Kenyan running shoe company Enda has raised $1.1 million in a recent Series A funding round led by US impact investor Talanton with participation from several Kenyan angel impact investors. The startup plans to use the funding to expand its product lines and distribution, gearing towards being a top high-performance shoe brand.
First launched in 2016, Enda is helping the world Run Kenyan while giving back to the local communities. In November 2019, the startup raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding from Umoja Rubber Products and Mizizi Capital to accelerate its international growth, fund its production, distribution, and marketing. Between 2019 and the present, Enda has expanded from two shoe lines, Iten and Lapatet to add a third one, the Koobi Fora.
“We’ve been working hard to fulfill orders as thousands of people around the world are discovering our shoes. It is an exciting time for our company,” says co-founder and CEO Navalayo Osembo. “This is our moment to invest in further growth and help even more people “Run Kenyan” in 2022.”
The recent funding round will help Enda invest further in its growth, and reach more people. According to media reports, Enda is looking to partner with EABL to create a locally sourced running inspired sneaker code named “Mwanzo” which will 80% sourced from Kenya.
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