In 2016, a start-up debuted on the local scene with plans many would have thought to be overambitious. The firm which launched in Muhanga, aimed to grow to become the world’s most reliable and innovative instant logistics platform. At the time, the ambitions seemed too great for a firm that had little if any experience in the field with little known about the concept and model of operation. The firm is Zipline. The Rwandan Government took a chance on the firm that said it could provide instant access to blood supply, nationwide. Today, they are glad they did. In October this year, the company celebrated its fifth anniversary. On average, the company completes a delivery once every four minutes, marking the most commercial deliveries of any unnamed aircraft system (UAS) provider so far. In collaboration with the Rwandan government, Zipline revolutionized health care in Rwanda by targeting hard-to-reach areas. The startup has since built the first and only automated, on-demand delivery service to operate at multinational scale. Each distribution center handles 250 deliveries per day, which is nearly 2 tons of delivery capacity per week. To put that in context, over the past 5 years, the partnerships in Africa alone have led to the delivery of over 1 million vaccine doses and directly saved countless lives and with safety at the core of this unique delivery system. The company’s success has resulted in not only changing the delivery system in Rwanda but also providing employment for graduates in niche fields. Young graduates now have the chance to pursue careers related to their areas of interest without having to leave the country. The company has significantly expanded its footprint in Africa during the last few months, signing partnerships with the Cross River and Kaduna States in Nigeria and closing an agreement to double its presence in Ghana. What does this prove? That a local start-up with concepts never heard before emerging from a secondary city in Rwanda have a shot at the global market. The growth of the firm is proof that emerging firms are not limited to the local market and have a shot at the global market if their solutions are tailored to be relevant to a global market. Further, it is proof of the suitability of the local ecosystem to serve as proof of concept for global ideas.
