AI-Powered Platform Aims to Replace Outdated Panels and Surveys with Zero-Party Consumption Data
Rwazi’s Founding Vision
After eight years of navigating gaps in global consumer data, Joseph Rutakangwa founded Rwazi in 2021 alongside Eric Sewankambo to build a more effective solution.
- Legacy data tools lacked usable insights outside major Western economies.
- Key global markets—India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Turkey, and China—had virtually no actionable, real-time data.
Initial attempts to buy government or trade data revealed it was often outdated, fragmented, or entirely missing. Even expensive consumer reports proved inaccurate and unverifiable.
The Rwazi Approach
The breakthrough came from focusing on zero-party data: information voluntarily shared by consumers during their daily routines.
- Captured in real time using AI-powered validation tools.
- Avoids reliance on surveys or panels, which often carry bias and lag.
Rwazi’s system offers companies real-time visibility into consumption behavior, helping:
- Predict trends and shifts in consumer habits.
- Improve customer acquisition and loyalty strategies.
- Identify market opportunities across 190 countries.
Funding and Investor Support
Rwazi raised a $12 million Series A round led by Bonfire Ventures, with participation from Santa Barbara Ventures, Newfund, and Alumni Ventures.
- Bonfire also led Rwazi’s $4 million seed round in 2022.
- The Series A was intentionally selective, aimed at finding backers with deep domain knowledge.
Funds will be used to:
- Scale its AI co-pilot, helping clients make real-time decisions.
- Hire engineers to support infrastructure expansion.
- Continue global data collection efforts in support of evolving consumer intelligence needs.
Competitive Edge Over Legacy Firms
Rwazi directly challenges traditional market research giants like GFK and Ipsos, who rely heavily on modeled or inferred data.
- Rwazi differentiates through its proprietary data infrastructure, enabling both insight generation and actionable execution.
- Its clients include Coca-Cola, Pampers, Visa, and Nestlé, demonstrating strong enterprise adoption.
According to Rutakangwa, success in the consumer space now demands speed and foresight:
“Winning today means anticipating shifts, seeing around corners, and making confident moves before the competition even senses a change.”
