Kenya’s innovative venture, Koredo Koir has won $ 8,000 Avinger Impact Fund for the best invention during a ceremony that was held at Davidson College in North Carolina in USA.
The college, while acknowledging the startup company, recognized Victoria Anyango Ochieng and her co-founders for their captivating idea of transforming coconut husk into useful products in a bid to create jobs, reduce environmental pollution and contribute to local economy.
“From coconut waste to eco-innovation! Congratulations to Victoria Ochieng ’27 on winning $8,000 from the Avinger Impact Fund to grow Koredo Koir! This Davidson sophomore is transforming coconut husks into biodegradable mats and coco peat, a lightweight growing medium, creating sustainable income for Kenyan farmers while tackling environmental challenges. Victoria’s personal journey from a farming family in Western Kenya to entrepreneur shows how lived experience drives meaningful innovation,” announced Davidson’s College.
The company situated in Kwale in Kenya, is an agro-based rural industry dedicated to recycling coconut husk waste to produce cocopeat, biochar, door mats and coir fiber, aiming to prevent coconut husks from polluting environment, while providing farmers with soil enhancing solutions.
While receiving the award, Victoria, affirmed her tireless commitment in supporting her community through possible ways, most particularly farming, having been born in a farming family.
“My passion lies in ethically harnessing local resources to uplift both communities and the environment,” said Victoria.
“My mother and farmers like her are the reason I work in agriculture. With irregular rains and soil degradation, my mother is among millions of farmers struggling to produce enough to sustain their families,” she added.
The funds received will help the company thrive and step out of financial constraints that have backlashed its operations.
Victoria also noted that the company is looking for ventures in other East African countries while researching on available market for its products in UK and USA.
“We are also exploring new opportunities in other East African countries and conducting research on international markets, particularly targeting countries like the USA and UK, which are among the largest importers of coco peat and coir fiber,” remarked Victoria.
Also confirming the great news, Kevin Omondi, a co-founder, said that the company will use the Avinger funds to expand production unit which is underway and buy machinery to ensure continued operations. With the funding, Koredo Koir promised that their products will be refined, good in quality, aesthetic and durable.
The company was co-founded by Victoria, Kevin Omondi and Judith Owiny in Kwale, where coconut husks are readily available and were not utilized, hence bringing environmental risks.
Koredo Koir has been recognized both locally and internationally. It was placed 4th out of 40 applicants at the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, in Nairobi, won the Vijana na Agribiz 2022 Competition, the MbeleNaBiz Business Plan Competition, Global Engagement Summit Pitch Competition and became finalist in the Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition (Acceleration Track), where entrepreneurs were competing for $25,000.
