Policy can unlock Africa’s entrepreneurial potential – but only if it is grounded in evidence. That’s the mission of doctoral candidate Rafiki Murenzi, who is bringing advanced data science and engineering into the heart of entrepreneurship policy at Stellenbosch University’s Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship (AGCAE).
“We often talk about building entrepreneurial ecosystems, yet much of the available data is fragmented, uneven, or not decision-grade for local policy and action,” says Murenzi. “My PhD turns scattered indicators into timely, comparable evidence that entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors can use together.”
Murenzi is not new to the data world. With a Master’s in applied statistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, he began his career at the Rwanda Stock Exchange as a data and risk analyst before joining the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda as a statistician and data scientist.
His transition into entrepreneurship came in 2021 when he joined Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies East Africa, where he worked on ecosystem projects across Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. It was here he encountered a recurring problem: despite growing interest in entrepreneurship, data was fragmented, unreliable, or missing altogether.
His doctoral research uses Rwanda as a case study, with comparisons to Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa, but the ambition goes far beyond one country. At the centre of his project are four objectives: designing a national entrepreneurial data hub to collect, organise, and analyse ecosystem data; applying AI, machine learning, and statistical modelling to interpret both quantitative and qualitative data; facilitating data-driven dialogues between government (especially Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation), entrepreneurial support organisations (ESOs), and entrepreneurs; and identifying key indicators to track the strengths, weaknesses, and maturity of entrepreneurial ecosystems. This work is deeply embedded in practice. Rwanda’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Recalibration Project, led by MINICT, provides a real- world testbed for his research.
Murenzi’s PhD also builds on his involvement in major continental initiatives that are shaping entrepreneurship policy in Africa. He is co-developing the Africa Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index (AEEI): a benchmarking tool that compares conditions for entrepreneurship across countries. By highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, the AEEI helps entrepreneurs, ESOs, investors, and policymakers identify where ecosystems need the most support. The index is accessible through a dedicated platform, ensuring that insights translate into action.
Beyond Rwanda, Murenzi has worked on interconnected Data Hubs of Hubs across South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with ambitions to expand further. These hubs consolidate ecosystem data, connect ESOs, and give stakeholders a shared evidence base to collaborate on. “These projects are about building visibility and certainty,” Murenzi says. “If entrepreneurs and policymakers can see the real data, where the gaps and opportunities are, they can work together more effectively.”
Despite rich research, there’s still a gap in policy-ready tools especially in developing countries. Murenzi tackles this by building infrastructure that links entrepreneurs, ESOs, and policymakers through shared, comparable indicators. The data hub and the AEEI are not academic exercises; they are working infrastructures designed to serve real-world needs. For Murenzi, pursuing his PhD at Stellenbosch was a natural choice. The AGCAE’s focus on data-driven dialogues aligns with his professional journey, and Stellenbosch University’s global reputation offers the academic rigour to strengthen his research.
But beyond academia, this project reflects his identity: a data scientist and engineer committed to solving Africa’s entrepreneurship challenges through evidence-based solutions. “Since 2014, I have dedicated my work to research and data. Through my PhD I aim to translate this experience into a lasting contribution to the entrepreneurship field, building the data infrastructure and evidence base that ecosystems in Africa need to grow.” Rafiki Murenzi’s PhD is not just about policy. It’s about building the data foundations, from national data hubs to continental indexes that Africa’s policymakers and ecosystem actors need to thrive.
This article was originally published by the Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship (AGCAE), a key partner of Ecosystem.Build. The AGCAE contributes advanced research and tools that strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa, co-inspiring sustainable development through data and ecosystem building.
