The African continent stands on the precipice of an AI revolution, and at the forefront of this transformation is Kenya’s Esther Manthi, an AI advocate, problem solver, CEO and the founder of Brains for AI. Her story is not just about adopting AI, it’s about pioneering its development, ensuring that Africa becomes a global epicenter of AI ingenuity.
“Well, depending on the time of day, I’m either an AI advocate, a problem solver, a storyteller, a wife, or just a mom trying to convince a toddler that broccoli is, in fact, delicious,” she says.
But beyond the humor, her journey into artificial intelligence (AI) is profound. Unlike the stereotypical tech prodigy who grew up coding in a basement, Esther’s pathway to AI was driven by curiosity and a deep-seated belief that knowledge especially in tech should be accessible to all.
“I didn’t grow up coding in a basement or dreaming in Python (though that would’ve been cool),” she admits.
She had a profound commitment to democratizing AI education, a mission born from the realization that Africa was “missing out on this technological revolution simply because access to education and opportunities was uneven.”
“After spending years navigating the world of tech, I saw firsthand how much Africa was missing out on this technological revolution simply because access to education and opportunities was uneven. That realization became my turning point. I didn’t just want to sit on the sidelines; I wanted to change the narrative. That’s how Brains for AI was born—a movement to democratize AI education and ensure Africa isn’t just consuming AI but building it, innovating with it, and leading the conversation globally,” she recalls.
From Curiosity to Innovation
Esther’s fascination with AI wasn’t born from a single “aha!” moment but rather an insatiable curiosity about patterns and problem-solving.
“I wish I could say I had some dramatic AI origin story—like I built my own J.A.R.V.I.S. or was mentored by an AI guru in the mountains. But honestly, it started with one simple thing: questions.
“I’ve always been fascinated by patterns—why things happen the way they do, how data can tell a story, and what we can learn from it. AI felt like a superpower—one that could solve real-world problems, from healthcare to climate change to education,” she recalls.
With a background in software engineering, her transition into AI was organic. She saw AI as the natural evolution of technology and an opportunity to shape the future. Over time, her passion evolved from merely understanding AI to ensuring that underrepresented communities could access and leverage this technological revolution.
Subsequently, the evolution of her passion transcended mere comprehension to a fervent advocacy for inclusivity. This shift underscores her dedication to “equip an entire generation with the skills to build the future.”
The Financial Hustle Behind Brains for AI
Building a movement like Brains for AI required immense resilience, particularly in the realm of funding. “Ah, funding. The part of the story that’s less glamorous but oh-so-important. Let’s just say, if resilience were currency, I’d be a billionaire by now,” she quips.
“When I started Brains for AI, I bootstrapped, knocked on doors, applied for grants, and pitched my vision to anyone who would listen.”
“I was basically the AI version of a door-to-door salesperson, except instead of vacuum cleaners, I was selling the future,” she recalls.
Over time, organizations and visionary partners recognized the impact of her mission, securing Brains for AI crucial grants and strategic partnerships. Today, the initiative is expanding through diversified revenue streams, including training programs and corporate collaborations.
“The journey has been part hustle, part faith, and a whole lot of caffeine,” Esther admits.
A Nasdaq Milestone for Africa’s AI Education
As a member of the Nasdaq Milestone Makers Winter 2025 cohort, Esther sees this as a pivotal moment for Brains for AI. “Being part of Nasdaq’s Milestone Makers program is like being handed a golden ticket—except instead of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, I’m stepping into a world of scaling impact and financial sustainability.”
Esther’s vision for Brains for AI is more ambitious than ever. “Our vision is bold but clear: Brains for AI will be Africa’s leading AI education and innovation hub,” she asserts. To achieve this, her strategy revolves around:
- Expand by reaching more schools, universities, and underserved communities.
- Innovate by developing AI-powered learning tools to democratize AI education.
- Sustain through strategic partnerships, revenue models, and long-term funding solutions.
“We’re building sustainable programs that will train thousands (and eventually millions) in AI, data literacy, and emerging technologies. The goal isn’t just to teach AI, it’s to make Africa a global leader in AI innovation,” she says.
