Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

E-moti is a purely electric bus fleet operator that offers commuters affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly transport services. We do this by charging lower bus fares, using a Vehicle Routing system to move people faster, and planting trees per trip.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

We, at E-Moti use electric buses to offer commuters affordable. convenient, and eco-friendly transport services within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. Our choice of an electric vehicle allows us to offer low charges to our customers because of the low operational expenditure, thereby allowing us to charge our customers less for the same service and still make margins. The VRS provides all our passengers and bus operators much-needed real-time public transport information to aid in route optimization on our side, and journey planning on the side of the passenger. Coupled with this, is our sustainability project (A Trip for Trees) that aims to make our processes and services carbon-neutral and soon carbon-negative, all towards attaining a cleaner planet. We do this by planting a tree for every trip our commuters travel with us thereby ensuring that not only our service but also our operations on the road are climate-conscious.

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

We are trying to solve expensive, inconvenient, and environmentally unfriendly public transportation services. These are problems faced by commuters within the Kenyan Public transport sector. 58.7% of Kenyans (nearly 6 out of 10 people) use public transport daily, and 17.1% (2 out of every 10) walk to work because of the high price of transport and other reasons. According to Infotrak a majority of Kenyans, 73 percent are either in severe financial distress or struggling to make ends meet with the cost of energy and transport being major issues faced. The transportation sector in Kenya is responsible for about 11% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, and 25% of its carbon dioxide emissions. Kenya has a daily average restriction of more than 1357 MWh that could generate demand at night particularly the nighttime charging of EVs, which helps close this gap. These are some problems every day citizens face but an even greater opportunity to solve them presents itself.

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

1. We give commuters a cushion with the high cost of living to have cheaper costs as they move from one place to another. This allows for all classes of people to access good quality services at lower costs. 2. We are developing a Vehicle Routing System that would allow our commuters to conveniently plan their trips and our bus operators to better maneuver the traffic landscape. The system would allow for traffic analytics, alternative faster routes, real-time bus location, distance, and timing transmission to our customers, thereby saving time and energy during transit. 3. We plant a tree every trip. Our model and recent partnership have allowed us to plant a tree every trip our commuters take, thus contributing to environmental restoration, job creation, and carbon sequestration. 4. Moving people from one point to another allows for greater social and urban mobility thereby facilitating growth of people in financial aspects for themselves and their households.

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

Primary Audience: Nairobi commuters, college students, blue-collar workers, and senior citizens who depend on public transit. Secondary Audience: Sustainability-focused companies, business clientele, and environmental enthusiasts.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-05-27

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

E-moti co-founder and COO Billy Mwangi is a multi-dimensional individual. Having a strong backing in Engineering and Entrepreneurship, he has a knack for using technology and innovation to solve societal problems. He's background in GIS and Remote Sensing led him to the development of an Automated information System in a joint project in his university where they constructed and deployed a nano-satellite that was used to monitor illegal fishing activities and find lost vessels at Lake Victoria. It is this skill that has been instrumental towards the development of the VRS. He's also studied as a Financial Analyst from the Corporate Finance Institute which have helped him build financial models for various applications. He is currently the Technology Lead at Asili Coffee Estates in charge of Traceability. He is also an Ardent member of YOUNGO, the

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

https://e-moti.co.ke/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

c) Industry (equipment, commercial, logistical and professional services, transport)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our product is centred around affordability above everything else. We are able to leverage on our low operational expenditure and achieve comparatively high margins by charging slightly lower than the current rates. The current financial atmosphere in my country has been extractive to the common citizen; we believe at least when it comes to their daily commute they can worry a little less. Given that transport costs in an urban setting cost anywhere between 40-60 USD of low income earners montly incomes according to , and even more so for the unserved and underserved, E-moti presents a much needed sympathy to the needs of public commuters.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

We at E-Moti, through the A Trip for Trees initiative in partnership with Nature Lovers Consultants, will work to plant trees, both indigenous and fruit, in schools of different levels. This would allow us to provide the students with a culture of taking care of trees and also provide seasonal fruits for their consumption. The more trips we take, the more trees, and the more the source of food in scale as it is directly proportional to revenue from trips. As such we are contributing to Zero Hunger as a goal through this program.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

