In this powerful episode of Power Talks, recorded live at Latitude59 in Nairobi, host Ssuna Ronald sits down with Shawn Maraya, the visionary CEO of SiteSeer. Discover how this trained architect is tackling one of Africa's most persistent problems: chronic construction delays that cost the continent a staggering $45 billion annually.
Shawn reveals how his company uses a simple hard hat-mounted camera to create a "digital twin" of construction sites, bringing much-needed transparency and data-driven decision-making to an industry ripe for disruption. We dive into his journey from architect to tech founder, the challenges of introducing innovation to "old money" sectors, and his bootstrapped path to managing over a million square meters of data.
Whether you're in construction, tech, investing, or just fascinated by African innovation, this conversation is a masterclass in identifying a massive problem and building a clever, human-centric solution.
(00:01:05) - The Big Idea: What is SiteSeer? The vision to revolutionize construction's three pillars.
(00:01:51) - The Simple Analogy: How SiteSeer works, explained using a "food delivery" model.
(00:02:19) - The Tech on Site: From hard hats to "Digital Twins" - how the magic happens.
(00:02:59) - The $45 Billion Problem: The shocking scale of delays and losses in African construction.
(00:05:10) - The Founder's Story: Why a young, geeky architect took on this giant industry.
(00:07:08) - Traction & The Future: Bootstrapping, a $1.2M fundraise, and expansion plans across Africa.
(00:08:45) - Parting Wisdom: Shawn's powerful advice for every entrepreneur: "Bet on yourself."
Power Talks is your front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business and technology in Africa. Host Ssuna Ronald brings you face-to-face with the most dynamic founders, investors, and ecosystem builders driving progress across the continent. From deep-dive interviews with startup founders to insights from top VCs and event coverage from hubs like Nairobi and Kigali, we unpack the big ideas, the bigger opportunities, and the game-changing conversations you need to hear.
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Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald
Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard
Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang
Powered By: Latitude 59
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