What Kijenzi does

Kijenzi operates a distributed, 3D-printing-based manufacturing-as-a-service platform that produces spare parts, therapy tools, and agricultural components for healthcare institutions and public-good organizations, principally in low-resource settings. The company runs centralized engineering design paired with a network of localized manufacturing hubs, asserting it digitizes approximately 99% of the supply chain to deliver critical, hard-to-source items at lower cost and shorter lead time than conventional import-dependent procurement. Its first hub opened in Kisumu, Kenya in January 2019 to serve western-Kenya healthcare facilities, and the company maintains co-ordination presence in State College, PA and Houghton, MI in the United States.

The product catalog contains 35 designed parts spanning three categories: 22 medical equipment spare parts (e.g., microscope aperture knobs, incubator hinges, oxygen flow meter knobs, nebulizer tubing connectors), 11 therapy and education products (e.g., ADL boards, assistive toothbrush holders, goniometers, finger braces), and 2 agricultural products (Urea DAP scoop, well cap). Customers can order from this catalog or commission custom parts, with the engineering team collaborating on design before routing production to the nearest hub. The platform is sales-led via direct outreach, phone, and email.

Kijenzi is a privately held, for-profit company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kisumu, Kenya. It has raised a pre-seed convertible debt from Ben Franklin Technology Partners (October 2019), $150,000 from Villgro Kenya (May 2020), and has participated in Project Ninja and Innovate Now accelerator cohorts. Co-founders John Gershenson (research and funding operations, Penn State faculty director of Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship) and Ben Savonen (Kenya operations, PhD in Mechanical Engineering with eight years in East Africa) lead an 8-person team across engineering, R&D, customer care, and hub management.

Name

Kijenzi

Legal name

Kijenzi

Website

https://kijenzi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kijenzi provides distributed, 3D-printing-based manufacturing of medical equipment spare parts, therapy/education products, and agricultural items for healthcare institutions and public-good organizations, primarily in low-resource settings across Kenya and the United States. The company runs centralized engineering paired with local manufacturing hubs to bypass conventional import supply chains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Distributed 3D Printing Manufacturing

akta.pro primary industry

3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH)

Keywords

• 3D printing services
• Distributed manufacturing
• Medical spare parts
• Digital supply chain
• Custom manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kisumu

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Catalog): Sale of pre-designed spare parts and products from the company's ever-growing catalog, including medical equipment spare parts, therapy/education tools, and agricultural products.
2. Custom Manufacturing Services: Collaborative engineering and manufacturing of custom parts and products tailored to specific customer needs, working with the customer's design team to create unique solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Kijenzi uses 3D printing technology and a worldwide engineering team to deliver localized, distributed manufacturing of spare parts, custom products, and therapy/education tools at a fraction of typical supply chain costs. Customers can either order from an existing catalog of medical equipment spare parts, therapy/education tools, and agricultural products, or collaborate with Kijenzi engineers on custom-designed solutions, with production carried out at local manufacturing hubs near the customer.