AI Projects with a Lasting Impact
Brains for AI has undertaken numerous impactful projects, from introducing AI education in classrooms to bridging the AI and data literacy gap in underserved communities. “Watching students go from ‘AI sounds scary’ to ‘I just trained a model’ has been beyond rewarding,” Esther shares. Her team is also developing AI-powered learning tools that promise to revolutionize education accessibility.
These include “bringing AI to the Classroom,” “building AI-Powered Learning Tools,” and “bridging the AI and Data Literacy Gap.” From these experiences, she learned that “impact takes time, but small wins compound,” and that “never underestimate the power of curiosity—especially in young learners.”
“The enthusiasm and creativity of young minds never cease to amaze me! We’re working on something exciting that’s going to make AI education more scalable and accessible. I can’t spill the details just yet, but trust me—you’ll want to stay tuned. Through partnerships, we’ve been making AI and data literacy more accessible to underserved communities, ensuring that more people can participate in the digital economy.” Esther says.
Running an AI initiative in Africa comes with its challenges. “Funding, scaling impact, convincing people that AI education is just as crucial as math or literacy—oh, and let’s not forget the occasional Wi-Fi failures in the middle of an important virtual pitch.” But the rewards are boundless.
“Watching our African learners and professionals go from AI consumers to AI creators is everything. Seeing them land scholarships, get jobs, and build AI solutions for local problems makes every struggle worthwhile,” she admits.
The Tech Stack Powering Brains for AI
Notably, Esther’s tech stack reflects her pragmatic approach to AI development. She relies on an arsenal of tools to drive innovation:
- Python – “The Swiss Army knife of AI. If AI were a language, Python would be its native tongue.”
- TensorFlow & PyTorch – “The dynamic duo of deep learning. PyTorch for flexibility, TensorFlow for production scalability.”
- Google Colab – “Because running models without turning my laptop into a space heater is a win.”
- JAX – “For when I want blazing-fast numerical computing (and to flex that I know JAX).”
- Hugging Face Transformers – “Because why build every model from scratch when you can stand on the shoulders of NLP giants?”
- Weights & Biases – “To track experiments like a pro and avoid the dreaded “Wait… which version of the model was this?” moment.”
- FastAPI – “If I need to spin up an AI-powered API faster than you can say “machine learning deployment.”
- Docker & Kubernetes – “Because real AI systems don’t just live in Jupyter Notebooks.”
- Notion & Slack – “To keep my scattered ideas somewhat organized.”
- ChatGPT – “Yes, I’m using AI to help build AI. No shame in that game. Basically, if a tool makes life easier and keeps me from having to debug at 2 AM, I’m all in.”
Esther observes key emerging trends in AI, particularly relevant to Africa’s development. She highlights the importance of AI for low-resource languages, aiming to bridge the existing language gap. Additionally, she sees personalized, adaptive learning through AI in education as a transformative force. Ethical AI development and bias mitigation are crucial to ensure AI benefits, rather than harms, African communities. Finally, she is enthusiastic about the potential of AI in climate technology, recognizing its role in addressing climate change challenges.
Africa’s AI Future: 10-15 Years from Now
Looking ahead, Esther envisions a future where Africa won’t just be catching up but leading.
“In 10-15 years, Africa won’t just be catching up—we’ll be leading. AI built in Africa, by Africans, for the world,” she predicts. “But to get there, we need:
- Mass AI literacy – “AI shouldn’t be a mystery.”
- Investment in homegrown AI talent – “We can’t keep losing our best minds to Silicon Valley.”
- Ethical AI development – “AI must serve our communities, not exploit them.”
- Policy and infrastructure – “Governments need to step up.”
“My role? Building the bridges—through education, innovation, and advocacy,” she states. “If I can help create an ecosystem where the next generation of African AI leaders thrive, then I’ll consider my mission a success.”
Esther’s journey is more than an individual success story; it’s the blueprint for Africa’s AI revolution. “Africa’s AI future is being written right now—and trust me, it’s a bestseller in the making,” she proudly declares. Her dedication to democratizing AI education and fostering innovation is crafting a narrative where Africa takes its rightful place as a global leader in the AI revolution.
