Kiara Nirghin grew up in Meyersdal, Alberton, with three older siblings. Her dad worked in business, and her mom stayed home. Today, Kiara is known worldwide as an AI expert, tech founder, and author.
Kiara became known in 2016 while in Grade 11. She won the Google Science Fair for creating a cheap, natural way to help soil keep water during droughts.
That win opened many doors. It showed that young people could solve big problems using smart ideas and simple tools.
A Health Crisis Sparked Her Curiosity
At age 13, Kiara was in hospital with bilharzia and bacterial meningitis. The pain was very strong, but it made her think about what her brain could achieve.
This led her to explore how everyday things work. She became curious about simple items, like diapers. Watching her sister change a baby’s diaper gave her an idea. She learned that superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can store liquid.
After researching, she found that SAPs used in farming were not biodegradable and were too expensive. She wanted a better, greener option.
Kiara began testing natural materials like orange peels and avocado oil. After five to six months of trials, she created a more eco-friendly and cheaper solution. That was the invention that won her the Google prize.
From Stanford to the Global Tech Scene
The science fair prize included a $50,000 scholarship (about R680,000 at the time). Kiara used the money to study Computer Science at Stanford University in the United States. She started in 2018 and later completed a Master’s degree focused on Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction in 2023.
While studying, she joined the Facebook Tech Sustainability Board for three years. Since 2019, she has also served on the Google Impact Fund Board, helping with tech ideas that can improve lives.
These roles helped her learn tech and leadership while working with big global companies.
Chima: Building Smart AI with Her Sister
In 2022, Kiara teamed up with her sister Nikhara Nirghin to start Chima, an AI company. Kiara is the Chief Technology Officer, and Nikhara is the Chief Executive Officer. The sisters are building AI tools for companies that want to improve their work in areas like sales, customer service, compliance, and operations.
Nikhara is a qualified actuary and has worked at Liberty, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs. Their company has already raised $5 million in funding from top investors like Y Combinator, Soma Capital, General Catalyst, and Elad Gil. The startup has also earned over $40 million in profit so far.
Their goal is to build AI that thinks like humans and helps businesses decide better.
Awards, Books, and Speaking on Big Stages
Kiara has received many honours. She was named one of Glamour Magazine’s College Women of the Year in 2019. She appeared in Time Magazine, The Guardian, and Forbes 30 Under 30 in the AI category.
In her second year at Stanford, she wrote a book called “Youth Revolution: Be The Change”, published by Penguin Random House.
She has also spoken at the United Nations and L’Oréal events, where she pushes for more girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).
Kiara’s Message to Young Minds
Kiara believes that science is not just for labs or textbooks. She says it can help people in real life, especially when mixed with care and purpose. Her story shows that with strong ideas and effort, young people can create big changes.
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Hi, I’m Amandeep Singh, a content writer at Ramnath Intercollage. I share updates on jobs, internships, and scholarships across South Africa using official and trusted sources. My aim is to make every post easy to read and helpful for anyone looking to apply.
