Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This is a creator-to-consumer commerce platform where content creators not only recommend products and services through their content, but also sell directly to their audiences through their creator shops and earn a revenue share from the total sales.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Kuzaplus brings together three parties: Businesses seeking to increase their sales and brand awareness through content creators; Content creators seeking to monetize their content or add an additional income stream; and the consumers seeking to buy products recommended by creators

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

Kuzaplus solves two main problems: 1. Many creators lack access to brand deals and endorsements, leaving them largely unable to monetize their content and unable to earn a meaningful income despite having a meaningful and valuable reach that could be utilized by brands. 2. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot afford the high fees charged by top content creators, preventing them from leveraging creator marketing to promote their businesses. These problems can be better understood in context of the status quo in the market whereby: a. Creators are heavily dependent on brand deals for income, which limits their ability to focus on direct-to-consumer strategies. b. Many creators lack the tools, platform, or knowledge needed to effectively market and sell products directly to their audience. c. Brands, on the other hand, must pay substantial fees upfront to creators without any assurance of sales performance.

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

1. Creation of Employment - Kuzaplus utilizes social media as a tool to empower the millions of young people to be self-employed in the industry of content creation. 2. Supporting SMEs - Kuzaplus avails a cost-effective means through which SMEs can take their products to market with a reduced risk on capital specifically on marketing expenses. 3. Taking commerce to the next level - E-commerce has largely struggled in Kenya, and Africa at large because it mostly lacks the social element. Africans/Kenyans prefer to buy from people they know. Kuzaplus through Creator commerce bridges that gap and will help propel commerce in Africa to the next level.

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

There are two main beneficiaries in the Kuzaplus ecosystem: 1. Content creators - Any young person with some following online can sign up as a content creator and start benefitting from creator commerce. 2. Small and Medium size business owners will be able to take their products to market, and have an extensive distribution system like never before.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-10-14

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.)

My co-founder, Miss. Farida Kawira, has a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance specialty, and is also a CPA-K. She serves as the CFO to Kuzaplus, as well as creator manager.

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

https://kuzaplus.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Commerce & Marketing

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Kuzaplus contributes to the goal of ending poverty in all its forms by enabling anyone who can access a mobile phone and a camera, to be able to earn a meaningful income, without any limitation! Anyone can sign up as a content creator and put in effort to convert whatever form of audience into paying customers. Kuzaplus also contributes to this goal by supporting small and medium size enterprises, which employ millions of people, to generate revenue through support in product awareness and distribution.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

6

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

A lack of income can negatively impact the well-being of an individual. Having a meaningful income is a rightful step towards good health and well-being. Kuzaplus contributes to this goal by empowering young people, who are more likely to suffer from mental health issues as a result of a lack of income, to earn meaningfully from own efforts.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Kuzaplus does not discriminate based on gender in any way. Women, who are more likely to be discriminated based on gender, stand to gain even more as they are the majority in content creation. Kuzaplus does not use gender as a factor in allocating campaigns and collaborations. We employ a no-barrier approach on our platform.

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

N/A

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

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

Kuzaplus provides individuals with the opportunity to decent work in marketing through content creation. Individuals get an opportunity to collaborate and earn through the products that they regularly use and interact with. This income derived creator commerce goes towards economic growth. The support of SMEs also builds economic growth. SMEs are supported to build their revenues, in turn they will be able to expand, employ more people and collectively grow the economy.

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

First, Kuzaplus democratizes access to brand deals and collaborations for creators. Kuzaplus does this through centralized products and promotions access and allowing creators of all sizes to access them. Secondly, Kuzaplus provides a cost-effective marketing for SMEs. This is an industry innovation that eliminates the high upfront fees and instead utilizes a performance-based compensation system. Third, Kuzaplus provides an enhanced consumer engagement model that is more personalized based on favorite creators, who promote products that they genuinely endorse. Finally, Kuzaplus provides a system in whole that is flexible and scalable.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Kuzaplus supports reduced inequalities through

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Sustainable cities are built on the inhabitants being able to support themselves, and reduced dependency. By empowering individuals to build a source of income, Kuzaplus indirectly helps build sustainable cities and communities.

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

By facilitating a direct creator-to-consumer model, Kuzaplus helps reduce overproduction and waste associated with traditional retail models. Kuzaplus also contributes towards reduced wastage on resources by SMEs specifically in marketing and product distribution.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

3

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

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

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

6

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

3

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

The Creator-to-Consumer Model is completely new in the Kenyan market, and most of Africa. There is currently no centralized platform that allows for content creators to partner with local brands for brand awareness and product sales, through a performance-based compensation model. Kuzaplus is a response to the need of content creators needing to monetize their content without any other alternative means to brand deals and endorsements.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

There are two potential competitors. Wowzi - wowzi is a creator commerce platform that helps businesses access influencers for brand promotion deals. Twiva - is a social commerce platform that helps businesses manage their influencer-based campaigns. Kuzaplus stands out from both Wowzi and Twiva in that it is focused on direct sales and conversions through creators. Kuzaplus is all about empowering creators with an autonomy in managing and earning from their craft. Creators get to pick what brand products to work with instead of waiting for businesses to pick them.

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

Yes, first by partnering with a female co-founder, and secondly choosing to build an industry (creator marketing) that is female dominated.