From an early age, Clarisse had an affinity for technology and loved problem solving. It was during her Computer Engineering degree at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology that the nexus of these two passions would give birth to HeHe, launched out of an MIT-run incubation program she was privileged to be a part of in 2010 at the age of 22. 

Driven by the vision to digitize Africa’s supply chains to match demand and supply, HeHe which means where in Kinyarwanda enables businesses to reach their customers more efficiently by offering their products and services on demand. HeHe is now the largest e-commerce business in Rwanda, digitizing over 150 businesses, 60% of which are female-led and serving 2 million consumers while focusing on logistics and the last mile. 

HeHe launched a Research and Innovation lab in 2014 with an award-winning annual Fellowship intended to groom the next generation of problem solvers by exposing them to the realities of emerging technologies and their applications, through hands-on training in relevant technology fields, critical thinking and leadership skills, while inspiring them to be at the forefront of the continent’s development. Close to 500 young people have benefited from this program, 69% being female. 
For her work, Clarisse has won several accolades including Forbes 30 under 30 for 2015 and 2016. She was one of the “20 movers and shakers of Africa” named at the continent CEO Summit in 2012 and the following year Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda recognised her as one of the Imbuto Foundation’s “Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers”. In 2017 she was named as one of OkayAfrica’s 100 Women. Irabagiza sits on the African Development Bank’s Presidential Youth Advisory Group. On 24 September 2019 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development named her as an “eTrade for Women Advocate.”