From Statistics Student to Tech Entrepreneur: Brian Wachira's Inspiring Journey of Passion and Perseverance

By Seliphar Machoni 

In the bustling city of Nairobi, where dreams and ambitions converge, a young man named Brian Wachira embarked on an extraordinary journey. Equipped with a BSc in Statistics, he defied convention and ventured into the world of technology, ultimately shaping his destiny by founding an exceptional IT company. 

This is the inspiring story of Brian Wachira - a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in the face of uncertainty.

Brian Wachira is a young man who has overcome all odds by creating his own employment instead of seeking it out. As a first-class graduate in BSc Statistics from the University of Nairobi, his passion for technology outweighed his degree.

According to Wachira, when he joined the University of Nairobi to pursue his dream course in BSc Statistics because of  his  love of mathematics, he had high hopes of getting employed at an established company after graduation.

"I had high hopes for my degree because I knew it was less congested than other courses and finding employment would not be difficult. While at university, I worked extra hard and earned first-class honors which raised my expectations even more about securing employment after campus life. Little did I know what awaited me outside campus," he said.

After graduating from university, like any other graduate looking for work opportunities, Wachira visited as many companies as possible where he thought that his services would be required.

"When I completed my degree program like any other fresh graduate with lots of plans for my future including settling down into permanent employment quickly since I believed in my skills set and knowledge base. However everything changed once I started applying for jobs; none were forthcoming despite sending numerous applications out there or visiting companies personally hoping they'd consider hiring me right away."

"In some instances they told me straight up that vacancies are limited or non-existent while others asked me to wait until existing employees retire before having another shot at being considered again! These events left me feeling disheartened about ever finding meaningful work opportunities available within this field."

After searching tirelessly for some time without success,Wachira decided to return back to pursuing what really caught fire inside him earlier on - Technology!

“I lost hope during job search process but then made up my mind towards end 2018 when i started Briwnet Web -my very own IT firm,” revealed Mr. Wachira

He went further explaining how things began taking shape when one day while working as math teacher in school during holidays found himself spending most free time inside a computer lab teaching himself computer skills which eventually led him building websites without formal training whatsoever!

"Back in 2016 while working as Math Teacher within certain school premises during the holiday season, I often spent the majority of my free hours inside the computer lab trying to  teach myself a few basic coding languages. One day the Pastor walked over asking if could assist create a website project needed done as soon as possible? Without hesitation I replied affirmatively agreeing to complete the task within two weeks maximum- even though I have never created such before!"

"I spent an entire week researching online materials before starting the development process itself took another week resulting in successful delivery upon completion,  client's satisfaction exceeded expectations!"

Wachira recounted that despite being fully prepared for the tech industry, he faced unfavorable market conditions and encountered numerous challenges.

"Starting a tech company was no easy feat. It involved obtaining starting capital which I had saved up, acquiring a license to be legalized by the government, and finding a suitable location for the  business. I spent significant amounts of money on acquiring licenses since operating without one is not permissible especially here in Nairobi. My  job targeted both local and online customers; however, building trust with online clients proved difficult as start-ups have to compete with established companies for space and customers. Negotiating amicably with clients also posed difficulties for me. Additionally, developing an online presence was challenging due to scam allegations that made it hard for people to believe in my  work," he narrated. 

Despite these obstacles as a beginner in the tech industry, Wachira did not give up but rather found strategies to overcome them so as to grow his business.

"I overcame my challenges by utilizing my excellent business skills and creating connections with stakeholders and other tech experts who helped me grow my business," he explained further adding "To retain my customers' trust I deliver quality work promptly."

In addition, Wachira built resilience while learning strong marketing skills which enabled him to create a robust marketing team aimed at promoting his brand's image positively. To combat scam allegations effectively, he developed AI Facebook and Twitter bots that aided many individuals from falling prey.

Accordingly, Wachira's company has branched out into different regions providing employment opportunities for young individuals.

"My company has more than three branches located across various parts of the country employing over 20 young people who handle numerous customers," he proudly stated.

Furthermore, through his company Wachira has been nominated severally such as "Tech Start-Up of the Year Under Five Years" at SOYA Awards 2023 along with building websites applications and  software like digital schools software and  cloud-based POS software used by various entities including seventeen schools and  thirty supermarkets respectively.

Wachira revealed taking IT related short courses equipped him with knowledge vital towards self-growth.

"As previously mentioned, I taught myself website, app and software development; to further enhance my skills and knowledge, I completed an online software engineering course and obtained a BSc in 2022. 

Additionally, I am currently pursuing cyber security studies online to stay up-to-date with the ever-evolving technology industry," he explained.

He encouraged young people seeking white-collar jobs or struggling with unemployment to pursue their passions and talents for professional advancement. 

"To those out there searching for employment without success, my sincere advice is to identify your interests and invest in them. Job opportunities are scarce as we live in a survival for  the fittest era. Create your own job by utilizing your natural abilities. Let your degree serve as a catalyst for thinking big,  with resilience, determination, and an open mind; you will succeed," he advised.

Wachira's journey serves as a powerful reminder that our degrees shouldn't be our sole reliance, and it's essential to have a Plan B in case our academic qualifications fall short. His story illustrates that we can explore alternative avenues to carve out our own niche and create employment opportunities in this highly competitive world.