Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Over six months, we've facilitated ownership of 352 electric bikes, resulting in 500,000 deliveries and a 39% income increase for riders. Our vision aims to empower 50,000 riders in five years, generating $100 million in earnings.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

At eWAKA, we are transforming the last-mile logistics sector in Africa by enabling delivery riders to not just earn but to own their evehicles outright by partnering with microfinance institutions. The backbone of the industry, delivery riders, often face challenging terrains and security risks for meager wages, with little incentive to complete deliveries. We create value across the entire supply chain.By partnering with e-commerce and delivery platforms, we provide a steady demand and increased earnings for these entrepreneurs, supporting their evehicle repayments. Our fleet management services ensure maximum utilization, increased deliveries per shift, and transparency for customers through embedded IoT devices. Our goal is to enable 50,000 delivery riders in the next five years, generating over $100 million in delivery earnings and unlocking greater value through scalable partnerships and diversified vehicle offerings, fueling growth and impact in the sector.

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

Delivery riders face low earnings and limited access to financing due to lack of collateral. Existing financial solutions don't cater to their needs, hindering ownership of ebikes based on their earnings history. The ecommerce sector lacks organized fleet management systems to train, monitor, and empower riders efficiently. There's a need for affordable evehicles and cost-effective operations. Additionally, there's a lack of predictive data analytics for optimizing delivery routes and solutions.

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

eWAKA offers corporates access to a highly skilled and meticulously vetted pool of riders, delivering unparalleled courier services. This ensures corporates build trust with their clients, boosting traction. Meanwhile, riders benefit from access to top-tier ebikes through eco-friendly financing with flexible terms, devoid of strict requirements. Leveraging our advanced predictive data analytics platform, eWAKA optimizes bike utilization and route efficiency, ensuring maximum productivity and significantly higher earnings for riders.

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

Targetted beneficiary are corporates who have delivery needs, fleet platform operators in food, parcel, grocery delivery the likes of bolt food, uber eats, glovo among others. The riders are also our primary target beneficiary.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-09-15

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.)

Celeste Vogel, CEO and Co-founder of eWAKA Mobility, brings a diverse background to her role. With experience in finance and engineering, including positions at institutions like Citibank, Credit Suisse, ABB, and Swiss Re, Celeste's career spans legal advisory roles. Outside her corporate career, Celeste co-founded Professional Women of African Heritage (PROWAH) in Switzerland and advises Les Enfants Monique, a prenatal care organization. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the LEAP Program. Celeste's achievements include participation in the Google for Startups - Africa Female Founders program, Miller Centre for Social Enterprise and securing initial funding from the SECO Start UP Fund. Under Celeste's leadership, eWAKA has deployed hundreds of ebikes, created jobs, reduced emissions, and covered significant distances, all while prioritizing sustainability, community engagement, and gender equality.

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

https://www.ewaka.tech/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ewaka/posts/?feedView=all

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 model creates employment opportunities for young people and women who would never have access to employment, since the knowledge of cycling a bicycle is one of requirements for joining eWAKA as a rider, this has enabled many people to apply and get a chance to work with us as compared to jobs that require other cumbersome entry requirements like having a driving license. We have therefore been able to create more that 500 direct jobs.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

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

Cycling promotes physical activity, reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. It enhances overall fitness and mental well-being.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our bikes are intentionally designed to allow for female riders to have the opportunity to cycle hassle free, the frame is curved therefore providing the best experience to cycle even while wearing a dress or skirt. We have also employed female riders in our fleet who are taking on the courier role and generating incomes for their families. The eWAKA management team is majority female dominated.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

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

Cycling is a sustainable mode of transport that requires no fossil fuels, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. It supports the transition to cleaner and more efficient energy sources.

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 have created a whole new economy for couriers and gig workers to have the opportunity to work in a respectable environment by giving them an ebike and linking them to a fleet or corporate partner to make deliveries.

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

Promoting cycling infrastructure (such as bike lanes, parking facilities, and bike-sharing systems) fosters innovation in urban planning and transportation, improving city connectivity and accessibility.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Providing an employment opportunity for people who would otherwise not have a source of income has been able to contribute to reducing the earning inequality gap by enabling such people to earn a living.

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

Cycling reduces traffic congestion, noise pollution, and the need for car-centric infrastructure. It promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Cycling encourages sustainable consumption patterns by reducing the dependence on motor vehicles and encouraging the use of renewable resources for transportation.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Cycling contributes directly to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change impacts by promoting a low-carbon mode of transport.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

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

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

We do not contribute to this.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

We collaborate with Original Equipment Manufacturers in designing and building our ebikes. We source parts from different suppliers in Asia and locally here in Kenya.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

Dedicated fleet management for last mile deliveries is a concept that has never been concived before, with a fleet of ebikes; we have been able to curve a nich in meeting the need for dedicated fleet riders. Last mile delivery has been done without special focus in understanding and appreciating particular metrics that are key in the success of it. We have deliberately taken the time to learn and understand what it means to be a successful last mile delivery professional, this has made us open up a new market for corporates, individuals and businesses that are involved with last mile delivery on a day to day basis. This is therefore a new unique approach to meet last mile delivery needs.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are fuel bikes like bajan and TVS, and our other competitors are eletric bike companies like Ampersand, Roam, and ebee. All of these companies however are not offering dedictated fleet management services to corporates, fleet partners and businesses. Their models are majorls sales and rentals. This leaves us as the only ones that are driving the transformation for last mile deliveries by offerind vetted and trained delivery riders, with targetted perfoamnce metrics to optimize productivity.

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

I belong to an alumni association where i mentor female entreprenuers in their early stage journey on entreneurship.