Shaila Agha is the co-founder and financial director of CBC Store Ltd., a Kenyan enterprise that promotes accessibility to STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) for primary school students through a science lab kit.

The lab kit, approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, can be used by students in grades 3–6 both at home or in schools. Most of CBC Store’s customers are located across Kenya in major cities.

KENYAN STUDENTS LACKING ACCESS TO SCHOOL RESOURCES

Shaila was inspired to develop the kit after observing that many schools across Kenya, especially in rural areas, did not have the resources or infrastructure to support new curriculum set by the Kenyan government. Unfortunately, the pandemic created additional obstacles to education for students impacted by poverty.

The science lab kit initially began as a physics kit, but after collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Shaila and her team decided to focus on an integrated kit that covered multiple disciplines and learning themes. The kits were tested with a science club at an international school in Kilifi, Kenya.

“We are now exploring a more advanced option for the lab kit for grades seven and up,” Shaila added. “This will include robotics, coding and more building.”

CBC STORE IN THE BECAUSE ACCELERATOR

Shaila joined the Because Accelerator in 2022 to learn about fundraising, grant-writing and creating a business plan for CBC Store. 

“[My favorite thing about the Accelerator was] having the opportunity to speak and interact with investors in the impact space,” said Shaila. “This allowed me to analyze my business critically in order to get it to peak attractiveness.” 

Shaila also benefited from pitching her ideas to individuals who didn’t have any background on Kenya’s curriculum or the country’s situation, giving her unique perspectives to think on. 

Since completing the Because Accelerator, Shaila has transitioned to working full-time at CBC Store and is working with her team to fundraise support for 5,000 new sets, launch an e-commerce platform, and secure grants using lessons learned from the program. 

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship incubator with funding opportunities for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and business in areas impacted by poverty.