Inside a modest creative studio in Nairobi, the atmosphere hums with quiet determination. A group of young innovators gathers around a camera setup, adjusting angles and fine-tuning sound. Behind the scenes, 28-year-old Phyian Karinge tweaks the lighting and offers steady encouragement to a nervous interviewee preparing to share their story.
This is not a commercial shoot or a school project, but a grassroots tech storytelling platform that has become a lifeline for Kenya’s rising innovators. In a tech ecosystem that still favours the privileged few, it amplifies voices that are too often left out of the narrative.
“I founded YoungTechiez three years ago as a passion project, and it has grown into a movement dedicated to telling authentic African technology stories, driven by a vision to inspire, inform, and transform,” Phyian says.
A product manager by profession, Phyian is a deeply reflective woman who once wondered what she would do differently if she were to die in two months.
A graduate of Business Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), she always knew her path would lead through the tech world, though it was not without challenges.
“When I left campus, it was very hard to find my footing in tech,” she recalls. “Everyone around me seemed to be doing software development or engineering. I did not feel called to code. I was looking for the ‘why’ behind the tech.”
That search led her to product management, a discipline focused on building the right solutions for the right people. It gave her direction, but also a sense of responsibility.
“Once I found my place, I began to think deeply about others who were still struggling to find theirs, especially those unaware of the many paths available in tech,” she explains.
That reflection stayed with her, and in time she quit her job to pursue her dreams. That sense of duty became the seed that grew into YoungTechiez. What finally pushed her to act was not a TED Talk or a conference but a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware.
“After I read that book, I wrote down everything I would do if I had two months left to live. And I decided I was going to do all of them.”
One of those things was creating a platform to amplify untold tech stories, not just polished success tales, but raw, honest journeys of young Africans building, failing, pivoting, and trying again.
There was no funding, no brand partnerships, and no team at the start. Just Phyian, an old phone, and a deep desire to create content that mattered.
“I was not chasing money or fame. In fact, I knew this would cost me time and resources I did not have. But I also knew someone out there needed these stories. I needed these stories,” she says.
Since its inception, the platform has featured dozens of innovators, engineers, founders, and dreamers from across Kenya and beyond. Some of the videos have racked up thousands of views, not because of viral marketing tricks, but because they hit a nerve.
“In Kenya, and Africa more broadly, many young people feel isolated in their tech journey. We are told to hustle, to build, to innovate, but no one talks about the loneliness, the rejections, the broke months, the imposter syndrome,” she says.
YoungTechiez does not shy away from that. Each episode is crafted not just to inform, but to connect on a human level.
From a waiter who taught himself to code and became a successful engineer to a woman who started out selling mtumba and now works in big tech, these are the stories that resonate, stories of grit, transformation and the power of belief.
For every like, share, or new subscriber, for her, the real victory comes in the form of direct messages from people who say, “Thank you, I thought I was the only one.”
“Tech is not just about coding or building apps, but it is about people. Understanding them, serving them, telling their stories. That is what I try to do, whether I am building a product or producing a video,” she notes.
Her dual life, a corporate techie by day and a community storyteller by night, has taught her the importance of balance, authenticity, and courage.
“Be brave to help someone who is in need, even when others are not doing it. Be brave enough to ask questions. Be brave to say no,” she says, quoting one of her personal mantras. “Courage is the virtue that supports all virtues.”
Africa’s tech scene is booming. But beneath the headlines about record-breaking funding rounds and unicorn dreams lies a quieter, harder reality.
“Most young innovators do not have access to capital, mentors, or even role models. The mainstream narrative can feel alienating. That is why we must tell stories that show the full spectrum – the struggles, doubts, wins, and everything in between,” she says.
She believes that by demystifying tech, more young Africans will see themselves as part of the future and not just as users of technology, but as shapers of it.
“We do not just need coders. We need tech thinkers, tech artists, tech communicators, tech farmers. Everyone has a role.”
With many challenges for tech-oriented women, she says her highest self is successful because she shows up resiliently, consistently, creatively, bravely, assertively, and above all as a person who can do hard things.
As the platform continues to grow, Phyian is beginning to attract collaborators and partners who believe in the platform’s purpose.
Looking ahead, she dreams of turning YoungTechiez into a space where young innovators can learn, collaborate, and feel seen. Her goal is to go share those inspiring stories across the continent.
She has already fulfilled the mission that set her on this journey, which is to live without regret. Her advice to a young girl who is tech-oriented but unsure of what comes next is to tap into both her feminine and masculine energies at work.
“Those two energies will play key roles in how you deliver your work. You will find few successful pessimists, so be keen on how you see things,” she says.
She adds that most things in life happen for you, so it is important to roll with the punches. Most importantly, try not to take things personally because most things are seldom personal. “Life is not short or long, it is instant. Do regular edits on your instant.”