Product overview

Kijenzi offers a localized, distributed manufacturing-as-a-service platform for institutions serving the public good. The platform combines centralized engineering with a network of local manufacturing hubs to digitize 99% of the supply chain, using 3D printing technology to manufacture parts at a fraction of typical supply chain costs. Their product portfolio spans three main categories: (1) Medical Equipment Spare Parts — 22 products including secretion bottle nozzles, microscope adjustment knobs, centrifuge hinges, incubator components, oxygen equipment connectors, and various tubing couplers for devices like blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters; (2) Therapy and Education Products — 11 products including ADL boards, assistive devices (match striker, toothbrush holder, pencil gripper), assessment tools (goniometer), and occupational therapy devices (pegboards, shape puzzles, texture boards, braces); and (3) Agriculture Products — 2 products including a Urea DAP scoop and well cap. Customers can order from the existing catalog or collaborate with engineers to design custom solutions. Products are manufactured locally at facilities near customers to shorten wait times and lower costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 4L Secretion Bottle Nozzle A medical spare part that allows tubing to be connected to the lid of a 4-liter secretion bottle, serving as a replacement when the original nozzle is broken or damaged, intended for healthcare institutions using suction and secretion equipment.
• Aperture Adjustment Knob A microscope spare part used to move the microscope stage up and down to bring a specimen into focus, replacing a damaged aperture adjustment knob for laboratory and clinical microscopy applications.
• Bed Net Connector A part used to connect the frame of a bed net together, serving as a replacement for a broken or missing bed net connector in healthcare and community settings.
• Blood Pressure Cuff Tubing Coupler A spare part used to connect a blood pressure cuff to its tube, fixing a blood pressure cuff with a loose connection in clinical settings.
• Centrifuge Hinge A spare part that attaches to the base of a centrifuge to connect it to the lid cover, replacing a damaged centrifuge hinge in laboratory equipment.
• Digital BPM Air Tube Connector A spare part ensuring proper connection between internal and external air flow in a digital blood pressure monitor, replacing the original connector piece found inside the device.
• Digital BPM Cuff Connector A spare part connecting the external air tube to the internal air tube on a digital blood pressure monitor, replacing a broken or lost external connector piece.
• Finger Clamp Pulse Oximeter A protective casing for the electronics inside a finger clamp used to record patient vitals via pulse oximetry, serving as a replacement for the original plastic housing.
• Hose Connector Dual-ended A part used to connect two pieces of hose together, serving as a replacement for a damaged or lost hose connector in medical and laboratory setups.
• Incubator Door Hinge A spare part that attaches to an incubator door and replaces a hinge that has been damaged or broken off, used in clinical and laboratory incubators.
• Incubator Door Latch A spare part that attaches to an incubator and allows the door to be easily opened and closed, replacing a damaged or lost incubator door latch.
• Incubator Door Snap A spare part used to hold an incubator door firmly in place when closed, supporting a loose or damaged incubator door snap.
• Nebulizer Connector A spare part connecting tubing to a nebulizer machine, replacing a damaged or lost original nebulizer connector used in respiratory therapy.
• Overflow Cup A spare part that attaches to the lid of a secretion jar and prevents liquid overflow by sealing the inlet, used in medical suction setups.
• Oxygen Concentrator Humidifier Cap Coupler A spare part that screws onto a broken humidifier bottle used for an oxygen concentrator machine, replacing the feature that attaches the bottle to the machine.
• Oxygen Flow Meter Control Knob A spare part used to control the flow of oxygen through an oxygen flowmeter, replacing a broken or damaged control knob in clinical oxygen delivery setups.
• Oxygen Regulator Humidifier Cap Ring A spare part designed to fit securely onto a broken humidifier bottle cap used on an oxygen regulator machine, serving as a replacement for a broken nozzle.
• Stretcher Side Rail Riser Coupler A part attached to the rods that raise and lower side rails on a stretcher, preventing the riser mechanism from jamming in hospital transport equipment.
• Suction Bottle Top A spare part covering a suction bottle with a nozzle allowing tube connection, serving as a replacement when the original lid is damaged or lost in medical suction systems.
• Suction Pump Jar Cover A lid for a suction pump jar, used to replace a broken or lost suction pump jar lid in clinical suction systems.
• Tubing Holder A part that holds medical tubing securely in place with three tubing clamps of various sizes and an adjustable pole clamp for hospital settings.
• Vertical Tube Humidifier Cap A spare part that screws onto a humidifier bottle with nozzles for tubing attachment, replacing the original cap if lost or broken in oxygen therapy setups.
• ADL Board An occupational therapy tool used to practice activities of daily living, which can be hung from the wall and customized to patient activity needs in rehabilitation settings.
• Assistive Match Striker An assistive device used to strike matches with one hand, designed to be placed over the edge of a counter or table for people with limited dexterity.
• Assistive Toothbrush Holder An assistive device that can be dipped in hot water and formed to the shape of a patient's hand to assist those who cannot grip a toothbrush properly during therapy or daily living.
• Goniometer An assessment tool used to measure the range of motion for large joints such as elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, and ankles in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings.
• Hand Gripper An exercise device used to help patients gain hand strength as part of occupational or physical therapy.
• Large Pegboard An occupational therapy device used to help patients learn colors, counting, fine motor skills, and finger strength.
• Shape Puzzle An occupational therapy tool used to help patients learn shapes, colors, and fine motor skills.
• Small Pegboard An occupational therapy device used to help patients learn colors, counting, and fine motor skills.
• Texture Board A sensory tool with nine different textures included on one board for generating different sensations; lightweight and portable for therapy use.
• Two-Finger Brace A finger brace delivered flat with wings that can be dipped in hot water and formed to the patient's hand for customizability and comfort in therapy use.
• Two-Finger Flexure Brace for Baby An arm brace designed for small hands to hold two flexed fingers flat, worn at nighttime, with wings that can be dipped in hot water and formed to the patient's fingers.
• Writing Aid / Pencil Gripper An assistive device used to hold fingers in the correct gripping position for writing, with a pencil placed through the middle of the ball.
• Urea DAP Scoop A custom dual-end measuring scoop for fertilizer additives Urea and DAP, with specified amounts for each additive end for easy measurement in agricultural use.
• Well Cap A custom cap to cover newly-made wells, protecting from contamination and pests while allowing easy access when necessary in agricultural and community settings.
• Custom Part Engineering and Manufacturing Service A service in which Kijenzi's engineering team collaborates with customers to design custom parts, then produces them locally at the Kisumu 3D printing hub. Tailored to institutions serving the public good that need parts not available in standard supply chains, at lower cost and shorter lead times than importing from overseas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced equipment downtime through rapid replacement part production
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Penn State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn State University is home to the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship program where co-founder John Gershenson serves as faculty director. The university has been involved in research and development that led to Kijenzi's founding, with the company originating from Penn State R&D efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Markforged: Industrial 3D printer manufacturer focused on high-strength parts for manufacturing. Comparable as a technology enabler for distributed manufacturing operations, though Kijenzi uses different printer brands for its hub.
• Prusa Research: Manufacturer of desktop 3D printers and a listed Kijenzi partner providing equipment. Comparable as an enabling technology provider in the 3D printing ecosystem that Kijenzi relies on for its manufacturing capabilities.

