Derrick Macharia, AI engineer and founder of Pawanax AI

NAIROBI, KENYA · WORKING ACROSS AFRICA

Derrick Macharia

AI Engineer. Systems Architect. Founder.

I turn AI ideas into software people can use. I founded Pawanax AI and Matawis AI, and bring hands-on engineering across healthcare, conversational agents, commerce and financial workflows.

Work with me directly for technical depth, or engage Pawanax AI when your project needs a coordinated team. Start with a focused advisory session, a workflow assessment or a build.

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GitHub · CowPeas
Software engineering since 2021BSc Information Technology · Kenyatta UniversityFounder · Pawanax AI & Matawis AI

WHAT YOU CAN HIRE ME FOR

Think it through.
Then build it.

AI advisory & architecture

Choose the right use case, review a vendor or codebase, design an agent workflow, and leave with a practical technical direction.

Hands-on engineering

Build AI applications, RAG systems, APIs and workflow automations that connect the tools your business already uses.

Fractional AI leadership

Set priorities, guide technical teams, review delivery and make AI decisions with a founder who also builds.

Python · JavaScript / TypeScript · React / Next.js · API design · PostgreSQL · Supabase / pgvector · RAG · LLM tool calling · multimodal workflows · evaluation design

SELECTED WORK

Engineering across
real-world problems.

Pawanax AI

Healthcare & conversational AI

Healthcare and WhatsApp workflows built around accessible conversations, clinical teams and human oversight.

Explore the product workflows
Testnet prototype

Conversational payments

WhatsApp wallet and stablecoin-send flows on Base Sepolia and Celo Sepolia, with transaction previews, separate user authorization and explorer-linked receipts.

Request a technical walkthrough
Pawaeye · local prototype

Security automation

Repository inspection, controlled security tests, patch suggestions and verification, with attention to permissions, provenance and auditable approvals.

Discuss security workflows
The Linked World

Research & scenario analysis

A published register of 240 forecast contracts spanning energy, inflation, trade, climate, geopolitics and technology, with timestamped hypotheses for future scoring.

Read the research

EXPERIENCE

A founder who
does the work.

December 2023–present

Pawanax AI

Founder, CEO & Lead AI Architect

Designs healthcare and WhatsApp AI systems, connects application and model workflows, and leads product experimentation and scientific collaboration.

April 2023–present

Matawis AI

Founder & AI Systems Architect

Architects specialist agent workflows for agricultural advice, commerce, finance, logistics and market intelligence.

April 2023–January 2025

Euro Exim Bank

Trade Finance Executive

Worked across international trade-finance processes, documentation, FX considerations and compliance-sensitive financial operations.

2021–present

Independent engineering

Software & AI Engineer

Builds full-stack applications, APIs, databases and AI experiments for independent and client-directed work.

EDUCATION, RESEARCH & RECOGNITION

Technical foundations.
A broader perspective.

Education

BSc Information Technology, Kenyatta University, completed. Computational neuroscience training through Neuromatch Academy in 2021.

Scientific collaboration

Biomedical AI concepts and research proposals developed with Dr. Fidelis Ndombera and malaria-focused scientific collaborators.

Explore the research

Pawanax recognition

Pawanax AI received the Best Health System in Kenya recognition at KEMRI’s Annual Scientific & Health Conference.

Recognition & milestones

ONE QUESTION IS ENOUGH TO START

What are you
trying to build?

Bring your idea, the workflow that slows you down, or the technical decision you need to make. Tell me your budget and we will find a sensible scope.

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