This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On Monday, Enda, Kenya's first high-performance shoemaker, announced its seed funding. The start-up secured an undisclosed amount from Umoja Rubber products and Mizizi Capital to fuel its international growth.
According to a statement from Enda, the investment will be used to fund production, distribution, and marketing of its sportswear business. This move is expected to help the shoemaker grow its product portfolio and expand its market.
“After years working with Kenyan athletes to design game-changing running shoes, we’re thrilled to now give more runners around the world a chance to run in them,” said Enda CEO Navalayo Osembo. “We know our shoes are excellent. We know they’re the most socially conscious running shoes available. Now we have the capital to get out and let the world know it.”
Enda currently has two shoe models: the Iten and the Lapatet, both of which have received stellar reviews. The shoemaker launched Iten in 2007 and later conducted a crowdfunding campaign to debut Lapatet in 2020.
“As a company focused on social impact, we wanted this seed round of investment to be Kenyan led,” said Osembo. “It took extra effort, but we think it’s worth it to make sure our investors are aligned with the long term vision of not just making great shoes, but driving development in Kenya.”
