Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Plastic bottles are a major source of pollution in my country, at Mr. Green's farm we turn this bottles to kitchen farms. Urban development ha deprived people farming land, here we make it all possible. A clean green city with food, that is our goal.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

On routine, every morning I walk along kakamega highway picking bottles that travellers throw out through matatu Windows. The next stage is cutting the bottles to create space for plant growth, after which they are filled with soil ready for seedlings transplant. Other than bottles, 'mogoka' packing bags work well so we collect used ones from 'jaba' retailers. Regular kitchen commodities are constantly sold at different rates every week, so this is to help sell the product at constant affordable prices.

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

I think I have given hints on answers above but in details. First problem that we are solving is plastic bottles waste/pollution, which has highly contributed to roadside drainages blocking during rainy seasons which leads to sewers busting thus being an environmental hazard. Second, we are fighting hunger and food expenses, high taxation has lead to prices appreciating on the regular and this makes it hard for low income citizens to afford food comfortably. We majorly plant vegetables like kales, coriander, garlic, ginger, onions, tomatoes and the likes. Thirdly we are trying to utilise space by attaching the bottles on fence lines and on walls using binding wires, this is to improvise space. People living in urban spaces do not have land space for farming but we found an alternative.

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

Our clients get to buy fresh vegetables at affordable prices and alternatively we can develop a kitchen farm for them at a small fee. We get to clean up our country by daily collection of plastic bottles on the road side and eventually with some capital we can set up plastic bins at specific points (matatu stages, business parks and centre or market places, etc) for plastic disposals, hopefully in partnership with the county government. Third, it is an opportunity for employment for the youth who collect the bottles, soil, planting and product distribution. This will enable youths working under us to have a source of income and lower idleness, which often lead them into drugs and theft. Boda boda riders will also get an income avenue for deliveries.

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

Our target beneficiaries are the supermarkets, food vendors, mama mboga and individuals from their homes.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-03-19

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

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.)

My partner is a fellow poet.

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/janabii_puthrambaka?igsh=enNlOHliZHU2aG05

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

We target to employ the youth, thus giving them a consistent income. Eventually we want to start up the business in different towns and employ more people.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Low income citizens are having a had time buying basic groceries and so with time, other than giving them a cheaper option which we have; we intend to introduce this farming system to our clients home. We also encourage seeds preservation and harvest from the plants we have already grown e.g taking a few seeds from tomatoes to replant before cooking, buy two onions and cook with one and plant the other.

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

Quality, healthy food is what we grow and harvest . We use composed manure and plant greens which is a major source of vitamin, protein for healthy body and long life.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We would love to develop this in schools but it will need funding, at the moment people living close buy are learning that farming is possible in many ways and not necessarily on land.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

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

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

The process of planting is somewhat fun but also income generating. Gloves and collection bags are provided for plastics collection. We also consider our kind of farming as office farming.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

We get to depend on our own products and reduce vegetables import.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

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

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Based on all sayed, food is a necessity and so is land. We have less land due to buying and grabbing. The kind of farming we are doing requires less space and if introduced on land it will greatly help the soil in nutrition.

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

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

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.

2

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

3

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

4

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

6

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

3

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

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

We offer a verity of vegetables

06.09 Competitive Analysis

I have not met a competitor

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

I would love to employ girls since the are easy to work with