Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The project is AI based hard/software product empowering small, medium and large businesses to utilize modern and cost effective solutions for managing their businesses. The product enhances transparency in merchandise sales, while keeping records

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The startup entails a point of sale system solution driven by Artificial intelligence to help business people make informed decisions and draw customer insights efficiently. Yet, it entails improving delivery of services by issuing receipts to consumers. The POS is integrated with hardware which entails basic printer and a robust software that is AI powered, supporting commerce trade, inventory management. Yet, it supports integration of E-tims and M-pesa services that are essential in running businesses in Kenya. The product is also versatile and it can be used in offline, online modes, while also supporting both Computer/Tab and mobile use. Yet, other secondary modules including inventory, employee, products management are incorporated in the system.

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

The problem solves lack of accountability in managing businesses. Most businesses suffer losses due to lack of accounting for their transactions. Yet, the available products are not interactive to provide businesses with insights regarding inventory management. Additionally, the available products are relatively expensive since most products are not locally based, The solution is thus, affordable and easy to use. Moreover, it provides consumers with insight on managing their businesses better while also ensuring that their operations are aligned with the local authorities requirements. There is a growing demand for E-tims and M-pesa integration services, which is an opportunity that the product capitalizes on.

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

1. Improved business accountability 2. Compliance with E-tims government requiremements 3. Insights driven (AI) based system incorporated for drawing customer insights. 4. Easy to use, mobile app support, tab and computer support. 5. Inventory management

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

Businesses owners, inclcuding small, medium to large enterprises that transact thorugh monetary value. They include supermarkets, whole sales, chemists, salon, hospital, restaurants, bars, hotels.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-05-05

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

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.)

Fisrt owner-Tel;ecommunications graduate with experience in networking and systems integration. Second Owner- Computer science, software developer and IT specialist Third owmer-Computer science, software developer.

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

https://ocratsystems.co.ke/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Other than point of sales, the startup encourages online profiling of business enterprises, increasing their online presence and hence, more opportunities.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Focus on managing available products efficiently. Thus, reducing wastages especially for food vendors.

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

The project promotes well being by reducing management and backend operations. The product provides vendors with insights that would otherwise take hours to compute. Thus, improving employee wellness. Besides, it promotes good health (for food vendors) who are managing expirable products.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

The product enhances awareness on modern business practices that can be emulated for improved operationbal experience. Businesses are infrormed on best practices of inventory management and risk aversion . Yet, the business

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

The product is not discriminatory of any gender. All gender can use the system regardless of their status. Further, it is simple to use and manageable.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The project enhances efficiency of management, if used by water billing companies.

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

The project prevents the use of paper works. Thus, reducing carbon emissions associated with the production of paper mills. one system replaces an avalanche of paper pages that would be used to record and analyze transactions.

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 product embraces decency in work. That is, vendors can make use of technology to conduct their transactions. It also support easy access of data remotely. Meaning, vendors are saved from the hassle of retrieving data.

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

The system strongly indicates innovativeness with incorporation of artificial intelligence as part of point of sale operations. Yet, it incorporates scalability as new innovations and improvements can be incorporated in the product for enhances user experience.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The product is indiscrimatory as all people can make use of the product with ease.

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

O-POS reflects a sustainable product that can be utilized in cities for enhancing commerce or exchange of business. It also supports many businesses involving frequent transactions.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

It also reflects responsible consumption since one product can serve multiple stores. For businesses with multiple branches, it is easy to manage transactions using one product. Yet, it reflects responsible productioon with zero 0 carbon emissions.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

There is zero carbon emissions since the production does not involve manufacturing. Moreover, it reduces utilization of papwr work. Thus reducing cutting down of trees, which are raw materials for producing note books.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

The product does not have by-products or wastes likely to affect water and life below it.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The product strongly reduces deforestation since no trees are cut. There is no harm in land and life in whatsoever form

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

There is no negative influence on institutions.

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

The product incorporates partnerships with global cloud based products. They include Amazon and Google Cloud. Yet, it involves partnerships with global payments.

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.

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

The prouct is an improvement of point of sale that incorporates artificial intelligence to draw insights in business transactions and customer behavior. Yet, it enhances efficiency of transaction with adoption of mobile use.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

The main competitors are companies such as Robisearch and Uzapoint. However, they have not covered the entire market. Yet, the O-POS addresses immediate needs of the marked including E-tims integration.

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

I work with a female founder, hence, i know and appreciate about their capabilities in delivering product success