BBOXX through to the final of the French Global Social Venture Competition

BBOXX was part of the ten businesses selected out of 110 applications to participate to the final of the Global Social Venture Competition in Paris on the 1st of February 2011. This competition aims at redefining profit, business and success. Companies have to show high social and financial return in their business model. BBOXX received positive feedback from the judges and hopes to secure a place to the European final in London in March.

An original advertising method

BBOXX’s Rwandan Director of Distribution and Sales, Olivier Udahemuka, undertook an analysis on the marketing and sales techniques that are most suited for the Rwandan market. His conclusion was that a jeep, a renowned DJ, a powerful sound system, a wireless microphone and an army of salesman were the ingredients required to raise awareness of our products in East Africa. 

BBOXX's jeep and sound system are key to advertise our products around the country.

During three days he drove around the most popular markets around Rwanda to advertise and sell our solar kit. Olivier came back exhausted but confident about the mass market appeal of our products in Rwanda and said: “I felt more like a preacher than a salesman.  We were shaving people on the hood of the car to demonstrate the different ways of using our product, it was hectic!! ”.

Olivier "preaching" about the benefits and characteristics of our box.

A young boy being shaved witht he power of the BB5 on the hood of the jeep.

BBOXX is attracting international media attention

A Belgian journalist came to Kigali to make a documentary about BBOXX for some French and Belgian TV companies.  The film takes us from our start with e.quinox and our first Energy Kiosk, going through to our assembly line in Kigali and our first portable and affordable solar powered kit. BBOXX’s visionary and innovative bottom-up design approach towards solving energy problems in developing countries will be at the centre of the documentary. 

We will keep you posted with the viewing dates!