Namibia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Faven, short for "Freelancers Haven," is a next-generation learning management system designed to foster a thriving community of Southern African tech freelancers, companies, and educators.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Faven's mission is to bridge the gap between education and real-world needs by equipping freelancers in Southern Africa with the skills and knowledge to tackle industry challenges. Faven operates on a three-pronged approach, connecting these vital players in the Southern African tech landscape: Freelancers: Build a strong professional profile showcasing their skills and experience to attract projects from companies. Educators: Share their expertise by uploading high-quality, comprehensive tech-related curriculum's. Freelancers can access these courses, complete assignments, and refine their abilities directly on the platform. Companies: Post projects they need help with and efficiently find the best talent pool by browsing freelancer profiles and skills.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

By 2050 the working age population in Southern Africa will increase rapidly. To reap the advantage of this transition, Southern Africa will need to create jobs for its increasing working age population. If jobs are not created, the region will not be able to exit poverty and will struggle to raise healthy and educated children.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Benefits of Faven: Freelancers: Access quality education, build a strong professional network, and land rewarding projects. Educators: Reach a wider audience of learners, contribute to the growth of Southern Africa's tech workforce, and potentially gain new clients. Companies: Find the right talent for their projects, tap into a skilled and diverse pool of freelancers, and empower Southern Africa's tech ecosystem.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Faven empowers freelancers by providing them with Access to high-quality, comprehensive tech-related curriculum's to learn and refine their skills. Freelancers get to build a strong professional profile showcasing their expertise and experience, making them discoverable by companies seeking talent. Faven provides educators with a platform to share their knowledge and expertise with a large pool of eager learners across Southern Africa. Educators get to up skill the Southern African tech workforce and foster a skilled talent pool. They can be discovered by companies seeking training solutions or specialized instructors. Faven helps companies by efficiently finding skilled and diverse freelance talent for their projects through a searchable pool of profiles. They get to potentially tap into a more cost-effective staffing solution compared to full-time hires. They contribute to the growth and development of a strong tech talent pool within Southern Africa.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-05

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

0

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

n/a

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

0

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

n/a

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

n/a

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

n/a

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Faven directly contributes to this goal by providing quality education through its tech-related curriculum's for freelancers. It also promotes equal access to affordable lifelong learning opportunities for those seeking to improve their tech skills.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

n/a

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

n/a

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

n/a

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Faven fosters decent work for all by equipping freelancers with the skills needed to secure freelance jobs. It also encourages growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises by connecting companies with a readily available pool of freelance talent.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

n/a

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

By providing a platform for freelancers to showcase their skills and allowing companies to discover diverse talent, Faven can potentially contribute to reduced inequalities within the tech sector by ensuring inclusivity and bridging the digital divide.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

n/a

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

n/a

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

n/a

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

n/a

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

n/a

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

n/a

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Faven's collaborative approach connecting freelancers, educators, and companies fosters partnerships within the Southern African tech ecosystem. It also promotes knowledge sharing and capacity building, indirectly contributing to achieving the SDGs.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

2

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

3

05.08 Justification

Faven isn't entirely new, but it offers a unique combination of features within the African context: Focus on Southern African Tech Talent: Existing platforms might cater to a global audience, but Faven tailors its services to the specific needs and challenges of the Southern African tech industry. Curated Learning: Unlike general online learning platforms, Faven focuses on providing educators with the tools to create and deliver tech-related curriculum's specifically relevant to freelance work. Freelance-Centric Approach: Many platforms connect freelancers with companies, but Faven integrates learning and skill development directly into the ecosystem, empowering freelancers to be more competitive. Innovation lies in the synergy: Faven combines elements of existing platforms (freelance marketplaces, online learning) with a focus on the Southern African region and the specific needs of freelance tech professionals.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Freelance Marketplaces: Upwork, Fiverr (global platforms) Online Learning Platforms: Coursera, Udemy (global platforms) African Job Boards: Jobberman, GhanaJobs (focus on job postings, not skilling & freelancing) Differentiation: Regional Focus: Faven caters specifically to the Southern African tech freelance market. Integrated Learning: Combines freelancing opportunities with skill development resources. Educator Focus: Provides a platform for African educators to create and share tech-related courses.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

n/a