Theory of Change

If we can provide start-up capital to invest in Tissue cultured bamboo plants, train and hire locals to harvest the bamboo, turn it into charcoal, and sell it on the local markets, then the villages and families will have a sustainable source of income, a more sustainable fuel source, and better environmental and physical health. Thus, we seek to help bring the African people out of poverty through a new business venture which will ultimately become sustainable and locally owned and operated.

Target Market

Initially, Bamboo Sur will target the average consumer. This market has a couple of different subsections we will target: the consumer who currently uses wood and/or charcoal made from wood as fuel; and, the local cattle farmer, because the venture will provide the famer with resources (i.e. the bamboo charcoal) to raise healthier and meatier cows, which in turn produce more milk to sell.

Thus, the venture seeks to target the local consumer who currently engages in illegal practices of cutting down trees for fuel and those who raise cattle, in order to scale the production of bamboo and the transformation of bamboo into charcoal.

Competition

Bamboo Sur will be competing first with traditional modes of energy production- things like firewood, and charcoal made from trees. However, these traditional methods contribute quite significantly to the massive deforestation practices, and are officially legal within Many African countries. Bamboo Sur offers several new attributes to the market: creates income sources for entrepreneurial rural poor; opportunities for everybody to enter the bamboo market while simultaneously making charcoal; opportunities for improved cattle health; cleaner and renewable fuel/biomass; healthier families; sustainable production; faster growth and replanting is unnecessary.