KickStart
1849 Geary Blvd.
P.O. Box 15908
San Francisco, CA 94115
Telephone: 415-346-4820
Email: info@kickstart.org
This non-profit organization was founded by American engineers to help impoverished farmers in Africa with one purpose: to help a person make enough money to lift their family out of poverty. Their most famous product is the KickStart Super-MoneyMaker. It allows users to pump water with their feet. Their MoneyMaker Hip Pump is smaller. These water pumping products cost between $125 and $180 (U.S. Dollars) and almost always pay for themselves in one season. As of June 1, 2018, they have sold over 315,000 pumps, helped lift over 1,200,000 people out of poverty (one every 7 minutes), and created over 215,000 new businesses. On average, household income increases 400% annually.
Time Magazine and other major media have given them special recognition. Several new kinds of products are anticipated. Currently they are working with some partner companies to develop a new solar pump. Another program being tested is having various financing models, including making payments by cell phone in a rent-to-own program.
KickStart is working in 16 African countries from their East Africa hub in Kenya, Southern Africa hub in Zambia, and West African hub in Ghana. Their Technology Development Department is in Nairobi.
Much more information, including a fascinating video, is on the KickStart website.