Jessica Francisca Colaço

Jessica Francisca Colaço is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Brave and iHub, Computer Scientist, Talent Strategist, Musician and Public Speaker. She is a TED fellow and Harambean born and based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is currently the first female in tech and music to release a music single (Momentum) on NFT in Kenya. Recently, she released her EP Metamorphosis in honour of her late mum (Mildred Colaco). She co-founded Brave (HR tech company) based the US and UK with Ibanga Umanah and Daniele Orner-Ginor. Brave (HR tech company) is a SaaS solution that integrates with existing HR vendors, and analyses whatever talent data is available in a company. She was the COO at Amitruck from Oct 2021 – June 2022. She helped the CEO to build a team of navy seals at senior level in readiness for growth. Amitruck is a digital logistics startup based in Kenya. Jessica is a dynamic speaker and has featured on global platforms talking about her work in technology and entrepreneurship. She has spoken at SWSX in 2014 and 2015. She has also given guest lectures at Harvard in 2017 and 2018. She is a Bass Guitarist and has played for various afro-fusion and rock bands in Nairobi. She is now working on creating her own EP as a solo musician . She co-founded the iHub with Erik Hersman in 2010. It was the first tech-hub in Kenya and East Africa. At iHub, she served in various leadership positions for 6 years such as Operations, Strategy, Partnerships, Research advisory, Sales and Business Development She is passionate about how ecosystems arise and evolve over time. She has built various communities in the last 10 years from developers, startups, corporates and investors. She is currently working on her book about the journey at iHub and how it all happened (The intentional serendipity of the tech ecosystem in Kenya). Over the last 7 years, I have held leadership positions in ISOC-Kenya Chapter and ACM-W Nairobi Chapter Chair. I was named one of the top 40 women under 40 years in Kenya’s business scene by Business Daily on 2009, 2011 and 2012 and became a TED fellow in 2009. As a Computer Scientist and Mobile Tech Evangelist, I have organized several Mobile Boot Camps in Kenya as well as the first Facebook Developer Garage in Kenya in 2008 with Leila Janah. My work has been featured by CNN Labs, Wired UK and other mainstream media.