Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Electroplastication is a project that aims at generating energy from plastic waste. It involves waste collection using ATMs and vaporizing them in order to produce energy through steam. The remaining 30% that is not vaporized is used to make building slab

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The startup is called Smart Afrogrics. It addresses poverty through various approaches. One of the approach that we have is the use of organic farming where we use locally available materials such as cow dung, urine, plant leaves, yeast, jaggery and other organic products to make farm produce. This goes a long way in cutting the cost of production for the small stakeholder farmers, increases the production, create employment as well as leverage the biodiversity co-existence. We also have the electroplastication that is the project that we seek to implement in the next five months. This project addresses the missing link in the waste management sector as it aims to reduce the landfills. It is also a project that would reduce the poverty rates as the public would be able to be paid through a digital currency for taking care of the environment. It converts the plastic waste to electricity through a 5-phase process; waste collection, vaporization, carbon removal, energy and slab making.

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

The electroplatication project tries to solve the puzzle of "Where do we take the waste after they have been collected" through the vaporization process that would be able to produce at least 100 mega watts of energy at the realization of the project. It's also keen on reducing the amount of plastics that are in the cities as well as the plastics that end up in our water bodies through the plastic collection ATMs that are not only for collection but also for income generation. This would be a great relief to the supermarkets as well as the county governments as it will help them in making their environment clean without having to employ so many staff.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

The project is environment-friendly as the gas that is produced during vaporization is passed through sodium hydroxide solution to expel the carbon elements from it. The project is also income generative- the plastic collection ATMs uses digital currency (OKOIN) to pay for every unit of plastic waste that has been collected. The project addresses the need for leveraging green energy by production of electricity from plastic waste The project ensures that there is zero waste into the atmosphere or the environment. The 30% of the plastics that is unable to be converted into vapor is used to make other products such as the building slabs. The project addresses employment issue as we will be able to incorporate both the skilled and the unskilled in the future.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The product aims at serving the cities and towns as well as supermarkets who find it hard to manage their waste.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-03-23

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Billy Oluoch who happens to be my co-founder is has a diploma in business management as well as business law from Strathmore University. He is currently pursuing Bachelor of Commerce in Strathmore University and has in the past attended many forums and workshops that address climate change and zero hunger. Rachel Khamala is a passionate person when it comes to environment conservation. Her skills in accounting goes beyond words in making sure that every single step we make as a startup is accounted for.

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

https://www.instagram.com/smart_afrogrics/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The startup addresses key issues in production and helps the smallholder farmers cut on production and maximize profits through organic farming. The electroplastication also aims at making sure that every individual that takes care of the environment is paid. This would in turn be income generative to the public hence reducing poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

This is achieved through the organic farming that will ensure that the level of production by the smallholder farmers goes high using the organic products that we are able to produce. These products will save the farmer on the cost of purchasing the expensive synthetic farm inputs that after some time render the soil unproductive due to the increased acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Being a youth led organization, we recognize the role of women in farming and they are always at the forefront in making sure that production is a success. We also have them as our main priority in the employment with a view to tackle the plastic wastes in the cities and farms.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our electroplastication project is keen to address the energy deficit that is faced in Africa. With its completion we will be able to produce more than 100mega watts of electricity that shall be supplied to households.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

3

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Through waste management and greening of the cities initiative

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

3

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Plastic wastes, inorganic farm inputs contribute largely to climate change. Through the various approaches such as organic farming, carbon neutrality, IoT on carbon, green energy, direct air capture and electroplastication that are well stated in our website we are able to tackle this menace of climate change.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

6

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

The most affected place with plastic waste pollution is the water bodies. This poses a threat to the life under water. As a startup, we are keen to address this menace through the electroplastication project.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The continuous use of chemicals and synthetic agricultural inputs poses a threat to the biodiversity. This is a real threat to the small micro-organisms that play a big role in maintaining the soil structure. The organic farming initiative as well as the carbon neutrality is keen to address this issue and make the life on land more sustainable and safer for the animals as well as the human beings.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

As an organization we recognize that for any success story to be told, there is need for joint effort. We work closely with communities, organizations and the government to make sure that we drive our initiatives and get success out of them. We look forward to partnering with different stakeholders and donors in our future projects.

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

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

2

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

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Electroplastication is a new innovation that I have worked on with some help from my mentor making it a complete new product that seeks to address the demand to end plastic wastes that has only been able to be recycled by 9%. This project will make sure that all the plastics are accounted for and are put into use through energy production and building slabs.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

At the moment I have no threat of competitors being the first person to come up with the idea and being the inventor of the same.

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

In my startup I recognize the role of women in entrepreneurship and they are always in the forefront of the startup's activities. I ensure that I offer mentorship programs as well as capacity building to the women that we engage with as a startup.