Team Africa Rising

What Team Africa Rising does

Team Africa Rising (legally Africa Rising Cycling, also DBA Team Africa Rising and ARC) is a Wyoming-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-3113955) founded in 2007 as Team Rwanda Cycling by American cyclist Jock Boyer. The organization supports professional cycling development across the African continent through programs that supply equipment, coaching, mechanic training, and racing opportunities to athletes, national federations, clubs, race organizers, and coaches. Its flagship technical offering is the Virtual Performance Center (VPC) Programme, a continent-wide virtual training and racing network built on the Zwift platform and Wahoo smart trainers; over 120 Wahoo trainers have been placed in seven African countries, and in October 2025 the organization launched an expansion to add 1,000 more young riders by the 2026 UCI World Championships in Montreal.

The organization operates a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model, working directly with national federations and clubs and reporting from major global races including the Tour de France, the UCI Cycling World Championships (Kigali 2025), and the Tour of Benin. Adjacent programs include women's cycling development (including sponsorship of the Tour du Lunsar women's lead jersey and preparation of the Benin women's national team), coaching and mechanic training curricula (including a partnership with INJEPS in Benin), an exclusive ProCyclingStats live results feed launched in January 2023, cycling tourism promotion across Rwanda, Ethiopia, Morocco and Tanzania, and a podcast launched January 2026.

The revenue model is donation-driven, with tiered giving options ranging from $10 personal care items up to $1,500 international training stints, supplemented by merchandise sales (branded T-shirts at $20) and in-kind and cash partnerships with Zwift, Wahoo, Victus Coffee, and others. The current annual operating budget is approximately $250,000, with a historical peak of approximately $450,000 when the Africa Rising Cycling Center in Rwanda operated with nearly 30 staff and 25+ riders before the 2017-2018 handover to the Rwandan Cycling Federation. The organization is led by CEO Kimberly Coats and operates from a Savery, Wyoming mailing address, serving beneficiaries across at least 19 African countries plus diaspora fundraising in the United States.

Name

Team Africa Rising

Legal name

Africa Rising Cycling (Team Africa Rising)

Website

https://teamafricarising.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Team Africa Rising is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that supports African professional cycling development through a continent-wide Virtual Performance Center network built on Zwift and Wahoo, serving athletes, women's cyclists, national federations, clubs, coaches and mechanics across multiple African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cycling Development Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• African cycling development
• Virtual training centers
• Women's cycling advocacy
• Cycling nonprofit programs
• Athlete development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Savery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-exempt nonprofit organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code (EIN 27-3113955). Accepts donations for general African cycling development, women's cycling development, Benin Bicycle Project, and special areas of need. Donation platform allows specifying fund allocation.
2. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including T-shirts. Sells men's and women's fitted T-shirts at $20 each through their online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Team Africa Rising is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports African professional cycling development through a continent-wide Virtual Performance Center (VPC) Programme using Zwift and Wahoo smart trainers, along with women's cycling development programs, coaching and mechanic training courses, cycling infrastructure support for national federations and clubs, advocacy and media services, and donation-funded programs. It also operates an online merchandise shop and the Africa Rising Cycling Podcast.

