Tony O. Lawson
Rwazi, a market intelligence startup founded in Mauritius, has raised $12 million in a Series A round to expand its AI-powered consumer data platform focused on emerging markets.
The round was led by Bonfire Ventures, with participation from Newfund, Alumni Ventures, and Santa Barbara Venture Partners. This brings the company’s total funding to more than $16 million.
Founded by Joseph Rutakangwa and Eric Sewankambo while studying at the African Leadership University in Mauritius, Rwazi provides real-time, zero-party data from consumers across more than 40 countries. Its platform is designed to help global brands understand purchasing behavior in regions where traditional data sources are fragmented or outdated.
“Our mission is to deliver real-time consumer intelligence where traditional data is fragmented or outdated,” said Rutakangwa, who serves as CEO. “Global brands need to anticipate shifts in emerging markets before their competitors do.”
Rwazi relies on a network of local consumers, known as “mappers,” who use mobile devices to report product availability, pricing, and brand preferences from stores in their communities. The data is validated through an AI-powered system that helps companies track trends, measure brand performance, and improve go-to-market strategies.
The company’s clients include major corporations like Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Visa, who use the platform to monitor in-store performance and optimize distribution.
With this new round of funding, Rwazi plans to expand its engineering team, deepen its data collection efforts in current markets, and grow its presence in the United States and Europe. The company will also scale its proprietary AI co-pilot, which allows clients to generate insights and forecasts in real time.
“Rwazi is solving a critical problem for companies operating in emerging economies,” said Brett Queener, a partner at Bonfire Ventures. “They’re not just gathering data—they’re making it timely, local, and actionable at scale.”
Rwazi’s model—combining local knowledge with AI—positions it as a leader in the next wave of global consumer intelligence, helping companies better understand and serve the next billion customers.
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