Ben Mitchell, 2009 Byron Fellow and co-founder of the social enterprise start-up Baisikeli Ugunduzi, has recently launched a fundraising campaign on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo to support his company’s initial launch in Sub-Saharan Africa. Baisikeli Ugunduzi, which means ‘modern bicycle’ in Swahili, is launching their No Air, No Flat, No Problems campaign to grow investment in their revolutionary new product, the milele bicycle tube. The milele, or ‘forever’, tube is made of a durable foam that requires no air, will never become flat, and lasts at least five years.
The company, who won the prestigious New Venture Competition at Central Michigan University earlier this year, has been building its base of operations in the small town of Kitale, Kenya over the summer, and is now hoping to begin its outreach to the over 100 million Africans who depend on their bicycles to make a living every day.
- If the company raises $40,000, it will be able to supply thousands of customers in all of Trans-Nzoia county.
- With $70,000, it will bring tubes to the whole Rift Valley province.
- With $100,000, it will serve all of western Kenya. In addition, the start-up has a backer who will add $25,000 if the company reaches this level of support.
To donate, please visit Baisikeli Ugunduzi’s Indiegogo campaign in the above link or here.
Congrats, Ben, and keep up the great work!