According to a 2022 African Tech Start-ups Funding report, only 14% of African Tech start-ups founders are women, which simply means that female tech start-up founders are simply not enough. However, the Diversity Dividend report revealed that of the 711 funded African tech start-ups between 2022 and 2023, 149 (21%) had a female co-founder and only 83 (11.7%) had a female CEO.

Unlike many women who have been brainwashed to believe that coding and technology is complicated and a job for men, Pearl Gakazi begs to differ.

“I don’t code but I innovate for those that can code’’ Pearl Gakazi says. Gakazi is the founder of Kolaborate, an online platform that connects creative professionals all over the region to global job opportunities.

What inspired you to start Kolaborate and why that particular name?

Believe it or not, for me it was purely how we can create more opportunities for everybody and democratise access to these opportunities. Kolaborate is derived from a Luganda word ‘Kola’ meaning work and collaborate. So, it translates to ‘’working collaboration’’.

What were you doing before Kolaborate?

I am a serial entrepreneur with a milk business called Karry Home. I also run a marketing agency called Prism, so Kolaborate is actually a result of the gaps I saw while doing agency work. Because agency work is projects based, you hire people and give them jobs and when the project ends they are jobless. So, I figured out how we create continuity by professionally skilling and connecting these youths to global opportunities in tech.

What makes Kolaborate stand out?

Kolaborate is the only specific platform in Uganda that is actively getting youth tech jobs abroad. We also have an academy where we skill and up skill youth in tech to get them to the global level. Being female led, it naturally comes with a gender lens including our office set up.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

One of the challenges we’ve faced is the misconception that women are incapable of certain things; we aren’t as easily trusted by employers. Therefore, when I get a job, I do it to the maximum perfection that anyone else would have ever done it. Most clients become my campaigners as a result. However, some still hold biases because of what they have been told or what they have experienced.

What sets you apart?

I am a very compassionate person who does every kind of work I come across with passion and intensity. I love to think I have been blessed with vitality, good energy, good health and a visionary mind-set. I use these aspects to empower other people, myself and family.

What has got you where you are?

Most things are wishful thinking if we don’t put them to work. If we all considered applying ourselves in different areas and align ourselves in those spaces, everybody can achieve. You might not be Elon Musk or the President of Uganda but your contribution to society should be felt.

In my case, I acknowledge that my personality might not be what everyone wants or runs with. However, if we look at individuality, everyone’s contribution is different and beneficial.

How can tech impact the world?

One thing that the world needs to learn from India or countries in Asia is the power of skilling. There is no way the government is going to create jobs for every citizen, but if we equip our youth in unbelievable level of tech, we can elevate the lives of citizens for the better.

Why are there few women in tech?

The tech industry can be intimidating at times. Also, as women we hold our own biases by thinking that those are jobs for men which is probably rooted in the societies we have grown in. The younger generation however has less stigma and we are doing as much as possible to get them to take on tech jobs by empowering them with the right skills.

What is your secret to success?

I represent hope, I feel like I embody “the I can do it’’ attitude and I love to think I am succeeding at it. I am not even a coder but I am in the business of tech. I have learnt how to monetise my entrepreneurship knowledge in tech, a field most women are scared to peep into. I urge everyone to use whatever skills they have to leverage opportunities.

More importantly,I understood the tech market; I hired the best people, built a strong team to create a platform and filled the gap with my skills and experience.

What do you think about gender in regards to tech?

Statically we have 200 years to catch up with men. It looks like every program is focusing on women, but men have gone ahead especially in the field of tech.

What is your superstar team like?

We have a team of 17 people with 70% being women. I believe we should be able to inspire more women to join the tech industry.

What would you tell a 17-year-old girl whose dream is to code?

Go for it! Anything is possible as long you are determined to go till the very end and finally, trust the process.