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Key Highlights
- William Sachiti isn’t just building cool gadgets, he’s solving real-world issues.
- Sachiti proves Africans can lead in cutting-edge fields like AI and robotics.
- His journey is a masterclass in using diaspora privilege to build solutions back home.
Picture a young boy in Harare, Zimbabwe, dreaming under the shade of a tree, unaware that one day he’d transform those trees into Wi-Fi hubs for education. That boy is William Sachiti, a name now synonymous with innovation, driverless cars, and breaking barriers in tech.
As an African in America, you might wonder: Is Sachiti proof that Africans can rule the tech world, or is he a rare, one-in-a-million star?
Let’s dive into his story, explore his impact, and see how he fits into the broader narrative of African excellence in tech.
Who Is William Sachiti? A Tech Trailblazer from Zimbabwe
William Sachiti, born in 1984 in Harare, Zimbabwe, is a serial entrepreneur and inventor who’s rewriting the rules of tech. After moving to the UK at 17, he started his first company at 19, selling websites and domains through 123 Registration. 
By 2025, Sachiti’s Academy of Robotics is valued at over $100 million, making it the UK’s first Black-owned driverless car company. His flagship product, Kar-go, is Europe’s first street-legal self-driving delivery vehicle, competing with giants like Google and Tesla.
But Sachiti’s not just about cars. His “Trees of Knowledge” project, launched in 2020, turns rural landmarks into Wi-Fi hubs, providing free educational content to African children via smartphones. This open-source tech tackles patchy 3G, high data costs, and power shortages, empowering communities to build their solutions.
William Sachiti’s Tech Innovations: Changing the Game
Sachiti’s work spans artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and education. Here’s a closer look at his game-changing contributions:
1. Kar-go: Driverless Delivery Revolution
Kar-go, developed by the Academy of Robotics, is a self-driving delivery bot licensed for UK roads since 2020. It reduces last-mile delivery costs by up to 90%, a feat that caught the British Royal Air Force’s attention in 2021 for use on airbases.
Competing with Tesla and Google, Sachiti’s tech proves Africans can lead in cutting-edge fields like autonomous vehicles.
2. Trees of Knowledge: Education for All
In 2020, Sachiti unveiled “Trees of Knowledge,” an open-source technology that broadcasts educational content via Wi-Fi from micro-computers embedded in trees or landmarks.
With solar-powered charging stations, it’s a lifeline for rural African kids who walk hours to school. UNESCO’s 2020 report noted that 258 million children are out of school globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa hit hardest. Sachiti’s solution directly addresses this crisis.
3. Early Ventures: From Clever Bins to MyCityVenue
Sachiti’s entrepreneurial spirit shone early. At 19, he sold 123 Registration for a profit. His Clever Bins—solar-powered advertising bins—were mocked on BBC’s Dragons’ Den but licensed in 11 countries.
MyCityVenue, a digital concierge service, grew to 1.6 million users before being acquired in 2014. These wins funded his robotics ventures.
Is Sachiti Proof Africans Can Rule Tech?
Sachiti’s achievements are undeniable, but does he prove Africans can dominate tech, or is he an outlier? Let’s weigh both sides.
Yes, He’s Proof of African Potential
- Breaking Stereotypes: Sachiti challenges the narrative that tech innovation belongs to Asians or Europeans. As Forbes Africa noted, he’s “changing the world one innovation at a time,” showing Africans can lead in AI and robotics.
- Diaspora Impact: The African Union defines the diaspora as key to Africa’s development. Sachiti’s “Trees of Knowledge” and Kar-go embody this, using global resources to solve African and universal problems.
- Inspiring the Next Generation: His visibility—through TV appearances and industry panels—motivates young Africans. Posts on X call him “pure Zimbabwean talent,” reflecting pride in his global impact.
Or Is He a One-in-a-Million Star?
- Unique Circumstances: Sachiti’s privileged upbringing and UK education gave him a head start. Not every African has access to Aberystwyth University or £10,000 entrepreneurship prizes.
- Resource Gap: Africa has only 169 researchers per million people, compared to 4,107 in the UK, per the African Academy of Sciences. Systemic barriers like funding and infrastructure limit widespread success.
- Exceptional Drive: Sachiti’s relentless hustle—starting businesses at 19, rebounding from Dragons’ Den rejection—is rare. Most entrepreneurs don’t scale multiple startups to millions.
Our Take: Sachiti is both. He’s proof Africans can rule tech, showing what’s possible with talent and tenacity. But his outlier status highlights the need for systemic change—more funding, education, and infrastructure—to make his success the norm, not the exception.
Other Africans Shining in Tech: The Diaspora’s Rising Stars
Sachiti isn’t alone. Across the diaspora, Africans are making waves in tech. Here’s a list of standout innovators inspiring us in 2025:
- Ime Archibong (Nigeria/USA): Former VP at Meta, now a tech investor.
- Ory Okolloh (Kenya/USA): Co-founder of Ushahidi, Managing Director at Luminate.
- Anne-Marie Imafidon (Nigeria/UK): Founder of Stemettes, a nonprofit promoting women in STEM.
- Tatenda Mungofa (Zimbabwe/South Africa): Co-founder of Mureza Auto Company.
- Chika Esiobu (Nigeria/USA): AI researcher at Google DeepMind.
What Can We Learn from Sachiti’s Journey?
Sachiti’s story offers lessons for every African in America chasing tech dreams:
- Start Small, Dream Big: Sachiti began with a simple website business at 19. Your first step doesn’t need to be a billion-dollar startup—just start.
- Embrace Failure: Dragons’ Den called his idea “rubbish,” yet he licensed it globally. Rejection isn’t the end; it’s feedback.
- Solve Real Problems: From library robots to rural Wi-Fi, Sachiti’s tech addresses real needs. What problems in your community can you solve?
- Leverage the Diaspora: Sachiti used UK resources to impact Africa. You can bridge America’s opportunities with Africa’s needs.
Consider Nigeria’s Flutterwave, founded by Olugbenga Agboola. It processed $9 billion in transactions by 2023, connecting African businesses to global markets. Like Sachiti, Agboola used diaspora expertise to solve local problems.
Conclusion: Sachiti’s Legacy and Your Role
So, is Sachiti proof Africans can rule tech? Absolutely. Is he one-in-a-million? Maybe—but with your hustle, the next million could include you.
What’s your take? Have you been inspired by Sachiti or other African tech stars? Share your thoughts or favorite innovators in the comments!
