From Cambridge to Dar with Flavian

Today was about leveraging the resources from the US, and it was quite the adventure. My day began with meeting with Flavian, our newest board member…Tanzanian entrepreneurial extraordinaire whom you could say has been “collecting degrees”, in the midst of getting his MBA from MIT, got his MPA from Harvard, his electrical engineering degree from the University of Maryland, and his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Dar es Salaam.

I had a great time catching up with him, as my first encounter with him was a month ago when I presented at the Development Ventures Class about Global Cycle Solutions’ progress since the MIT 100K Business Plan Competition. And then I met with him to have coffee with him in Kendall Square, and then here I was, on the other side of the ocean, having coffee with him in Dar!

Anyways, after doing the usual small talk stuff, we got down to business, heading to the US Embassy. I couldn’t believe this place with its heightened security. Even with my US passport, I doubt I would have gotten in without Flavian, as apparently, we had to have an appointment to visit the US Embassy. I was a little bit sad by all these barriers to entry, as I expected the US Embassy to be a home for me away from home, but the important aspect I have to say is it’s definitely great to go to the US Embassy with someone who has worked there and is currently working there.

Flavian used to be the Manager of Information Technology Systems at the US Embassy, so we were soon met with smiling faces and welcoming hugs. I was able to meet with Fred Maeda, Commercial Assistant in the Political and Economic Section of the US Embassy, and it was fantastic, as despite my lack of materials (I wasn’t allowed to bring in any of my media to demonstrate our machine because of security), he asked if he might buy a machine himself and then he gave us a number of contacts with USAID and NGOs who might be able to help us. So, now, we have contacts to move forward!

Later that day, Flavian, as a proud alma mater, took me to the Engineering Department of the University of Dar es Salaam. This really helped me put things in perspective in seeing the future engineers of Tanzania hard at work, studying for their finals, and also, just to see the equipment and manufacturing capabilities at the university.

All in all, Flavian is a great contact to have, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the future.

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Jodie | Arusha, Tanzania