Vitalis Mutwiri

Consumer investing app making curated investment portfolios ("Jams") accessible in KES, with direct M-Pesa integration.

• Leading development across backend and mobile: API architecture, database design, and delivery.
• Built REST API with Django Ninja on PostgreSQL; background and async workflows with Celery + Redis.
• Integrated M-Pesa for local-currency deposits; built referral/rewards system and real-time portfolio tracking dashboard.
• Shipping cross-platform mobile apps: Expo (Android) and Swift (iOS).

• Django 5
• Django Ninja
• PostgreSQL 16
• Celery + Redis
• Expo
• Swift

Marketplace connecting private vehicle owners directly with renters — replacing informal brokers with software-based trust.

• Building an AI-assisted identity verification pipeline: OCR of national IDs, driving licences and logbooks, automated tamper and liveness checks, risk scoring, and human-in-the-loop review of flagged cases.
• Designed photographic check-in/check-out evidence logging (condition, fuel, mileage) and a two-way review system to make disputes resolvable and reputation portable.
• Integrated M-Pesa STK push for merchant registration-fee collection.
• Owning architecture end-to-end: Django Ninja API, PostgreSQL, async processing with Celery + Redis, Next.js frontend.

• Django 5
• Django Ninja
• PostgreSQL 16
• Celery + Redis
• Next.js

Investment platform facilitating KSh 1M+ in transactions for digital infrastructure across Africa.

• Built secure payment processing pipeline with end-to-end transaction management, authentication, and investor dashboards.

• Django
• PostgreSQL

Learning platform bridging traditional education with career skills through adaptive paths and gamification.

• Designed full backend API with FastAPI including adaptive learning-path logic and progress tracking.
• Built real-time analytics and reporting dashboard for learners and instructors.

• FastAPI
• Next.js
• PostgreSQL
• AWS

HR platform grown from 500 to 3,000+ monthly visitors (500%+ growth).

• Owned full product end-to-end: backend API, frontend, deployment, and performance optimization.

• Astro
• React
• PostgreSQL

Multi-tenant SaaS job marketplace processing 2,000+ views and 300+ applications monthly.

• Built domain-based tenant isolation with per-tenant branding using Django views and templates.
• Implemented secure RESTful API with cursor pagination and role-based team collaboration.

• Django
• Django REST Framework
• PostgreSQL
• AWS S3

Conservancy donation platform with cause creation and integrated payment processing.

• Designed middleware architecture: Components → Services (API layer) → Webhooks → Components, decoupling UI from payment logic.
• Integrated TanStack Query for server state management, form validation, and optimistic UI updates.
• After establishing the architecture, used AI to accelerate page development across the platform.

• Next.js
• TanStack Query
• Webhooks

Talent marketplace connecting tech talent to opportunities across Africa.

• Built Django backend with talent profiles and matching logic; Next.js frontend with search and filtering.

• Django
• Next.js
• PostgreSQL

E-commerce platform with admin dashboard, checkout flow, and order tracking.

• Built scalable Node.js backend separating API layer from storefront; implemented full checkout with payment integration and order lifecycle.

• Next.js
• Node.js
• PostgreSQL

Event management platform for women in technology communities.

• Built REST API with FastAPI and React frontend handling authentication, event creation, and registration.

• FastAPI
• React

Education platform using 3D to help teachers prepare and deliver interactive lessons.

• Integrated 3D rendering for school concepts, enabling visual and interactive lesson delivery.

• React
• Three.js
• Node.js

Non-Profit Startup Studio — NGO, Fintech, Edtech, HR SaaS Platform, Co-working, Venture Fund & other projects — USA, Kenya & Tanzania

• Owned 7+ projects across fintech, edtech, HR, and recruitment — handling system design, API architecture, database design, and cloud deployment.
• Led architecture migration from WordPress to Astro (MPA) after evaluating SPA vs MPA trade-offs — eliminated recurring security vulnerabilities and reduced page load times.
• Improved performance, reliability, and scalability: scaled RootsAfrica from 100 to 1,100+ monthly visitors through technical SEO and performance optimization.
• Used AI tools (Claude) for architecture planning, debugging, and accelerating development velocity; collaborated closely with product, design, and business teams.

Investment & digital infrastructure company facilitating community-driven development across Africa

• Delivered 3 production applications: investment platform (KSh 1M+ transactions), event networking app (200+ attendees), and e-commerce storefront.
• Designed API-first architecture separating backend services from frontend, enabling independent scaling.
• Troubleshot production issues and shipped fixes rapidly across live, transaction-critical systems.

Annual cloud computing conference organized by the AWS community in Kenya

• Built official event website under tight deadlines.
• Contributed to event logistics and community engagement.

1,300+ hours — algorithms, data structures, full-stack development. 10+ projects in Ruby, Rails, JavaScript and React.

Presented research at the Council of Governors' conference. Built a data analysis project improving patient data management by 30%.