Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Using the aggregation theory, our project aggregates farmers as suppliers of farm products and vendors as the customers across the country; from cereal shops, hotels to final consumers. Our entry product has been rice locally grown in Kenya.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Almanis Soko is an aggregator sourcing commodities from hundreds of farmers and facilitating the trade across our country. Through our customized app, a Customer Relationship System, we facilitate the trade, movement of goods and payment to farmers. The founders of the company are young educated farmers, in the field of finance, accounting and technology.

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

Our main goals is to achieve food security through increasing profit to farmers and managing waste. From the aggregation of customers/vendors across the country and use of technology, we have data that helps to predict demand and financials positions for future credit facilities to farmers and vendors.

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

The farmers profit margin has increased and they do receive payments in two weeks from Almanis Soko. Our competitors, the old school middlemen, traditionally pays farmers after 2-3 months. Both the farmer and customers using Almanis Soko, do enjoy protection from fraudster that have been a common problem with online sales.

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

Our main beneficiaries are farmers and commodities vendors across the country, with their trade being facilitated and powered by Almanis soko CRM system and team of experts.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-09-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

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 team is diverse with experts in finance and accounting, ICT system designing and programming, and media marketing. The team were previously employed elsewhere before resigning to focus on this project after it's successfully Proof of concept.

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

http://almanissoko.com/

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

In addition to timely payments, we offer the best profit margin to both our farmers and cereal vendors.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

We have partnered with a food processor to improve storage of the farm outputs to reduce wastage and theft.

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

We organize farmers training to teach on cleanliness and safer ways to pack their products.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We offer digital training on how to market products online.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Over 80 percent of the farmers and vendors in our ecosystem are women.

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

One of our products is rice husk, a perfect raw material for bio fuel. The cement, beer and cooking oil companies have been sourcing it as an alternative to firewood.

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

In addition to the founders, we have created employment for youths who flock our premises for casual jobs.

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

We are tech savvy and highly appreciate technology. Our goal is to integrate our CRM system with I.A in near future.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Our team is diverse and made up of 4 tribes.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

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

3

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

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

5

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

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

4

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.

4

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.

4

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

4

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our project is unique due to the customized CRM system we developed to digitize and achieve the first blockchain by us farmers, for farmers.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are the traditional middlemen with experience in the industry, however they lack knowledge and vision on how to digitize the sector.

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

Yes. I have been working with a female influencer to promote our town and offering her business advise to sell her farm products.