Direct peers

• Field Ready: Humanitarian 3D printing organization that uses 3D printing to manufacture needed items in disaster-affected and developing areas. Highly comparable to Kijenzi in mission, technology approach, and distributed manufacturing model for humanitarian applications.
• Voodoo Manufacturing: On-demand 3D printing service bureau offering custom part manufacturing for various industries. Directly comparable to Kijenzi's 3D printing service model and on-demand manufacturing approach, though focused on commercial rather than humanitarian customers.

Emerging players

• re:3D: Manufactures large-format 3D printers and provides 3D printing services focused on humanitarian and development applications. Comparable to Kijenzi in the humanitarian 3D printing space and emerging-market focus, though operating more on the hardware side.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: Leading on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting customers with manufacturers for custom parts and products, including 3D printing. Comparable to Kijenzi's distributed manufacturing platform model, though operating at much larger scale and serving industrial customers.
• Fictiv: Manufacturing platform that connects customers with vetted manufacturers for custom part production, including 3D printing services. Comparable to Kijenzi's platform-based approach to custom part manufacturing and supply chain digitization, though serving commercial markets.
• Protolabs: Established on-demand manufacturing services company offering rapid prototyping and production parts including 3D printing. Comparable to Kijenzi's on-demand manufacturing model, though operating globally at much larger scale and serving industrial customers.
• Shapeways: 3D printing services marketplace offering on-demand manufacturing for custom parts and products. Comparable to Kijenzi's 3D printing service model and catalog approach, though serving different (consumer/creator) customer segments.
• Hubs (Protolabs): Global network of on-demand manufacturing services including 3D printing, now part of Protolabs. Comparable to Kijenzi's distributed manufacturing model, though operating at much larger scale across geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Kijenzi
• Facebookfacebook.com/kijenzi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kijenzi