rwazi is an AI market intelligence platform that helps global brands access zero-party consumer data on who is buying what, for how much, from where, when, and why, to help them drive revenue and expand.
Founded in 2018, Rwazi has developed a mobile and web app that makes it easy for local consumers around the world to share valuable insights on their online and offline purchases, as well as product usage at home.
“Our AI platform enables companies to access analytics and insights directly from their target consumer demographic based on the brands they use, spending patterns, preferences, and motivations, among data points. This helps companies identify optimal sales channels and deliver hyper-local pricing, packaging, and messaging,” Rwazi founder Joseph Rutakangwa told Disrupt Africa.
“The objective was to create something that wasn’t just another data company, but a platform where insights into what people buy and why could come to life.”
Since its inception, originally as a Mauritius-based company, Rwazi has rapidly expanded its operations across Africa and three other continents.
“When Rwazi spotted a gap in the market, it wasn’t just about reaching untapped areas; it was about reinventing how consumer data could be collected and leveraged globally. Traditional methods weren’t cutting it, relying heavily on surveys or digital tracking that missed out on the nuanced, day-to-day decisions of consumers. That’s where we saw our opportunity: to bring a new level of precision and insight into consumer behavior everywhere,” Rutakangwa said.
“What sets Rwazi apart is our pioneering use of machine vision technology, coupled with our unique models and algorithms. We’ve developed a system capable of capturing, validating, verifying, and enriching zero-party consumer data in ways that were previously unimaginable. This innovative approach allows us to gather real-time insights directly from consumers, providing an unparalleled depth of market intelligence.”
Funded by investors including Bonfire Ventures, Newfund, Alumni Ventures, and Techstars, uptake of Rwazi has been strong. The startup’s AI processes millions of data points each month, covering an expansive range of 840 million products across 67 countries.
“This capability allows us to uncover trends and enable brands to deliver hyper-localised pricing, packaging, and messaging, resonating with specific consumer segments. Furthermore, our insights help brands identify and leverage the most impactful sales channels to drive growth, making our platform an indispensable tool in today’s dynamic market environment,” said Rutakangwa.
The uptake of Rwazi has come at a critical juncture in the market landscape, he said, with consumer trends shifting more frequently and dramatically than ever before, and brands finding themselves at a crossroads.
“Those not leveraging zero-party consumer data are witnessing a significant erosion of their market share and are embroiled in heavy competition. This scenario has been evolving since the turn of the century, but recent years, especially post-COVID, have seen these shifts accelerate. Disruptions in the supply chain, inflation, and stagnating earnings are pushing consumer preferences and behaviors to evolve more rapidly, compelling brands to seek real-time insights to stay ahead,” said Rutakangwa.
“The growing demand for our services is a testament to the changing tide in consumer market intelligence. As brands grapple with the need to adapt quickly to shifting consumer trends, the depth, breadth, and speed of insights provided by Rwazi are not just advantageous but essential. Our ability to offer real-time, ground-level insights ensures that businesses are not merely reacting to market changes after the fact but are staying one step ahead, ready to meet the evolving needs and preferences of their customers.”
Rwazi’s revenue model is straightforward – it offers annual subscriptions to companies seeking access to the zero-party consumer data and the deep insights its platform provides.
“This subscription-based model ensures a steady stream of revenue while allowing us to continuously invest in enhancing our technology,” said Rutakangwa.
While specific figures on revenue and profits are “proprietary”, he says Rwazi is on a strong growth trajectory.
“The demand for our unique blend of real-time, ground-level consumer insights is rising, reflecting in our growing subscriber base and increasing interest across various industries. Our focus on delivering actionable insights through a user-friendly platform has proven to be highly valuable to brands looking to stay ahead in rapidly changing markets,” he said.
