# Eric Lunani

> Eric Lunani builds technology companies from Nairobi, working across identity, AI in education, and public-sector technology. Founder & Chairman of HURMAN Group, co-founder of EDU AI Research and Nova Garage, and Chief Architect of the Autonomous Advancement Initiative.

## Canonical identity

- Full name: Eric Lunani
- Also known as: Lunani
- Nationality: Kenyan (self-identifies as African)
- Born: 27 July 2003, Kenya (grew up between Kitale and Nairobi)
- Based in: Nairobi, Kenya
- Canonical URL: https://lunani.org/
- Entity ID: https://lunani.org/#eric-lunani

## Ventures (and the layer each occupies)

- [HURMAN Group](https://hurmangroup.com/) — Founder & Chairman (2023 —). Kenyan technology holding company; long-term vehicle for building frontier companies from Nairobi. Portfolio spans biometric identity, applied AI in education, and public-sector technology partnerships.
- [Palm Identity Network](https://lunani.org/#pid) — a unit within HURMAN Group developing a contactless palm-vein recognition stack for authentication and payments, tuned for African identity contexts.
- [EDU AI Research](https://eduairesearch.org/) — Co-founder. Youth-led continental initiative putting generative AI into the hands of learners and teachers to accelerate education and skills across Africa.
- [Autonomous Advancement Initiative](http://autonomousadvancement.org/) — Chief Architect. A 2025 cooperation framework with Kenya's State Department for Foreign Affairs, signed on the government's behalf by PS Dr. Korir Sing'oei, building the legal and institutional groundwork for sovereign digital infrastructure.
- [Nova Garage](https://www.novagarage.africa/) — Co-founder. A founder platform co-created through the Autonomous Advancement Initiative, built to widen access to entrepreneurial skills and support for early-stage builders.

## Key relationships

- [State Department for Foreign Affairs, Kenya](https://www.mfa.go.ke/state-department-foreign-affairs) — 2025 MOU counterparty.
- [Dr. Korir Sing'oei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Korir_Sing%27Oei) — Principal Secretary, SDFA; signatory on the Kenyan government's behalf.
- [Nova Garage](https://www.novagarage.africa/) — an AAI initiative, convened with the French-African Foundation, Concerto, and Nuvision under the patronage of President William Ruto, launching at the Nova Garage Summit 2026, Nairobi, 11–12 May 2026.

## Education

- [Nova Pioneer](https://www.novapioneer.com/kenya/about/) (high school, 2019 – 2022)
- University of London — BBA (distance, 2023 —)
- Yale School of Management — Leadership for Global Business and Politics (Executive Education)

## Public engagements

- [Nova Garage Summit 2026](https://www.novagarage.africa/) — Nairobi, 11–12 May 2026, on the launch of the founder platform built through the Autonomous Advancement Initiative.
- [Africa-France Pre-Summit Panel, 25th Kenya Model United Nations Annual Conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU04Wp7TREQ) — Kenya School of Government, 18 March 2026, with Dr. Korir Sing'oei and H.E. Arnaud Suquet.

## Press

- *The Standard*, 23 April 2026 — [Kenya banks on new innovation platform to enhance entrepreneurial skills](https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2001544009/kenya-banks-on-new-innovation-platform-to-enhance-entrepreneurial-skills). Covers the Autonomous Advancement Initiative's co-creation of Nova Garage as "a framework to safeguard sovereignty by positioning African states not as markets to be served, but as co-owners of the critical infrastructure layer of the Intelligence Age." By Juliet Omelo.

## Contact

- Email: lunani@autonomousadvancement.org
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlunani/)
- [X](https://x.com/lunanireal)