Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Maziwani is your one-stop mobile app for secure and efficient bartering in Kenya.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Maziwani is your one-stop mobile app for secure and efficient bartering in Kenya. We eliminate the hassles of traditional bartering and unlock a world of possibilities: Value Proposition: Effortless Connections: Find compatible barter partners with ease through our user-friendly app. Our AI-powered recommendations connect you with users seeking what you offer and vice versa. Secure Transactions: Say goodbye to trust concerns. Blockchain technology ensures secure and transparent bartering, while our reputation system fosters trust among users. Flexibility with BarterCoin: Don't have something to directly barter? No problem! Use our stablecoin, BarterCoin, to seamlessly exchange value within the platform. Community Focus: Maziwani goes beyond bartering. We're building a vibrant community where you can connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to positive s

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

In Kenya, bartering is often inefficient and limited. Maziwani tackles this by creating a secure and user-friendly platform for Kenyans to exchange goods and services more effectively. Here's how: Inefficiencies: Finding barter partners and ensuring a fair exchange can be challenging. We connect users and facilitate transactions through a mobile app. Limited Options: Traditional bartering often relies on personal networks. We expand possibilities by offering a wider user base to connect with. Security Concerns: Bartering can involve trust issues. Maziwani utilizes blockchain technology to provide a secure escrow system for transactions, ensuring both parties receive what they agreed upon. Our goal is to empower Kenyans by: Simplifying Bartering: Enabling Secure Transactions: Expanding Opportunities:

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

Maziwani offers several advantages to Kenyans looking for a more efficient and secure way to barter: Seamless Bartering Experience: Our user-friendly mobile app streamlines the entire bartering process. You can easily find barter partners, list items, negotiate deals, and complete transactions securely within the platform. Expanded Opportunities: Maziwani connects you with a wider network of potential barter partners across Kenya. This opens doors to a greater variety of goods and services you can exchange, catering to a broader range of needs and wants. Secure Transactions with BarterCoin: Worried about trust issues in bartering? Maziwani eliminates that concern. Our stablecoin, BarterCoin, is pegged to the Kenyan Shilling and facilitates secure transactions through blockchain technology. This ensures both parties receive what they agreed upon without the risk of fraud.

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

Maziwani mobile bartering platform is designed to empower two primary Kenyan beneficiary groups: Individual Kenyans Seeking to Barter Goods & Services: We target everyday Kenyans who want a more efficient and secure way to barter goods and services they no longer need for things they desire. This includes individuals looking to exchange anything from clothes and electronics to fresh produce and handyman services. Kenyan Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Biashara Bora offers a valuable platform for Kenyan small businesses and entrepreneurs. They can barter for needed supplies, services, or even marketing opportunities with other businesses on the platform, optimizing their resources and potentially reaching new customer segments.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-01-03

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

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.)

Daniel Nyutu is a seasoned software developer working at Upande Limited.

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

https://maziwani-e47zm9b.gamma.site/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

g) Financial services

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Facilitating Access to Goods & Services: Maziwani empowers individuals to barter for needed items, potentially reducing their reliance on solely cash-based transactions. This can be especially helpful for low-income Kenyans who might have limited cash flow. Creating Economic Opportunities: The platform allows users to barter unused items for things they need, essentially creating value from what they already own. This can improve their overall well-being and potentially generate additional income. Encouraging Local Trade & Community: Maziwani fosters local bartering within Kenyan communities. This can stimulate local economies and empower people to meet their needs through local networks.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Increased Access to Food: Maziwani creates a platform for bartering various goods and services, including food produce. This can allow individuals with surplus crops or livestock to barter for other necessities, enabling them to allocate more resources towards acquiring food.

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

5

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

Enabling barter for healthcare services boosted by BarteCoin: When the platform expands to include healthcare providers, users could potentially barter for medical consultations or medications. This could be particularly beneficial in remote areas or for those who lack health insurance. Partnership with Health NGO's and Insurances

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Limited Applicability: BarterCoin, the platform's stablecoin, cannot be directly used to pay for educational services like tuition or school supplies. While users could potentially barter for educational materials with each other, this approach is unlikely to be systematic or widespread.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Economic Empowerment for Women: By facilitating bartering, Maziwani can empower women to become more economically active. Women can barter their skills, crafts, or surplus goods, generating income and potentially gaining more control over household finances. Increased Participation in Local Markets: The platform can create opportunities for women to participate in local bartering markets, traditionally male-dominated spaces. This can enhance their economic agency and decision-making power.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Waste Management Rewards Earn BarterCoin or tokens for responsible waste disposal and recycling, incentivizing environmentally conscious practices.

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

Solar Energy Trading Facilitate peer-to-peer solar power exchange within communities, enabling local green energy sharing and reducing reliance on the grid.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Creating New Economic Opportunities: The platform facilitates bartering, which can create new economic opportunities for Kenyans. People can barter their skills, services, or unused goods, potentially generating income and participating more actively in the local economy. Empowering Small Businesses: Biashara Bora allows small businesses to barter for needed supplies or services, reducing their reliance on solely cash-based transactions. This can help them optimize resources and potentially reach new customer segments. Promoting Local Trade and Entrepreneurship: By fostering bartering within Kenyan communities, Biashara Bora encourages local trade and entrepreneurship. This can stimulate local economic activity and create new opportunities for income generation. Increased Financial Inclusion: The platform, particularly through BarterCoin, can promote financial inclusion for those who might be unbanked or underbanked. BarterCoin allows them to participate in a secure digital platform.

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

Built on AI and blockchain technology, its represents the future of technology.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The hybrid barter system allows for interaction between various people in different economic classes.

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

The platform offers crowdsourcing services for local projects using barter coin.

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 offers a platform where you can gain value for your "excess" which reduces material wastage.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Solar Energy Trading Facilitate peer-to-peer solar power exchange within communities, enabling local green energy sharing and reducing reliance on fossil fuel sources.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

By promoting healthy life practices on land, the effect will trickle down to the sea and oceans as well due to a cleaner environment. In the future the platform will offer opportunities to trade carbon credits.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

By fostering community participation through the exchange, the community comes together under a shared vision and values.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

By partnering with relevant stakeholders, the platform will provide a synthesized interaction between key market players enabling competition thus better goods and services.

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

6

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

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

We revolutionize Barter Trade through blockchain and BarterCoin our stable coin the platforms currency.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Global Bartering Platforms: Existing online bartering platforms like BarterQuest or SwapThing might have a user base in Kenya, but may lack the regional focus and integration with local payment methods. Social Media Barter Groups: Facebook groups dedicated to bartering within Kenyan communities offer a localized platform, but lack the structure and security features of a dedicated app. Informal Barter Networks: Traditional community-based bartering networks remain prevalent, but are limited in reach and scalability compared to a mobile app. By using AI and blockchain technology we increase reach and options for Kenyans.

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

Yes. By promoting entreprenurial events to fellow students.