Out of a pool of 14Okay international candidates for the 2021 Facebook Community Accelerator, solely 128 had been chosen. Out of these 128 members, solely 19 had been from the Asian Pacific area.

And from Malaysia, there have been 4.

The 4 communities that had been chosen included the Doctorate Assist Group, Entrepreneurs and Startups in Malaysia, Gabungan Anak-Anak Palsi Serebrum (GAPS), and KakiRepair by KakiDIY.

Eight months in the past, Vulcan Put up spoke to all 4 to study extra about their targets with the programme. On Might 12, we came upon that one Malaysian community builder had made it to the finals and would be the recipient of US$30Okay further funding—Johnson Lam of KakiRepair by KakiDIY.  

Eight months of grinding

Johnson began the Facebook group in 2017 as a ardour mission, eager to encourage others to discover ways to repair and restore issues as an alternative of instantly throwing them out into junkyards. He had a transparent mission of what he wished, however he wasn’t completely certain of tips on how to obtain it.

That’s the place the community accelerator got here in useful.

Given an preliminary price range of US$50Okay, Johnson and his crew created a improvement plan for the eight-month programme. By means of the accelerator, they got entry and perception into Facebook instruments. Contributors had been additionally capable of expertise new, unique options.

As an illustration, KakiRepair now has a web based retailer inside its Facebook group. Sometimes, solely enterprise pages can begin outlets on Facebook. On prime of that, they now have sub-membership teams.

By means of a direct connection to the Facebook product crew, he learnt extra about Facebook’s algorithm and know-how, such because the AI options, which autonomously average the KakiRepair web page for probably the most half.

Moreover constructing his personal community, Johnson was in a position to connect with different communities within the Asian Pacific cohort as nicely, even contemplating the opposite 18 members “members of the family” now.

“We’re related with these like-minded community builders, so we share finest practices, we share ache factors, and the way we handle battle and keyboard warriors,” Johnson stated. “We study from one another’s errors to develop our group and our community.”

Despite the fact that the programme is technically already formally over, he says the group chat with the opposite members continues to be lively.

Facebook additionally curated an esteemed panel of mentors and coaches from throughout the globe to upskill the cohort. This included specialists on sustainability, progress, scaling, and even psychologists.

“It steered KakiRepair into methods we by no means thought was potential,” Johnson expressed.

A well-oiled, self-sustaining community

For years now, Johnson has been funding KakiRepair from his personal pocket. However with the assistance of the community accelerator, KakiRepair has grown to change into financially sustainable.

Firstly, the crew launched a information administration platform web site. Right here, all of the DIY concepts and restore suggestions may be present in a centralised area. Provided that it’s Johnson’s personal web site, he can simply monetise it as nicely. As such, the platform is now absolutely self-funded.

The accelerator additionally shortened his five-year plan of making a decked-out motorhome with all the mandatory instruments that may transfer round Malaysia to assist with repairs. It’s an upgraded model of the now-familiar MakerVan, and is at the moment just about accomplished and awaiting roll-out.

One other mission KakiRepair is engaged on is a six-tiered device package. And it’s not simply any regular device package—every merchandise within the package will include a QR code that leads customers to the information administration platform, which then teaches you tips on how to use the device.

And because the icing on the cake, the group had 19Okay members once we final spoke to it. Now, it has 47Okay members and counting.  

In keeping with Johnson, the ultimate stage of the accelerator programme will final till July, with the purpose of ending greater than 50% of what has been deliberate out.

However KakiRepair has really already achieved greater than 100% of their plans since March, stated Johnson. “I’m a little bit of an overachiever. I’m focusing on 1,000%,” he chuckled.

For the reason that crew has already accomplished the five-year plan of making a motorhome, Johnson is taking a headstart on his plan of bringing KakiRepair overseas.

In truth, on the time of writing, he would possibly already be within the Philippines, planning to show others tips on how to host restore occasions.

The pandemic & floods threw a wrench into their plans

After all, the journey wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There have been definitely just a few bumps alongside the way in which, with the plain one being the pandemic.

In the beginning of the pandemic, Johnson stated he was in a “depressed mode” and almost deleted your entire KakiRepair group. He felt just like the group wasn’t creating a lot affect.

“We are able to’t exit and repair stuff, and there are such a lot of haters and feedback on the market saying, ‘Who is that this fella?’, ‘So silly, go and sort things totally free’,” Johnson shared. “So, I used to be fairly discouraged.”

However finally, Johnson began to vary the way in which he did issues. He ran 30-minute reside occasions at first that ended up working for 2 hours. It was then that he realised there was demand for such a service, and steadily, the Facebook group grew.

One other problem got here when your entire crew was down with COVID at one level. Johnson himself suffered from a case of lengthy COVID, and even feels its impact till at the present time.

“After I was doing demo day [for the accelerator], I had mind fog, and I wasn’t even myself,” he stated. Fortunately, he managed to get his factors throughout regardless of the sickness.   

The flooding that occurred final yr was additionally a difficulty for the crew, and it appeared like there was nothing they may do concerning the state of affairs.

Then Johnson realised he might mobilise the community by beginning volunteer programmes to assist these affected by the flood repair their objects as an alternative of dumping them.

“This wasn’t a part of the event plan,” Johnson stated. “Nevertheless it confirmed a lot affect that it grew to become a major outcome within the improvement plan.”

The crew ran six restore missions, repairing over US$50Okay value of digital stuff, Johnson estimated. Their efforts additionally helped with KakiRepair’s branding and fame. With a easy pivot, Johnson had turned an unlucky circumstance right into a helpful one.

Being community-driven VS profit-driven

As our interview with Johnson got here to an finish, we curiously requested him a burning query on our minds.

With KakiRepair now monetising and being financially self-sustaining, the place does he draw the road between staying as a community organisation versus turning right into a enterprise?

Did it come all the way down to being community-driven versus profit-driven? “Sure, really, the reply is already there,” he identified.

On the finish of the day, he clarified that there’s no proper or improper behind a community chief’s resolution to transition their actions into being extra business-focused. In truth, he stated that Facebook inspired that.

For him personally although, he’s opting to maintain it community-driven. After all, he’s conscious that restore centres are a profitable enterprise, however he has no plans to begin one in all his personal now, or within the close to future.

As a substitute, if anybody desires to begin their very own by utilising KakiRepair’s branding and affect, he welcomed them to get in contact for discussions.

Empowering different Malaysian leaders

2022’s Facebook Community Accelerator is prone to occur quickly, and for these involved in becoming a member of, Johnson had some pointers.

He listed three standards for community builders. First, you have to be certain of what you need to your community. Secondly, you have to be clear concerning the affect you’re offering.

The third is having the ability to maintain the community to scale and develop. This contains sustainability not simply when it comes to funds, but additionally content material.

2021 was the primary yr that Malaysians had been capable of be part of the accelerator, making KakiRepair the first-ever Malaysian group to obtain further funding and basically “win” within the programme.

With KakiRepair main the way in which, Johnson hopes to see extra Malaysians thriving by the Facebook Community Accelerator.

• Study extra about KakiRepair right here.
• Study extra concerning the Facebook Community Accelerator 2021 right here.

Featured Picture Credit score: KakiRepair by KakiDIY