If there’s one constant in Kenya’s fast growing digital economy, it’s the deeply entrenched narrative that the informal sector is a problem to be formalized. But what if the entire premise is flawed? What if, instead of trying to replace its organic systems, we focused on complementing them?

In my latest Pure Digital Passion podcast episode, I sat down with Anuj Tanna, the Co-Founder and CEO of MESH, for a truly mind-expanding conversation that went far beyond the headlines. Anuj’s journey is a compelling story in itself — a “reverse journey” back to Kenya after university in Canada, driven by a passion for the innovation he saw happening in mobile money.

His time on the front lines at Telkom Kenya provided the foundational insights for MESH. He saw firsthand that the power users of mobile money were young entrepreneurs in the informal sector, but they needed more than just payments; they needed capital and savings. Yet, without a formal history, they were unbankable. This experience, coupled with the realization that trying to replace existing community behaviours with formal products was a losing battle, became the seed for MESH: a platform built to fuel the hustle economy, not “fix” it.

The Biggest Lever: Shifting Identity, Not Just Moving Capital

One of the most important points from our discussion was Anuj’s clarification on the role of identity. He argued that while there are many barriers for young entrepreneurs, the single biggest lever for income growth — the one that can be applied quickest and at scale — is a shift in identity.

When society’s script tells you success is a formal job you can’t get, it can be paralyzing. MESH is architected to change that internal narrative. From the moment a user signs up, the platform asks about their “hustle,” not their education. This creates a group identity, where users began calling themselves “MESHers,” creating a community where entrepreneurship is the norm, rather than the exception. The results are staggering: 78% of users start or improve a business within months of joining.

Architecting the “Jungle Gym” for Peer-to-Peer Learning

Anuj shared a core insight that drives their content strategy: “Young people want to learn, but they do not want to be taught.” Formal, top-down learning modules failed. What worked was a “jungle gym” model of peer-to-peer learning.

The most effective teacher, he explained, is another micro-entrepreneur who is just two steps ahead — someone who solved the exact problem you’re facing last month. This principle is so core that MESH’s content is guided by a simple rule: if it doesn’t put money in a user’s pocket tomorrow, it’s just eating their data bundles. The platform facilitates this through a mix of short-form reels, articles, and even “mini-series” that feel more like a practical role-play than a course.

Making Trust “Bankable” with a “Wraparound” Approach

How do you digitize trust in an economy that runs on it? Anuj explained that MESH is building a system to translate the abstract concept of “seriousness” — a user’s reputation and social capital — into a digital asset.

But the vision goes beyond creating an alternative credit score. He described a “wraparound experience” for financial inclusion. It’s a three-pronged strategy:

1. Get users credit-ready through financial literacy.
2. Pilot with fintechs and banks, using MESH data to enrich their existing lending criteria.
3. Provide post-loan support by connecting borrowers in community groups to share tips and ensure the credit is used productively — a digital scaling of the famous Kenyan chama movement.

The Next Frontier: A Personal AI Business Coach

Looking ahead, Anuj revealed that MESH is moving beyond content matching and into the realm of generative AI. The goal is to create a personalized business coach that can answer hyper-specific questions in local languages like Sheng and Swahili. He gave a powerful example: “I’m a peanut farmer in Kajiado and I’m looking to grow my income from 8,000 shillings…” This level of personalized, practical mentorship, supplemented by authentic peer connections, is where MESH sees its future impact.

My conversation with Anuj Tanna was eyeopening in what it takes to build a context-aware, impact-driven technology platform in markets like Kenya and Africa. It’s a powerful reminder that the future of economic growth in Kenya and Africa lies in understanding, respecting, and accelerating or enhancing the systems that people are already using to build their futures.

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