Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Miles Medical Distributors is a healthcare company focused on providing high-quality medical diagnostic products at pocket-friendly price. Our aim is to increase access to essential diagnostic tools to the general public.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Miles Medical Distributors is a for-profit business that provides quality healthcare products at pocket-friendly prices by using cost effective strategies. The start-up was founded by Collins Mwangi, and receives considerable help from Collins' girlfriend, Annie. As of now, Miles deals with a small catalog of healthcare products like rapid test strips and small appliances. However, the vision of the founder is to make Miles ones of the biggest suppliers of healthcare products in Kenya and Africa.

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

I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone. One, I want to make it more affordable to get diagnostic services. The other problem I want to solve with Miles is achieving my full potential, I'm not yet there.

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

Benefits - Products are more affordable compared to the average products in the market - Miles offers convenience as it delivers products to the clients - Clients receive exemplary customer service

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

Miles mainly sells products to healthcare facilities. Nonetheless, the key beneficiary is the patient. The business model makes the company to be reliable in product delivery as well as allows the company to sell products at low prices, both of which are very beneficial to a patient when receiving diagnostic services.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-04-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

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.)

The company has one individual, who does everything from marketing, procurement, selling, etc.

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

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560090808118 / https://www.tiktok.com/@miles.distributors?_t=8nHbddigSyz&_r=1

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Low rates of diagnostic services is a contributor of high poverty. How? Lack of timely diagnosis exacerbates health issues in patients, which in turn leads to severe complications, and in worst case scenarios, death. These severe complications affect the financial status of the patient and their families, as they will need more financial resources to now treat or deal with the severe complication. In short, Miles promotes timely diagnosis which helps fight poverty directly and indirectly

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

My project can deal with 'Zero Hunger' well through the following way. Foremost, offering our healthcare products reliably and at an affordable price means that many people will have access to diagnostic services, hence improve the general public's wellness. Healthy individuals are better at fending for themselves compared to unhealthy ones. Therefore, if the public's wellness improves, poverty levels may be controlled by a certain degree as the people will be able to fend for themselves

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

Miles primary goal is to increase access to diagnostic services by offering diagnostic tools at more affordable prices. In other words, the company's mission is to promote wellbeing of the public

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

My company promotes lifelong learning. First, I have been learning so much since starting this project, from learning about business management, marketing, to understating more about healthcare diagnostic tools. Second, I have taught several healthcare practitioners (and my family and friends) about diagnostic tools

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My project achieves gender equality as it does not discriminate against any gender. Most of the key players involved in the running of Miles are women, from my non-shareholder partner, to my consultant (friend), to suppliers

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

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

I, the founder, vow to make the wellbeing of my staff (when I get them) a topmost-priority. I have worked in many company and read a lot, and I can say without a doubt that prioritizing employees wellbeing is invaluable to any business.

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

Yes, it does. Miles makes it a priority to come up with effective systems in all its business procedures and operations. The founder believes that early implementation of systems for each operation will go a mile in making the project a long-term success. In creating these systems, Miles combines traditional and modern innovations.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Miles reduces inequality in the region (also in due time, hopefully, in the country and beyond) by ensuring healthcare facilities in remote areas receive affordable quality diagnostic tools in a timely fashion.

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

Miles deals with healthcare products, thus boosts the resilience of communities by making it easier for the public to diagnose and solve health issues

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

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Currently, the company is not involved much in the fight against climate change. However, I believe that we should all work together in solving this planetary problem. When Miles expands, I will make sure that it strongly advocates for climate change strategies as part of its CSR goals

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

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

Miles has similar values to those of its founder, including the protection of land. So, Miles follows this principle mainly by not littering and doing anything that may damage the land

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Miles supports the Sustainable Development goals and does everything in its power in adhering to these goals.

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.

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.

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

Miles is unique and innovative as seen in its key operations: - Market gap identification: The founder did and continuously does market gap analysis by using surveys and interviews. - Procurement: The founder keeps good records of suppliers with affordable and quality products. Also, he puts effort in forming good connections with the suppliers as this is recommended by experts. - Data recording; The founder uses a CRM platform to store and retrieve clients' information, which is critical in serving the clients well and in identifying game-changing insights - Product delivery: The founder offers delivery services of the products. Clients in this area do not get these services from their other vendors. - Customer service: The founder ensures customer service is top notch. It is better than average, according to the founders nine years of experience. - Unparalleled marketing: The founder uses (will use) all marketing tools: SEO, social media marketing, paid ads, email, SMS, etc.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

The main potential competitors are Labsco and Shadon. Both of them are based in Thika, a town that is more than 10km away from the region I serve. First, I stand out from these competitors because I live close to the clients. Second, I sell to the clients the same products they get from these competitors at around the same price (or lower). In short, getting the same products from me is more economical and convenient than getting the products from these competitors. Additionally, I have excellent digital marketing skills, which are absent in practically all the industries in our country (Kenya is yet to fully take advantage of digital marketing applications). So, with hardwork, I know I can serve a gigantic market in Kenya and Africa.

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

I applaud my girlfriend as she rises the ranks, I give women (and independent) candidates my vote in situations I don't have a pre-determined candidate during national elections