Small Business Funding Success Story: Wakawear

The Coprosperity Fund invested in Wakawear of Paje, Zanzibar in 2025, and has since been providing business support. We sat down with the company founders to discuss what impact that investment and support has had on their business in the months since. Here’s what transpired.

Can you tell us about your business and what your vision and objective is?

Wakawear Tanzania is an upcycling fashion brand based in Zanzibar, Tanzania, dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of fast, virgin fashion. Through an upcycling philosophy, we transform secondhand materials and garments into unique, durable, and stylish pieces, enhanced with bold patch designs made from African prints. Our vision is to make sustainable fashion the number one conscious choice over fast virgin fashion in Tanzania by 2031. Our objective is not only to create high-quality upcycled fashion with an African touch, but also to popularize sustainability as a new cultural norm within our community.

How did you come across the Coprosperity fund and why did you think it was a potential for your business to grow?

I first learned about the Coprosperity Fund through a friend of my wife at a time when I was actively pitching my business expansion plan to individual potential investors, with little success. Hearing about the Coprosperity Fund felt like meeting the right partners at exactly the right moment.

How long has your business been running before engaging and being funded with the Coprosperity fund?

 Wakawear began its journey in August 2020, initially through pop-up markets, before we were able to build our physical store on rented land at the Paje roundabout in January 2021. By the time we met the Coprosperity Fund in July 2025, we had been operating for five years and were ready for the next stage of growth.

How did you use the funding you received from the Coprosperity Fund?

Wakawear was fortunate to receive investment funding from Coprosperity Fund, which enabled us to purchase sewing and overlock machines, employ a full-time tailor and shopkeeper, renovate our store, launch our own website and online shop, and restock materials. This support directly helped us increase our production rate, improve efficiency, expand our market reach, and enhance overall product quality. These outcomes were central to our growth goals and were made possible through Coprosperity Fund’s investment.

How has the support from the Coprosperity Fund helped you achieve your business goals?

Before receiving the funding, we faced several challenges, including unstable production, low efficiency, limited market growth, and a small online presence. The funding helped us address these obstacles, and while some challenges still exist, we are now clearly on track to overcome them. The most immediate impact has been achieving a stable, high-standard production rate, which has already contributed to improved sales performance.

Would you recommend our organization to other small business owners/start ups to apply, if so why? Based on your experience and why?

I strongly encourage fellow small businesses and start-ups in Tanzania to apply for funding from Coprosperity Fund. Many entrepreneurs have strong ideas and the passion to grow, but lack the one-time capital injection needed to move forward. Existing banking and government credit systems tend to favor groups rather than individual businesses, and angel investment organizations like Coprosperity Fund play a crucial role in filling this gap—keeping the dreams of small businesses alive while offering not only funding but also valuable skills support.

For more support from us as an organization, what would you suggest for us to do better in terms of support for your business to make it even more successful?

As a constructive suggestion, I would encourage Coprosperity Fund to consider investing in a well-equipped and skilled content creation team. High-quality digital content is one of the most effective marketing tools today and would help amplify the Fund’s impact, reach more small businesses, and support existing beneficiaries like us in growing faster through better advertising.

What would be your closing remarks?

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with Coprosperity Fund. Their investment and skills assistance have turned our growth journey into a reality, and we look forward to building a more sustainable fashion future together.