Product overview

Team Africa Rising is a nonprofit organization supporting African cycling development since 2007 (formerly Team Rwanda Cycling). The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered around its Virtual Performance Center (VPC) Programme, which provides virtual training and racing capabilities via Zwift and Wahoo smart trainers across multiple African countries. Core offerings include women's cycling development, pro cycling infrastructure support, coaching and mechanic training courses, cycling tourism promotion, advocacy and media production, race results services via ProCyclingStats, and a podcast series launched in 2026. The organization also sells branded merchandise and accepts donations through its nonprofit platform for various cycling development initiatives across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Performance Center (VPC) Programme A continent-wide virtual training and racing programme that provides African cyclists with access to Zwift and Wahoo smart trainers for online training and racing, enabling riders who lack access to roads or equipment to develop their skills and get noticed by professional teams.
• Race Results Service A live results service feed provided exclusively by ProCyclingStats since January 2023, presenting live results of all African riders at the top levels of bike racing across the world.
• Women's Cycling Development Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Dozens of athletes helped achieve professional cycling careers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZwiftcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Strategic partnership for virtual training and racing platform. TAR works closely with Zwift on VPC programme to ensure safe and effective use of their platform for women across Africa. Zwift supported Masaka Cycling Club program for over five years.
• WahoocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Partnership for smart trainers across Africa. Wahoo donated initial ten trainers and offers TAR discount on additional trainers. Over 120 Wahoo trainers placed in seven countries.
• UCI World Cycling Center (Paarl, South Africa and Aigle, Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiaison between up-and-coming talent and next level training programs at UCI. TAR serves as bridge for African cyclists to access UCI development pathways.
• Victus CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term sponsor supporting ongoing work in West Africa. With every purchase of a Victus bag, a portion of proceeds funds TAR's work.
• Benin Cycling FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in late 2019. TAR helps Benin adopt virtual technology platform, set up VPC, train coaches. Benin has most smart trainers among African cycling federations.
• Qhubeka CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-beneficiary for GivingTuesday fundraiser events. Qhubeka focuses on moving people forward with bicycles in Africa, mainly schoolchildren and women who earn bicycles through programs.
• Team Dimension Data (formerly MTN-Qhubeka)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric partnership for African cycling development. Team that first brought African riders (Daniel Teklehaimanot, Merhawi Kudus) to Tour de France. Jock Boyer connection with UCI President Pat McQuaid led to Pro Tour Solidarity program.
• Rwandan Government / President KagamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment support including President Kagame earmarking funds to purchase complete fleet of racing and time trial bikes after Tour of Rwanda 2014 win.
• Craig Calfee (Calfee Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrained Rwanda mechanics to repair carbon fiber, putting hundreds of bikes back on roads in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
• Rafiki Bikes ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended cycle tour operator in Rwanda, run by Rafiki Uwimana, one of original members of Team Rwanda Cycling and three-time Cape Epic finisher.
• Lava Bike ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended mountain bike and road cycling tour operator in Rwanda. Team Africa Rising trained mechanic and guide.
• Marrakech Green WheelsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended guided cycling tour operator in Marrakech and around Morocco.
• Masaka Cycling ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly Zwift adopter and OG of African virtual cycling explosion. TAR reached out to MCC to help establish virtual racing program. Producing highest number of talented cyclists in Uganda.
• Lunsar Cycling ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly VPC adopter behind iconic Tour du Lunsar. TAR helps set up and support virtual training despite challenges including no electrical grid (uses solar/generators).
• Goma Cycling ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVPC in conflict zone established by Jimmy Muhindo. Smart trainers became only option for riding during war. TAR supports development of young cyclists in besieged city.
• Java Inovotec / Ngarama Women's Cycling TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatest VPC network addition in Rwanda. Focuses on using bicycles to keep children (mainly girls) in school. Only VPC program in Rwanda.
• Madar Pro Cycling Team (Algeria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica's #1 professional team (2025) at UCI Continental level. Moving to integrate VPC with Algerian Cycling Federation.
• INJEPS (National Institute of Youth, Physical Education, and Sport, Benin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local university to offer cycling program curriculum teaching cycling skills, mechanics, coaching, administration, and event promotion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Bicycle Relief: Direct peer: nonprofit that supplies bicycles to African communities, similar donor-funded mission with focus on mobility, education, and economic development through cycling.
• Bikes Not Bombs: Direct peer: nonprofit using bicycles as a development tool, with youth training programs and overseas bike distribution; comparable mission and youth-development framing.
• Bikes for the World: Direct peer: nonprofit collecting and shipping used bicycles and parts to developing regions including Africa; shares the donor-driven shipping model and continental African reach.
• Qhubeka: Direct peer: South African charity (formerly linked to Team Dimension Data / MTN-Qhubeka) that advances African cycling through bike distribution and rider development; explicitly co-beneficiary with Team Africa Rising on GivingTuesday.
• Bicycles for Humanity: Direct peer: nonprofit that ships donated bicycles to African communities; similar donation-funded model supporting African cycling access and development.

Broad incumbents

• Adventure Cycling Association: Broad incumbent: long-established US cycling advocacy and route-development nonprofit; shares the mission of growing cycling but operates at a much broader, infrastructure-focused scale.
• PeopleForBikes: Broad incumbent: US bicycle industry coalition and advocacy organization; comparable in advocacy and industry-partnership approach but focused on American policy and infrastructure rather than African development.
• UCI World Cycling Center: Broad incumbent: the official UCI development body that ARC explicitly partners with; operates the satellite training centers in Aigle and Paarl that ARC feeds talent into.

Emerging players

• Pedal Project: Emerging player: smaller nonprofit distributing bicycles to African schoolchildren and communities; overlaps with ARC's mission of using bicycles for education and development but at a smaller scale.

Regional players

• Pedal Mafia / local African cycling clubs (e.g., Java Inovotec, Masaka Cycling Club): Regional peer: African-based cycling clubs and academies that ARC partners with; share the rider-development mission but operate as ground-level clubs rather than pan-African nonprofits, and are partly funded/distributed through ARC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CyclingAfrica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@masakacyclingclub
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfricaCycling
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamafricarising
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/team-africa-rising

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Team Africa Rising