Wait, where’s the finish line?

So here we are at the last sprint for the Frontier Technology Livestreaming programme. We expected a finish line and it seems like instead we have a transporter to a whole new race… I think we like this. Kijenzi is a MUCH different company than we were 15 months ago when this all began. At the core, we are still the same. Our mission is still to democratise manufacturing. Our goal is still to manufacture global products locally, pioneering a distributed manufacturing network in Africa. But our focus on what we need to do to achieve that goal is so much sharper.

Let’s begin by recounting this last sprint. We had 2 big goals: (1) Define a clear go-to-market strategy for Kijenzi in the near future; and (2) Move the needle on getting Kijenzi investment-ready. So what did we learn?

• We figured out how to segment our overall service line into spare parts, mass customized products, and high volume production. We then dove deep into the spare parts service that we offer since it is the line with the greatest traction and data right now. Know anyone that repairs equipment and needs spare parts in East Africa? Call Kijenzi. Know any distributors of products in the region who would like to make service a strategic advantage? Call Kijenzi. Know any global brands in need of a local source for OEM quality spare parts in East Africa? Call Kijenzi.
• We have a clear idea of how we will proceed with our mass customization manufacturing service — expanding through one large customer’s geography and product lines, and we are piloting that with the making of prosthetics and orthotics with CURE International thanks to the support of Hope and healing.
• We have a clear idea of how we will proceed with our global device manufacturing service — building off of 1:1 relationships until we can develop a track record, and we are piloting that with Japanese innovator OUI Inc.
• Our biggest success is that we now have a very repeatable process for developing go-to-market strategy thanks to the lessons learned working with Brink. As we begin to implement the first of these strategies, look out on the socials to hear more about it or connect with us to talk in more detail as there is no way to fit it all in a Medium post.
• On the investment readiness front, we made a big decision to enlist an advisory service for that journey. The key learning was a look in the mirror to realize that developing that strategy was not our strength right now (ask us the strategy for implementing a network of distributed manufacturing facilities, ask us about 3D printing, ask us about optimizing product design and manufacturing flow). So rather than hire it in, we are reaching out. I think we will be in great hands for this journey.

I know that you are thinking, but wait, what is happening with my favorite soap opera characters. Well, you will never guess. Tom came back as a ghost and married Sarah’s sister, who is carrying Bill’s baby! Sorry, wrong blog. At Kijenzi we have expanded the team to 11 now, but with a few critical friends. Welcome Ijay and Hezron to the development team (Hezron is great at reaching high things and Ijay is bullish on women in tech). And there is a new Kijenzi baby on the way, but you will have to follow us on social media to get the details on that.

This last blog would not be complete without a huge and very heartfelt “thank you” to those that have run this race with us.

• First to the FCDO people. Andy Gartside has been and will continue to be a great resource for Kijenzi for all things African manufacturing. He has been the one behind this from the beginning. And also, thank you to Rasmos Ndubi who boosted us with his support from the start. We are excited by the possibilities as well for our work within AT2030 and FCDO’s Repair and Reuse project.
• For this project, our biggest thanks goes out to the day to day partners. Our partners at IMC Worldwide, Jenny Prosser and Sara Al Harfan, have been invaluable in keeping this project on track and giving us the feedback needed to have a results-driven frame of mind. As well our partners at Brink, Alex Losneanu and more recently Fraser Hamilton, who have been core to designing our experiments in FTL and as well in crafting our go-to-market strategy for spare parts. I can’t imagine where the project or Kijenzi would be without this partnership. Sending exciting emojis to everyone.
• Without sounding too awkward, we are saving the last thank you for ourselves. We worked hard throughout this FTL project, we were open to learning new things, we were willing to be wrong, and we worked to design experiments that lead to learning. Because of this work, the FTL program has been a success for what we do and how we do it.

One parting piece of “wisdom” as we cool down from this sprint. To all the other young organizations out there deciding the value of working with an agency like FCDO on a project like FTL: DO IT. Don’t do it for the money, do it for the learning. Don’t do it because you know what you are doing, do it because you want to learn how to do it better.