Written by Davidson College student, Trang Dang ‘27
Victoria Ochieng ’27, a junior at Davidson College double majoring in Economics and Environmental Science, is the most recent recipient of the Avinger Impact Fund award, established in honor of Robert L. Avinger, Jr., a member of the Davidson Class of 1960 and professor of Economics from 1967-1980. Growing up in a small village in Kenya, she has developed a deep sense of giving back to the community. Constantly seeking out problems and finding the solutions, Victoria dreams of becoming an entrepreneur who is community-centered, responsible, and always open to learning. That vision is already in motion. Inspired by her agricultural background, Victoria founded her business Koredo Koir – an agro-based rural company that upcycles coconut husk waste into eco-friendly products.
From day one at Davidson, The Hurt Hub has been a cornerstone of her journey. “One of the main reasons I chose to go to Davidson was because of the Hurt Hub,” she says. “Seeing that you are able to bring an idea to life at such a young age, I know that this is the place for me.” Her involvement has spanned from serving as a Community and Events Ambassador during her first year to becoming a Program and Events Specialist as a sophomore. Along the way, Victoria got hands-on experience interacting with business owners and organizing events that later on influenced her entrepreneurial journey. “The people at The Hurt Hub, and those I’ve met through the programs here, give me so much motivation. I was really inspired by the amazing work that they are doing.” For Victoria, entrepreneurship is not about starting a business and making profits, but it is a mindset of identifying pain points and coming up with the most optimal solutions that can change lives.
With help from the Avinger Impact Fund, Koredo Koir has made significant strides this summer: 85% of its production site is now complete, two new machines are on the way to improve product quality, and their flagship product, the Biochar Enriched Coco Peat, will soon undergo a series of product tests. The business is also planning to get the KEBS certification, a set of standards required in Kenya for products and services, to be able to bring their products to the market, hopefully by the end of this year. “The milestones [the fund] has helped us reach would have taken years without that support,” Victoria claims.
Not only the financials, the support and guidance from The Hurt Hub staff are also impactful to Victoria and her business. She credits much of her success in pitching to Building a Lean Startup, a workshop led by Rebecca Weeks Watson and hosted at The Hurt Hub, that taught her how to connect with her audience on an emotional level. “I love farming, and I’m creating something fantastic that can help farmers, but it’s important to consider how I can make an American who doesn’t farm relate to my idea.” From regular check-ins with Liz Brigham, Director of the Hurt Hub, to conversations with people interested in environmental ventures and farmers in her village, Victoria wants to grow her business by listening carefully and responding to real-world needs. One recent achievement was an invitation to attend the Kenya Private Sector Association 2nd Annual SME Conference. “I got to meet new potential partners and customers, learn from other entrepreneurs in the climate and environmental conservation sector, and get great feedback about my business,” she excitedly shares about this opportunity.
However, entrepreneurship is not all rosy for her, as planning and implementation are worlds apart. “There are so many minute details that we often don’t factor in when planning, and these minute details actually derail progress,” she admitted. “For example, right now, we should have rolled out our ideal product already. But it turned out we needed a new machine to create our product. And then we had to reach out to people, conduct surveys, and visit the manufacturer to check the quality of the machine before buying it.” Still, she sees every challenge as a lesson in adaptability. She’s currently developing a website and refining her business strategy to keep moving forward.
And her journey is not all about herself, it is also about working harmoniously with others to achieve common goals. “I often read about how the number one reason why new startups fail is founder conflict. I would say I have gotten a taste of what that actually means,” she shares with a smile. Throughout the summer, Victoria spent a lot of time with her co-founders, argued at times, but learned to understand each other’s work and communication styles. And her advice? Don’t shy away from the difficult conversations with your fellow co-founders, engage with them and together have a discussion on “what if this happens, what if we don’t agree on a few things, how do we align.”
With firsthand experience building her own business and a pay-it-forward mentality, Victoria hopes to inspire fellow students to approach problems with creativity and courage. “If you see something might be a problem to somebody, do more research, talk to people, validate that concern, […] work on the solution and pursue any resource that can help you in bringing it into life.”
As the incoming President of the Davidson Entrepreneurship Club, she’s eager to promote entrepreneurship and help bring meaningful missions to life on campus. Her advice is simple: determination and resilience are key. “It might not be perfect in the first few weeks, months, even years, that’s okay. Do not give up, believe in your idea, and continue working on it.”
Victoria’s journey is a reminder that entrepreneurship is about people, purpose, and persistence. Turning ideas into impact takes work, but it’s not a journey you have to take alone. As Victoria emphasizes the importance of mentorship, “Some of the reality checks that I have had come from just me sharing with The Hurt Hub staff. I would recommend having somebody who can keep you accountable and ask you these difficult questions.” That’s part of our mission at The Hurt Hub. We are proud to support students like Victoria every step of the way. We look forward to seeing how her vision and dedication will continue to inspire others and drive positive change.
To stay up to date with Koredo Koir’s latest news and journey you can follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or connect with Victoria directly on LinkedIn.
