WHERE WE BEGAN
It started with a bicycle....
OUR JOURNEY
It Started With A Bicycle
Cycle Connect originated as Bicycles Against Poverty. Our journey began with a single bicycle when our founder discovered the empowerment, freedom, and opportunity that a bicycle could bring in Uganda. As a lease-to-own bicycle organization, we saw how bicycles were used to create access to critical resources, increase income, and improve rural livelihoods.
Full-Time Operations Begin
In 2014, Molly Burke moved from New York city to northern Uganda to open an office and launch full-time operations. The BAP team distributed 250 lease-to-own bicycles in the first year.
Beginning Years
From 2014-2017, the BAP team distributed 2,000 bicycles. The bicycles were used to create access to critical resources, increase income, and improve rural livelihoods. During this time we realized that 100% of our clients were farmers lacking sufficient tools on their farms and a bicycle was a great first step to improve their livelihoods but they needed more.
Expansion of Portfolio
BAP realized that we could take the success we saw with bicycles and apply to other products to create more opportunities for our clients and to grow our impact. In 2018, we expanded our product offering to include more income-generating assets (oxen & plow, grinding machines, motorcycles) that our clients can invest in to propel them forward.
Cycle Connect
In 2019, Bicycles Against Poverty rebranded to Cycle Connect with the mission of increasing income for smallholder farmers via productive asset-financing and training.
6 Sub-Branches Opened
2022 Disbursed loans to more than 10,000 farmers, opened 6 sub-branches in Northern Uganda.
New Products Added to Our Portfolio
2023 Supported over 13,000 farmers indirectly reaching 65,000 individuals. Added Maize Threshers to the portfolio and tested Irrigation Pumps.
Portfolio with High Impact Assets
2024 Served 14,000 farmers, portfolio with high impact assets such as motorcycles, grinding mills and maize threshers. Testing solar irrigation pumps and electric bicycles. Opened a new outpost in Apac district.
WHERE WE'RE GOING
Cycle Connect is on a mission to increase income for smallholder farmers through productive asset-financing and training.