Can you crowdfund your dreams?
Ask mountain biker K. Kiran Kumar Raju and he will answer yes.
The 30-year-old two-time Mountain Bike (MTB) Indian National Champion, who goes by the moniker KKR, is currently crowdfunding his dream of taking part in the Asian Continental Championships to be held in May in China.
Thanks to sports enthusiasts and supporters, the campaign, which started last week on crowdfunding site Milaap, has already generated ₹1.3 lakh of the ₹1.5 lakh needed for training, travel, and participation.
“KKR deserves to participate and win. Unfortunately, the system in India does not support such kind of athletes,” said Arvind Bhateja, a cyclist who has contributed to the campaign. Crowdfunding methods, which have helped entrepreneurs build products, are also popular with sportspersons globally, looking for financial support in the absence of funding from their country’s government.
“Kiran Kumar Raju is the most inspiring cyclist in the country that I know and he has a lot of energy and determination,” said Aditya Mendonca, founder of Southfire cycling.
The respect he commands is the result of an uphill ride, one that saw him quit his job and train full time.