In a study done by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine a link was prevalent, relating stressful daily commutes and negative health outcomes. We at E-Moti are re-building the public transport service to make it a customer-centric activity; we want to make it a home on wheels. With reduced travel times with our VRS, ease of access to key travel information such as ETA, pick-up and drive time , eliminate the need for frustration or anxiety about your travel-dependent engagements within the city. Further, our buses are equipped with facilities that make transport more inclusive for the differently abled members of our society. Apart from priority seats and ramps to allow access of wheeling in and out, we also want to have recorded sign language interpretation on the bus to enable inclusive sharing of travel information within the bus.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Due to the affordability aspect, one of our core target groups, students, can move seamlessly and affordably from one point to another on a budget. This allows for a better mental and financial status amongst our customers who do not possess financial freedom. We are also in talks to secure B2B agreements with student accommodation entities, schools, and Universities in the city to offer their students more affordable rates as they commute. We through the use of the Vehicle Routing System can provide reliable and safe transport services for students because of the Real Time Information we can provide. Moreover, through our initiative - A Trip for Trees- we can directly give parents and guardians a source of income as they plant trees for our initiative. This promotes the education of individuals they support and possibly themselves by providing fees for them and themselves.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

From the onset, we at E-Moti have strived to achieve gender equality in our activities. We are currently working with 5 women and 7 men on our team. We strive to ensure that there is gender parity in our operations. As such, we envision having a team that is men and women lead as we grow. We believe that everyone despite their gender should be involved in organizational operations and tasks. We look forward to one day having a 50/50 gender workforce.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

-

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

We envision E-Moti growing upto a large fleet of at least 100 buses in the next 5 years. In addition to intra-city travel we also plan to include inter-city travel within the same timeline. In this light, we understand the power requirements of our venture and the ability of our grid to satisfy this expansion. This is why our growth will also be in tandem with our charging infrastructure company E-Cosystem whose main task will be to set up mini-grids and charging stations for our fleet of buses and other EV users. Since our power requirement is determineable, we intend to use the surplus energy we generate to power the neighbouring communities thereby reducing the energy poverty in the last-mile areas which often happen to be satellite towns in between major cities.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We are on a mission to revolutionize public transport in Kenya. For years, public transport has been marred by abrasive public transport operators, bribery, and accidents. E-Moti aims to have its personnel well catered for financially, trained from time to time, well-dressed and well-treated to make the public transport sector a more decent working environment. To add to this, we are spearheading the country's first purely electric bus company that would attract finances into the company and also as taxable income to the government. The capacity to develop the fleet and infrastructure, greatly adds to the country's economic growth as this would mean more uptake and more revenue to us and the government. Lastly, we spare the commuters more finances to use on other needs that include investment and savings, thereby allowing for greater financial mobility for our customers.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

The growth of E-Moti as a public service business venture is tied to a significant increase in infrastructural development targeting charging stations and supporting infrastructure and Mass Transit infrastructural solutions. Regarding the latter, the BRT is the natural goal of using EVs to offer public transport solution, with it comes the establishment of specialized bus stops on major highways, segregation of specific lanes and integration of top-up charging contraptions at said bus tops. This sort of segmentation of public transport highways also allows for the integration of much needed real-time public transport information systems in Nairobi such as information screens on the bus tops that help with scheduling. Finally, the charging stations we plan on establishing necessitate the use of smart grids in order to track the demand of energy. With a large enough fleet, we can also use the buses to store renewable energy and supply to the national grid in periods of high demand.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

E-Moti was founded upon the need for inclusivity in urban transportation. In order to provide more Level of Service in unserved and underserved regions of Nairobi, the dynamic routing system offered by the VRS helps us to orient our fleets towards where supply-gap is most dorminant and at different times of the day. Our buses are also equiped with PWD infrastructure such as ramps, recorded sign-language information (to be implemented)and priority seats to cater for the needs of the differently abled. This, we believe will amplify the role of transport in reducing inequalities within the city.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Nairobi's public transport services have grown beyond its administrative boundaries to include the Nairobi Metropolitant region (NMR) which includes upto 3 other counties. As a result, E-Moti believe we can sustainably offer longer intra-city transport by utilizing higher passenger capacity electric buses and still provide comparitively cheaper rate. Further within the city, the VRS allows us to offer an equitable LoS for underserved areas, this is because our low operational expenditure allows us to make a compelling business case for low-revenue-generating routes, but that has a significant demand.

