Ben Mukanirwa, Co-founder and CTO of Pikelo, exemplifies the resilience and perseverance needed to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. From his first steps into the business world at the age of 20, Ben Mukanirwa has faced failures, doubts, and setbacks. But what sets him apart is his unwavering determination to learn, grow, and pursue his passion for solving real-world problems through technology. His story is a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of following one’s intuition, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
Ben Mukanirwa’s entrepreneurial journey began when he was just 20 years old. While many of his friends thought he was making a risky decision, he remained focused on his goal. He knew he wanted to use technology to make a difference, and so, he launched his first business. However, the venture collapsed a few months later, marking the beginning of a series of challenges. Rather than being discouraged, Ben Mukanirwa saw this as a learning opportunity. It was during this time that he first encountered the word “resilience,” a concept that would become central to his journey.
Undeterred, Ben Mukanirwa launched his second startup. This time, he was hopeful that the lessons learned from his first attempt would lead to success. However, after celebrating the company’s first anniversary, the business shut down once again. The shame of failing twice weighed heavily on him, and for a moment, he considered giving up. But his girlfriend at the time reminded him of his tenacity, pointing out how hard he had worked to win her over. This reminder of his persistence reignited the spark that had initially driven Ben Mukanirwa into entrepreneurship.
As he reflected on his friends’ skepticism and his inability to fully articulate his vision, Ben Mukanirwa decided to take a break. He knew he needed to refine his skills before trying again. A friend advised him to learn more about managing a business, and with just a computer engineering degree in hand, he applied to the YALI program on the Business and Entrepreneurship track. This proved to be a turning point in Ben Mukanirwa’s life.
Moving to Nairobi for a month-long program, Ben Mukanirwa immersed himself in an environment filled with over 90 like-minded young Africans. Together, they learned everything from business ideation to crafting compelling investor pitches. The experience equipped him with the tools he needed to take on the world once more. Upon returning home, Ben Mukanirwa was filled with excitement and readiness, but reality soon hit—he was broke and had no savings to fund his next venture.
Despite the common narrative that starting a business with zero funds is possible, Ben Mukanirwa found it challenging. Faced with the need to support himself financially, he accepted a job offer from his father’s organization as an IT personnel. For the first time, Ben Mukanirwa became a full-time employee, which allowed him to gain valuable experience and save some money. However, his entrepreneurial spirit remained alive, always searching for the next opportunity to turn his dreams into reality.
That opportunity arrived unexpectedly while Ben Mukanirwa was scrolling through his Instagram feed. He stumbled upon MEST Africa, a year-long program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs build and pitch globally successful software startups. Intrigued, Ben Mukanirwa applied and was accepted. It was a bold move that required him to leave his full-time job—and his salary—behind. But Ben Mukanirwa knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to grow both personally and professionally.
Relocating to Accra, Ghana, for the program, Ben Mukanirwa joined 51 other high-caliber talents from 19 African countries. The experience proved transformative. Over the course of a year, Ben Mukanirwa learned, unlearned, and relearned critical concepts in business, software development, communication, and marketing. By the end of the program, he had not only grown as an individual but also evolved into a full-stack software entrepreneur.
During this time, Ben Mukanirwa and his team pitched their startup, Pikelo, receiving insightful feedback and securing seed investment. This marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Ben Mukanirwa, who had finally found the momentum he had been searching for. The MEST Africa experience had given him the tools, connections, and confidence he needed to take Pikelo to the next level.
Reflecting on his journey, Ben Mukanirwa is grateful for the lessons learned along the way. He acknowledges the judgment and skepticism he faced from some of his friends, but he embraced it. In fact, he believes that a little bit of “madness” is necessary to succeed as an entrepreneur. Ben Mukanirwa’s courage to follow his heart and intuition, even in the face of adversity, is what ultimately allowed him to overcome the odds.
Today, as Co-founder and CTO of Pikelo, Ben Mukanirwa stands as a symbol of resilience and innovation. His story is one of failures turned into stepping stones, and setbacks transformed into opportunities for growth. He never let his failures define him; instead, he used them as fuel to push forward, always keeping his eyes on the bigger picture.
Ben Mukanirwa’s journey is a powerful reminder to all aspiring entrepreneurs that success rarely comes without struggle. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from every experience. Most importantly, it requires the courage to keep going, even when the path is unclear. For Ben Mukanirwa, the challenges he faced were not roadblocks, but rather detours that led him to where he is today—a successful entrepreneur making a meaningful impact through technology.
Ben Mukanirwa’s story is not just about entrepreneurship; it’s about resilience, tenacity, and the belief that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
