Co-founding Krochet Kids Intl.

Introduction

Every founder’s journey starts with a spark — an idea that feels so unlikely and so simple it just might work. For me, that spark was Krochet Kids Intl., a nonprofit we launched with my closest friends — Travis Hartanov, Kohl Crecelius, and Adam Thomson.

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What began as three guys teaching women in Uganda how to crochet hats grew into a movement, a recognized fashion brand, and eventually two thriving organizations: Known Supply and Capable.org.

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Looking back, I see those years not only as some of the most challenging and rewarding of my life, but also as the foundation for everything I’ve done since.

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Building Something from Nothing

In the early days, my role was as hands-on as it gets:

• Figuring out logistics for international operations - poorly I might add.
• Overseeing sales and marketing, shaping how we told our story and grew our community.
• Working with artisans directly, ensuring our mission — empowering people to rise above poverty — stayed at the heart of the brand.

It was messy, experimental, and deeply meaningful. Every challenge we faced in building a global supply chain was matched by the joy of seeing lives transformed.

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Impact That Lasts

Over the years, Krochet Kids grew far beyond our original vision. We:

• Created hundreds of sustainable jobs for women in Uganda and Peru.
• Generated opportunities that rippled into families and communities, impacting thousands of lives worldwide.
• Built a consumer movement that connected buyers directly with the makers of their products — a radical idea at the time.

Even as the organization evolved, the heart remained the same: people matter more than products.

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Known Supply + Capable.org

Today, Krochet Kids has evolved into two complementary organizations:

• Known Supply: A consumer-facing brand that continues the mission of ethical, transparent fashion.
• Capable.org: The nonprofit arm that drives community development, focusing on long-term impact and capacity-building in Uganda and beyond.

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I’m proud that Capable.org lead by Sean Galaway continues to grow, ensuring the mission we started continues to bear fruit for generations.

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Lessons Learned (The best MBA ever)

The experience of co-founding and running Krochet Kids gave all of us the best MBA ever - we didn’t just study business, finance, and sales/marketing — we lived them in the most challenging environments possible.

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• Global Business: Building an international supply chain taught me more than any classroom could.
• Finance: Balancing donor expectations, retail revenue, and international payroll forced us to understand cash flow and capital allocation and debt.
• Sales & Marketing: From grassroots campaigns to national and international press coverage, managing adult sales teams as a 20-something, we learned how to build movements, not just markets.

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These lessons continue to inform my work today — from running The R&D Dept. to advising companies on growth and brand clarity. Clarity being king - allowing for simple focus, goal orientation, and measurable and attainable.

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A Story That Still Inspires

Our story has been told in magazines, documentaries, and most recently, podcasts. I was humbled to be mentioned in the Flightless Bird podcast, about the Kony 2012 Campaign from IC viral hit which you can listen to here:
🎧 Flightless Bird — Flightless Bird Podcast
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Conclusion

Being a founder at Krochet Kids Intl. shaped me as a leader, a creative, and a human being. It taught me that business and impact don’t have to be at odds — they can be designed to amplify each other.

I’m grateful for the lives impacted, the friendships formed, and the lessons learned.

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And I’m proud that through Capable.org, that work continues today. And check out the most ethical apparel at Known Supply

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👉 Want to learn more about Capable.org’s work in Uganda? Visit capable.org.

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