KickStart International

Our Tools to end Poverty

MoneyMaker Max

A unique, high-quality, human powered treadle irrigation pump. Benefits include:

• Easy installation and operation with no tools required
• High flow rate – irrigates up to 2 acres of land per day
• Sprays 16 gallons/minute
• Pulls water from depths of up to 23 feet (7 meters)
• Maximum pumping height of 46 feet (14 meters)
• Weighs just 35lbs (16 kg)
• Durable, rust resistant, highly efficient with guaranteed quality

MoneyMaker Hip Pump

A unique, high-quality, human powered, hip operated irrigation pump. Benefits include:

• Easy installation and operation with no tools required
• High flow rate – irrigates up to 1.25 acres of land per day
• Sprays 10 gallons/minute
• Pulls water from depths of up to 23 feet (7 meters)
• Maximum pumping height of 46 feet (14 meters)
• Weights just 10 lbs (4.5 kg)
• Durable, rust resistant, highly efficient with guaranteed quality

Our Model

our-model

A leader in the appropriate design movement, KickStart develops and mass produces high quality irrigation tools that meet the needs of the poorest farmers in Africa. Our affordable and durable tools are sold through a private sector supply chain to ensure sustainability and promote the broader economic development of the markets in which we work. We promote and mass-market the pumps to farmers, partner companies, and organizations working with farmers in Africa to incorporate the life-changing technologies into their programs.

Read more about our strategy and plans going forward below:

KickStart Strategic Plan

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Ghana

Kenya

Malawi

Mali

Mozambique

Nigeria

Rwanda

South Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Angola

Innovations Hub

Kenya is home to KickStart’s Innovations Hub where we partner with other companies and organizations to develop and test new high-impact irrigation products and last-mile innovations that will enable millions of additional farmers to irrigate.

To overcome the “Last Mile Challenge”, KickStart has recognized that new, innovative products, marketing and distribution solutions are necessary, and we constantly develop new ways to market and promote our tools, especially among women, youth, and marginalized communities.

Product Innovations

KickStart continues to expand its MoneyMaker product line. Our Nairobi-based Product Intelligence and Development (PID) team is always refining and developing new technologies to meet the evolving needs of small-scale farmers.

Some of our new and upcoming products include:

THE STARTER PUMP

KickStart launched its newest and most affordable irrigation pump, the MoneyMaker Starter Pump, in November 2020. Starter Pumps are now available across Kenya and are planned for distribution across all KickStart's Hubs by the end of 2022.

SUBMERSIBLE SOLAR PUMP

KickStart's Product Intelligence and Development Team is designing a durable and low-cost submersible solar pump - targeted to launch in Kenya early 2023.

STARTER PUMP SPRINKLER

KickStart’s PID team is finalizing the prototyping and testing of the MoneyMaker Starter Pump Sprinkler, with a target to market launch in 2023. This tripod mounted impact sprinkler enables a farmer to irrigate a field without assistance from a second person holding and
directing the watering hose - decreasing overall labor time.

Farmer Friendly Financing

Despite the relatively low cost of KickStart’s pumps, they are still beyond the easy reach of many poor farmers. To meet this need, KickStart developed and is currently testing two farmer friendly financing options to increase access to MoneyMaker pumps for the poorest farming families.

MOBILE LAYAWAY

Mobile Layaway is a micro-savings service which enables a poor farmer to save to purchase a pump by making micro-payments toward pump ownership through their mobile phone. Mobile Layaway has enabled more women to save up to purchase pumps and also provided opportunities for pump adoption among a poorer segment of farmers.

RENT-TO-OWN

Rent-to-own offers farmers a micro-leasing option to acquire a pump up front with just a 30% down payment. These farmers then make payments on the pump as they use it to grow crops with a final balloon payment scheduled 5 months later, when farmers would have earned money from their first major harvest.