In 2007, Jim Elsworth established a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania called Twende (Swahili for “let’s go”) to identify local needs & engineer new technology solutions, empower entrepreneurs, offer business support, and encourage local innovation. Then in 2012, Bernard Kiwia began running trainings on design and innovation through an organization called AISE! (Swahili for “Wow!”) which stands for ‘Accelerating Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship’ in Arusha. AISE! was focused on running creative-capacity building workshops, offering mentorship and advising to aspiring innovators, and continuing to invent his own life-improving products.

Twende and AISE! collaborated on a series of programs, culminating in the International Development Design Summit in 2014. IDDS Tanzania brought together 46 participants from 21 different countries to learn about the design process and apply it to create technologies in four rural communities in northern Tanzania. In only four weeks, the teams came up with eight prototypes and showcased them at the annual Nane Nane agricultural fair in Arusha. There was clear overlap between AISE! and Twende. Hence, in 2015, Bernard & Jim joined forces to work together to empower Tanzanians to design, develop, and disseminate life-improving technology solutions to the challenges they and their communities face.