This will be a crucial year for The Atinga Project as founder Christopher Way looks to prove out the social enterprise model he's created. The Buffalo-based startup - which closed out a $13,605 crowdfunding campaign in October - works directly with African artisans to sell sandals made from recycled tires. The artisans get a portion of each sale. Way founded the company in 2013 based on missionary work he'd done during and after his time at Houghton College. He subsequently took third place…
