Page 32 - Islands Business October 2022

Business

QAQI MAI: BIKE SHARE

ELIKI DAKUITOGA’S VISION FOR FIJI COMMUTERS

By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti

When I was younger, my friends and I used to say ‘Qaqi Mai’
when we were ‘choking’ each other for bus fare, a teasing
way to say, ‘walk home!’ But aspiring businessman Eliki Dakui-
toga is giving the expression a much deeper meaning.
Dakuitoga is the brains behind Qaqi Mai, a company which
seeks to be Fiji’s first bike sharing venture. He was inspired
during his daily bus commute from Nausori to Suva, as he
witnessed scenes that deeply moved him and inspired him to
create a sustainable and ecofriendly solution.
“Back in 2019, I joined the busloads of people commuting
around 4-5am from Nausori to Suva. Seeing the burdensome
faces of my kin and understanding the sacrifices to do what
must be done, moved me.” Dakuitoga was reminded of his
family’s humble beginnings travelling up and down the Siga-
toka valley road.
This gruelling commute was the inspiration for establish-
ing Qaqi Mai: Bike Share (Fiji). ‘Qaqi Mai’ in the native Fijian
tongue means ‘to peddle’, ‘walk it’, or my personal favourite,
‘grind it!’ Dakuitoga shares. and women on the bus every morning clogged up my head.
A philosophical Dakuitoga now says he believes this setback
Bringing the vision to life was for the best, and it inspired him to improve.
Armed with what he knew was a good idea, Dakuitoga He tried again, this time applying for support from GGGI
threw himself into research. Pacific (Global Green Growth Institute).
He recalls “typing away in the night with the company of Dr This time, he was successful. “Of the 207 applications for
Google and the comfort of my wife’s aura by my side.” Dakui- the GGGI Pacific Greenpreneur Program, 21 applicants made
toga drew up a business plan which he then submitted to the it through. We’re to commit to a five-month program of work-
Fiji government’s Young Entreprenership Scheme (YES). shops and study courses to fine-tune our business ideas.”
A 15-month wait followed. He speaks highly of the GGGI program, and particularly the
“Mind you, within these 15 months, I’d sought help and sup- training from people with their own, real-life business experi-
port from all sides of the entrepreneurial world [so] that even ence, adding, “God’s speed by Graduation in February 2023,
if the Greek God, Zeus needed an audience, I was on my feet Qaqi Mai would be amongst the five competing for the seed
to pitch Qaqi Mai: Bike Share for his travels across the skies funding of US$5K which is roughly around F$10K.”
instead of his quadriga chariot! But he also hopes the Fiji government will reconsider its
“I was reaching out to hotels, schools, businesses, NGOs, support to Qaqi Mai: Bike Share, given it has been recognised
and government organisations trying to get them on board by both UNDP and the GGGI Pacific Greenpreneur Program.
while waiting for feedback from the YES panel.” Dakuitoga plans to pilot the scheme next year, starting at
His research led him to what he believes is the best start-up university campuses and hotels.
bicycle for Fiji, the M-Bike V8. The bicycles feature anti-theft He believes this phase will help convince people about the
nuts and bolts, a world-class GPS system to track the bike viability of bikes as a form of transportation.
movements in real time, puncture-proof, maintenance-free “In the next 5-10 years we envision Qaqi Mai as Fiji’s lead-
tyres, a 3-speed mechanical transmission with internal gears, ing green transportation mobility provider. Our future plans
and dynamo wheel to power built-in LED lights. include the introduction of electric bikes, scooters, and carts,
In late February 2020, Dakuitoga finally got some good leading in technology, infrastructure, and the future of travel-
news. A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ling green, travelling clean.”
Youth Co-Lab program was seeking pitches. He cut his 45-slide
presentation into a 3-minute pitch and won the prize for the editor@islandsbusiness.com
most innovative pitch.
However, his proposal to YES was unsuccessful. This is an abridged version of an article that can be found at
“My expectations for seed funding, the networks I’d formed www.pacificmakete.com.fj
with partners in different sectors and the faces of my kinsmen

32 Islands Business, October 2022