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

1. The fleet of electric buses The operation of an electric bus fleet is our main product. Electric buses replace conventional buses that run on fossil fuels, greatly reducing both energy use and CO2 emissions. This shift reduces our carbon footprint, which also encourages the adoption of greener, renewable energy sources. 2. Initiatives for Carbon Offsets One important program we have to offset our carbon emissions is "A Trip for Trees". We partner with Nature Lover Consultants to plant trees and create carbon sinks, and we donate 2% of our profits to these projects. This program supports sustainable land use, improves biodiversity, and sequesters carbon. 3. Integration of Technology we aim to have our Vehicle Routing System (VRS) optimize bus routes using cutting-edge machine learning algorithms, lowering pollutants and fuel consumption. This technology would help us achieve our aim of sustainable urban mobility while ensuring effective resource utilization.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Through E-Moti we are able to achieve low-carbon expansion of the public transport sector. Our climate mitigation initiative E-Moti seeks to reduce the scope-1 and 2 emissions per passenger transported and per kilometre travelled. Partnering with an implmementing entity such as Nature Lover Consultancy, will help us establish carbon sinks throughout the country for which is tied an environmental restoration campaign, but also to achieve low-emission intra-city transport.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

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

Our fundamental business strategy is based on operating a fleet of electric buses, which do not directly emit CO2 compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered buses. By providing a greener mode of public transportation, we help to reduce air pollution and its negative consequences on terrestrial ecosystems and urban surroundings. Lastly,

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

At E-Moti, we ensure that our operations follow all applicable environmental and transportation requirements, fostering a culture of legal compliance and accountability within our organization. We advocate for the implementation of environmental and public health regulations through transparent business practices and active interaction with regulatory agencies. This commitment to legal compliance fosters confidence with our stakeholders and strengthens the rule of law in the communities we serve. Lastly, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity are key values of E-Moti. We regularly work with a variety of stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and environmental organizations, to ensure that our business operations are consistent with larger social goals. Our engagement with Nature Lover Consultants on the "A Trip for Trees" campaign illustrates our commitment to forming partnerships that promote sustainable development and environmental care.

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

E-Moti helps to revive the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development by aligning our activities with global sustainability goals and actively participating in collaborations. Our collaborations with local and international organizations, stakeholders, and academic institutions demonstrate our dedication to joint action and shared success. Through these collaborations, we hope to develop a sustainable urban mobility model that may be duplicated in other countries, thereby contributing to global sustainability efforts.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

The industry we are getting into is not a novel one but is arguably the backbone of most middle- and low-income earners of any city. Whereas we are not targeting to reinvent the wheel in how people are transported, we are gently disrupting how well this service may be rendered. With our VRS system, we plan on augmenting the Level of Service a conventional transport business offers by including data analytics and customer feedback mechanisms. We believe a much needed aspect of travel time and ETA information is needed in the transport sector.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are established fleet operators with large fleet sizes plying different routes in the NMR. Our unique differentiator comes in our profit retention capability, our independence from policy reforms relating to fuel levies and by extension our reliability in transport charges and finally the integration of a real time public transport information system in our operations

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

Yes we are. We are intentionally looking for C-suite personnel who are female entrepreneurs to input a different and unique perspective into our operations. As such, we have secluded the position of CFO and CMO (Chief Finance Officer) and (Chief Marketing Officer) for female entrepreneurs. We at E-Moti believe that this balance will allow much more foresight and diverse engagement.