Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

White Button Mushrooms Production is a venture that deals with producing the fungi in an enclosed environment. This enables us to control the environmental conditions for maximum production & efficiency. Thus, contributing to solve food security issue.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Growing of mushrooms is one of the days that helps to tackle the issue of food insecurity & providing employment for young people. White Button production mainly involves 4 main stages; substrate preparation, incubation, fruiting & harvesting. Mushrooms are saprophytic in nature, meaning they require a decomposing source of nutrients. The process of substrate formation involves aerobically decomposing wheat straws, chicken manure & other useful nutrient sources until the desired stage. Further, the substrate is transferred to a grow house after spawning with the seeds to initiate mycelium growth. The process takes about 28 days. Fruiting stage will proceed & this involves lowering the grow house temperature to 15-19 °C & raising the humidity to 80-90%. Also, water is sprayed to initiate growing of mushrooms. Harvesting & selling is then ready for the next 6-8 weeks. Every morning & evening, mushrooms are harvested during the flashes. Thereafter, the used substrate is recycled.

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

The main problem we aim at solving is unemployment among the youth & women. Mushrooms cultivation is a venture that does not require much energy but strategy is necessary. The processes leading to the maturity of mushrooms are not tedious us some of the other farm works. Therefore, women find a soft spot working with us in the farm. Most of the casual jobs available in the locality requires physical strength to accomplish the tasks, making women unsuitable candidates. Working in my farm enables them to find a source of income to sustain their families. Furthermore, I have provided a working opportunity to some of the youths in the area. Some of them have avoided drugs & criminal offences because of involving themselves with mushroom farming. However, we can only contribute so little in solving the unemployment problem because of our limited resources.

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

1. Mushrooms contain vitamin D. Helps to activate your immune system. 2. Anti-inflammatory and help improve insulin production. 3. Contains Beta glucans that control blood sugar levels & reduce the risk of diabetes. 4. They improve your memory, protect your brain & slow down the ageing process. Mushrooms are packed with antioxidants including glutathione. 5. Good for weight loss because they have low calories, full of fibre & help satiate your appetite. 6. Good for your heart health. They help regulate your blood cholesterol level

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

Aside from maximizing profits, my start-up aims at training more people with the knowledge of mushrooms production. Currently, I have trained & mentored five mushroom farmers among them 4 women. Further, I have also trained two self help groups with the knowledge of mushrooms production. One of the group's is currently producing & slowly establishing themselves as a formidable force in the mushroom industry. Through the group, we have applied for FAO-FFF DBG Grants & we are expecting a positive feedback by the end of June. Henceforth, the joy of seeing the presumed irrelevant people in society establish themselves & live a comfortable life cannot be overstated in my daily endeavours. I have talked to more than 10 farmers cooperatives on the same venture & still pushing for more awareness. Their main drawback is the lack of funds to begin the farming.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-01

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?

1

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

The other owner in the farm is a lady named Winnie Charo. She is a graduate of Journalism & mass communication. After failing to secure a job, she developed interest in mushroom farming. Her charismatic character is the reason I made her the marketing director of the farm. She is the one responsible with all our sales activities throughout the country. Further, she also finds potential markets & informs me before we make decisions. We have experienced this success because of her experience as a sales & marketing agency in one of the leading insurance companies in Kenya.

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

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

As mentioned earlier, my start-up aims at solving the issue of poverty. Above the high market of mushrooms, we aim at training more people to help improve their livelihoods & lead a comfortable life. I have trained several people who are now established in the farming. Further, I continually meet with farmer cooperatives to teach them about mushroom farming.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Mushrooms are a good source of food that requires a small space to produce large quantities of the produce. The mushrooms are produced in a controlled environment, meaning cultivation can be done throughout the year. However, there's not much we can do since mushroom farming is not widely practised in Kenya. According to a report by the ministry of agriculture, mushrooms have a yearly deficit of about 500 tonnes in Kenya. This forces the country to import from outside countries to satisfy the growing demand.

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

Mushroom is well-known as a preferred protein source. The health benefits are more because it is produced organically. Some of the health benefits imclude; Mushrooms contain vitamin D. Helps to activate your immune system. Anti-inflammatory and help improve insulin production. Contains Beta glucans that control blood sugar levels & reduce the risk of diabetes. They improve your memory, protect your brain & slow down the ageing process. Mushrooms are packed with antioxidants including glutathione. Good for weight loss because they have low calories, full of fibre & help satiate your appetite. Good for your heart health. They help regulate your blood cholesterol level

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

By changing the living standards of the farmers, their children are able to access education in Kenyan public schools. Also, I use some of the funds received from the project to support the orphanage home I was raised & educated in. This enables my brothers & sisters from the home learn comfortably. We are also setting up a small farm in the children's home to help them get food.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My start-up has a female owner & also employs women to work on the farm. Further, I have trained 4 women who are currently earning from mushroom farming.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The project does not release waste water into the environment but promotes water management through the use of spraying machines to reduce water loss.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

The used substrate can be used in the production of biogas. This can be used as an alternative source of energy.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Mushroom production is a sustainable source of income that enables the farmer to be in market throughout the year. Further, all genders & ages can do the production to enable them earn from their decent work.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Mushrooms production uses some of the modern technological advances to ease production. For instance, we use humidifiers to sustain a high humidity content.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The start-up includes people from different age sets, gender & financial status. Further, we help promote mushrooms coming from our neighbours Rwanda.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Providing working opportunities for the youths reduces the chances of their involvement in crime.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

My start-up contributes to circular economy through my ability to produce & sell all round the year.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

The used of a controlled environment enables us to overcome the climate change concern & supply our clients with mushrooms, irrespective of the outside conditions.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

My start-up helps to sustain life and land. The used substrate is predominantly taken back to the land to improve soil structure and fertility. This improves production of other crops & act as a source of food to some insects such as the black soldier fly.

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

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

My start-up revitalized global partnerships through applying for the FAO grant through one of the self help group.

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

6

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

5

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.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.01 Mushrooms production has been associated with the rainy season in Kenya. Attempting to grow the product in a controlled environment was a strange phenomenon to many. Since not enough mushrooms is produced in Kenya, we have added to the supply of the product.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Some of the competitors of my start-up includes the imported mushrooms from Rwanda. What makes my product stand out is our ability to maintain freshness when the mushroom is served to the customer.

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

I am promoting the role of women in society by training some of them into mushroom farming. For the record, 4 women are currently earning from mushroom farming after training them.