Zimbabwean technology entrepreneur and AI specialist Cee Jay Besa has launched Shamwari.io, an artificial intelligence transformation platform aimed at helping African businesses embrace AI while training 100 million leaders and professionals across Africa and beyond by 2030.

Launched in August 2026, Shamwari.io brings together a growing ecosystem of business executives, entrepreneurs and professionals, including doctors and lawyers, around the practical application of artificial intelligence in business and professional life.

But Besa says the platform represents something bigger than simply teaching people how to use the latest technology.

His ambition is to help Africa move from being a consumer of AI developed elsewhere to becoming a continent that builds, owns and shapes the technologies driving the future.

“I left Zimbabwe for the United States in 1999 to study Computer Science and later spent years working in software engineering and AI,” Besa said.

“That journey showed me that Africans do not lack talent. We often lack early access, infrastructure and the belief that we can build, not just buy.”

The rapid global rise of artificial intelligence, according to Besa, presents Africa with a defining opportunity but also a risk.

“If Africa only consumes AI built elsewhere, we will pay for technology designed around other people’s data, cultures and priorities,” he said. “Shamwari.io was created to change that by putting practical AI tools, education and opportunities directly into African hands.”

Shamwari.io is designed as an AI transformation and workforce platform for African businesses, helping organisations identify areas where they may be losing time, money and customers while introducing AI-powered solutions to improve their operations.

Besa describes the platform as an “AI business operating system” or “a smart team in your pocket.”

The platform comes at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly changing the way companies operate, while many small and medium-sized businesses remain uncertain about how to adopt the technology.

Besa believes one of the biggest changes brought about by AI is that capabilities once available only to major corporations are becoming accessible to smaller businesses.

“Previously, building intelligent business systems required developers, consultants and a large budget,” he said.

“Today, a leader can use Shamwari.io to create AI assistants trained on their business, respond to customers, capture leads, automate follow-up, schedule appointments and analyse business information.”

He said this could level the playing field for entrepreneurs and businesses across the continent.

“These are capabilities that were once reserved for large corporations. Now, a smaller business in Harare, Bulawayo, Nairobi or Gaborone can access them too. That completely changes who gets to compete.”

However, Besa warned that adopting AI is not simply about purchasing new software or adding artificial intelligence to an organisation’s list of technologies.

“AI readiness is not buying the latest software and telling everyone, ‘We use AI now,’” he said.

According to Besa, businesses need to understand their weaknesses, organise their processes and prepare their teams before implementing AI solutions.

“If your business is disorganised, adding AI can simply automate the confusion,” he said. “Very advanced chaos is still chaos.”