Gloria Mariwa

Gloria is a forward-thinking advocate, entrepreneur, and passionate builder at the intersection of sports, technology, and social impact. As the founder of 14thgunner and Wecheza, Gloria is shaping the future of women’s football by amplifying the voices and stories of female athletes while building communities that foster growth, inclusivity, and opportunity. Through Wecheza, she is dedicated to revolutionizing women’s football by merging it with cutting-edge technologies like Web3, metaverse experiences, and haptic technology, aiming to provide immersive fan engagement for the majority of fans who never step foot in a stadium.

Gloria is committed to making East Africa a key player in the global women’s football movement, believing that the region’s talent, market potential, and favorable conditions can transform it into a major hub for the sport. Her deep knowledge of the space—spanning over a decade of involvement—drives her determination to lead this change and create lasting impact. In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Gloria is the inaugural Kenya Ambassador for Her Game Too, helping to build the African network of this NGO advocating for gender equity in sports. As a Steering Committee member for Ashoka for Changemakers, she contributes her unique perspective as an African female athlete and advocate to the future of youth sports.

Currently taking a gap year to dive deeper into her passions, Gloria is excited about collaborating with like-minded innovators, exploring global perspectives, and honing her vision for a more inclusive and transformative future in sports and technology.