OUR STORY
Our story began in Kilifi, Kenya, when Janna set out to develop SafariSeat and grant autonomous mobility to low-income people with mobility disability in rural Africa. he joined forces with Cara, Bertie and James and together they crowdfunded and launched the SafariSeat venture.
In 2020 TAI was founded: with the help of an ever expanding team, Janna’s original dream has evolved and grown into an international organisation whose impact has reached hundreds of people in Africa. Today, under the leadership of Isabella & Ken, TAI is growing. TAI Assistive Devices and Livelihood & Inclusion Programs are changing the life of persons with disabilities in Africa.
Our journey has been made possible by the generosity of people from all over the world, from our original Kickstarter backers who saw our potential so early on, to philanthropists who took pride in enabling our expansion.
Our gratitude is deep, and is shared by all those who have been impacted by our work. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and we are proud to have persevered against the odds.
If you would like to become a part of our story, we welcome your support. Without people like you, this idea would still be a dream, a sketch on a piece of paper. Because of you, it has become so much more.
OUR TEAM
Janna Deeble
Chairman of the Board and Founder
Janna invented the SafariSeat and founded TAI. Janna works with Ken and Cara in AT products R&D and produces photography and video materials for TAI communication. Janna holds a degree in Industrial Design and Technology from Brunel University London. Based in Kenya, Janna is a successful entrepreneur and works as a professional documentary maker and videographer.
JANNA DEEBLE
CHAIRMAN
FOUNDER
Isabella Oriani
CEO, Co-founder and Board member
Isabella leads the strategic development and governance of TAI, focusing on business and operational model, financial management, business development and fundraising. She holds a MSc Degree in Physics, Italy, and a MBA from INSEAD. She has 15+ years of experience in developing and managing programs and ventures for economic and social development, at the cross between strategy and business models, operations management, organisational development, in social start-ups in Africa.
ISABELLA ORIANI
CEO
CO-FOUNDER
Ken Kahindi Mwarandu
COO, Co-founder and Board member
Based in Nairobi, Ken leads TAI operations in Kenya. Besides assuring that TAI administration, procurement, manufacturing, distributions, HR management run smoothly, he works with Janna and Cara on R&D and with Isabella in partnerships development and fundraising. He holds a Bachelor Degree of Commerce and Finance from the Technical University of Mombasa. He is an Acumen fellow 2022.
KEN MWARANDU
COO
CO-FOUNDER
Dr Cara Shaw
CTO, Founder and Board member
Cara designed the SafariSeat and founded TAI. Cara works with Ken and Janna in AT products R&D and manages R&D partnerships in the UK. Cara holds a PhD in Inclusive Mobility Design from the University of Liverpool, and a degree in Industrial Design and Technology from Brunel University London. She works as a Design Researcher for various organizations to develop award-winning MedTech and mobility interventions such as wheelchairs, walking aids and exoskeletons.
DR CARA SHAW
CTO
FOUNDER
Eric Ngatia Mathenge
Head of Business Development
As Head of Business Development at TAI, spearheads our efforts in this crucial area. With an MBA from Chifley Business School, Australia, eric has more than 15 years of expertise in Business Development, Project Management, Market Systems Development, and Business Incubation. His passion lies in empowering marginalized communities, including refugees and persons with disabilities (PWD), and collaborating with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to foster social and economic developmen. Eric is a certified COOP and SIYB Trainer and Business Mentor.
ERIC NGATIA MATHENGE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SYLVIA MWAROME
USER RELATIONS
SULEIMAN CHARO
ACCOUNTANT & MANAGER
TOBIUS KAINGU
HEAD TECHNICIAN
RITA MSAILA
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
KADZO SAID
SEAMSTRESS
JACKSON JIMBI
TECHNICIAN
DANIEL KARISA
TECHNICIAN
Bertie Meyer
Founder and Board member
Bertie founded TAI together with Janna and Cara. He holds a BSc degree in Psychology and an MSc degree in Molecular Neuroscience. Based in Nairobi, Bertie works as Operations Manager at NALA - building reliably and affordable digital payment rails for Africa.
BERTIE MEYER
FOUNDER
JAMES SEERS
FOUNDER
Where we’ve been featured
Are you an Organization implementing Development Programs?
Adopting TAI assistive devices in your Programs enables the inclusion of persons with disabilities within your beneficiaries
Are you a NGO working on education, training, and livelihood in East Africa ?
Partner with us in offering to persons with disabilities end-to-end solution empowering them out of poverty and exclusion.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Disability should not mean poverty and exclusion. We rely on your support to continue implementing our Livelihood and Inclusion Programs and providing our Mobility, Productivity, Working Devices to the people who need them most.
Join our journey, together we can make it possible.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Disability should not mean poverty and exclusion. We rely on your support to continue implementing our Livelihood and Inclusion Programs and providing our Mobility, Productivity, Working Devices to the people who need them most.
Join our journey, together we can make it possible.