About Vanhu Tech

Built in Africa. For Africa. And the world.

"Vanhu" means "people" in the Shona language, reflecting our core belief that people, not systems, not technology, not funding, drive real social impact.

The organisations doing the most innovative, community-rooted work in the world are right here in Africa, solving complex problems with deep local knowledge, limited resources, and remarkable results. They deserve a system that works for them.

Vanhu Tech is built in and for Africa. We launched in South Africa and are growing across the continent, not by expanding from a headquarters outward, but by partnering with local networks in each country and strengthening what they've already built.

We believe Africa shouldn't just benefit from global social impact efforts. It should lead them.

Someone holds their mobile phone to use the Vanhu Tech App

Who We Are

At Vanhu Tech, we are the architects of social impact transformation. We are building a Social Impact Ecosystem — a connected network that brings together locally-led organisations and the funders and investors who support them, with everything needed to make those partnerships work. By combining sophisticated technology with field-based human expertise, we create the conditions for lasting, locally-led change.

We are a social enterprise, registered as an NPC (nonprofit company) with PBO status in South Africa, which means every surplus we generate goes back into building the Ecosystem. We are not dependent on the grant-making system we are working to transform. Our revenue comes from service fees and our VT Solutions arm because we believe sustainability is what the sector needs more of, and we practise what we build.

Our Story

Vanhu Tech is built from lived experience across the social impact sector.

For three decades, our CEO and Co-founder, Cristianne Wendler, worked across Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America and North America as a funder, founder, organizer and evaluator. From each perspective, one pattern became clear: funding systems are inefficient, misaligned with local realities and overly complex for the organisations they are meant to support.

All too often she witnessed local organisations spend more time navigating administrative processes than delivering impact. Resources are delayed, duplicated or poorly structured. The result is frustration, inefficiency and reduced outcomes.

As Country Director for a large PEPFAR-funded program in South Africa, Cristianne designed and implemented a grant management system distributing approximately US$1.6 million annually to 40 community organisations, reaching more than 150,000 people each year. The experience demonstrated that direct, well-managed funding to smaller implementers can be efficient, accountable and high impact.

There is a better way, that is what Vanhu Tech is Building.

Meet the Founders

Our team brings 70+ years of experience in social impact, technology and financial systems to combine sector knowledge with practical solutions that work on the ground.

Christianne Wendler

Cristianne Wendler

Chief Executive Officer

Cristianne's Bio →
Takudzwa Mabande

Takudzwa Mabande

Chief Technology Officer

Takudzwa's Bio →
John Barton-Bridges

John Barton-Bridges

Chief Financial Officer

John's Bio →

Our Values and Beliefs

What we believe shapes everything we build.

■ Locally-led

The people closest to a challenge are best placed to lead the response to it. This is not a methodology. It is a foundational belief.

■ People first

Technology should serve people, not replace them. Human connection, trust, and relationships are what make lasting change possible.

■ Impact leads

Every decision we make is guided by the impact we are trying to create. Funding, technology, and structure all follow from that.

■ Collaboration over competition

We build with partners, not over them. Our continental scale comes from elevating existing network builders, not displacing them.

■ Sustainability

We are building for the long term — an organisation and an ecosystem designed to sustain themselves and keep serving the sector indefinitely.

Our Values

1.
Integrity

Ethical, honest and transparent in what we do and how we do it

2.
Innovation

Creative thinking and action to drive progress

3.
Inclusion

Creating equitable opportunity for anyone committed to social impact

4.
Accountability

Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes

John Barton-Bridges

John Barton-Bridges

Chief Financial Officer

John has more than 40 years of international professional experience, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of Shout It Now NPC, a South African non-profit company, where he also served on the board of directors. The company, a prime recipient of a five-year grant from CDC under PEPFAR, provided HIV prevention services and gender-based violence support to clients in South Africa. During John’s four-year tenure the company built sound financial systems and procedures utilizing bespoke IT solutions to produce excellent financial performance, growth, and stability. Prior to this, John’s experience was primarily in finance, management, strategy, and corporate governance with for-profit companies in the private sector. He has been employed in various types of companies, including; 10 years with International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) in Washington, DC (a global development finance institution and member of the World Bank group of companies, during which time John was seconded to the Development Bank of Southern Africa for three years where he was Head of the Private Sector Investment unit); a large multinational corporation; small private companies; and a family office in Africa. John holds an MBA from INSEAD, France, an MSc from Imperial College, University of London, and a BSc Engineering from the University of Cape Town.

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Christianne Wendler

Takudzwa Mabande

Chief Technology Officer

Takudzwa has a background in Computer Science, with a BSC in Business Computing at UCT (minor in Gaming Development) and an Honors Degree focused on Machine Learning. He has worked in various IT roles for over 15 years, starting off as a developer/IT support staff; going on to head various divisions in IT, including IT Operations, IT development and Cyber Security. Takudzwa has gained experience working with both in-house teams and consultants, working with the business to map out IT strategy and architecture. Takudzwa has been instrumental in leading the development and implementation teams for several key applications supporting HIV and gender-based violence prevention services including: SMART, an application enhancing client service delivery for Health Care Advisors, Nurses and Social Workers in mobile vehicle clinics; SNowI, a digital contact center focused on treatment adherence; iShout!, a mobile based application with a membership interface rewarding young women for healthy behavior; Chomi, a gender-based violence information and services WhatsApp Chatbot; and ShoutLink, an integrated service monitoring application, linking and tracking client service uptake across partners in public health.

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Christianne Wendler

Cristianne Wendler

Chief Executive Officer

Cristianne is a social entrepreneur and innovator with over 25 years of experience in health and social development, with an emphasis on youth development, HIV prevention, sexual reproductive health and gender-based violence. Cristianne has served as public health practitioner and development specialist in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America and North America. Her experience spans from the frontlines as a humanitarian relief worker in Haiti to a Country Director for a U.S. Government grant program funded by PEPFAR in South Africa. She has spent time in roles ranging from direct service delivery, program development and project evaluation through to roles in management, on boards and as a trustee. Cristianne has led the design and implementation of numerous tech-enabled initiatives, including a grant management system administering PEPFAR funding to community-based organizations and a data-free app for young women to provide a safe virtual community to support their health and wellness. She holds a Master of Public Health, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts certificate in African Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, United States. Cristianne also holds a professional qualification in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Cristianne is a passionate, strategic thinker and innovator who leverages her diverse education and experience to drive impact.

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