Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

High Tech Aqua Farm is building a modern fish fingerlings hatchery for Tilapia and Catfish fingerlings. The project will produce high quality fish fingerlings at an affordable price. The project site is in Mwatate Subcounty, Taita Taveta County, Kenya.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The Proprietor of High Tech Aqua Farm is Prinstone Mwamburi Njumwa, a Master Degree holder from the University of Nairobi, Department of Geospatial and Space Technology. He is a vibrant, passionate agripreneur. High Tech Aqua Farm aims at exploiting the rich benefit of fresh fish food that is easy to farm in our environment through professional growing and marketing of Tilapia and Cat fish for local and international consumption. We are currently working with outgrower fish farmer groups from Voi, Mwatate, Wundanyi and Taveta subcounties in Taita Taveta County. Our individual clients (farmers, hotels and supermarkets) are spread all over the Country. The main objective of the establishment is to be a major producer and supplier of high quality: fish seed, fish feeds, table size fish and consultancy services in the region. Our mission is to contribute to aquaculture fish seed and fish meat production which in turn will alleviate challenges of food insecurity and unemployment.

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

The main problem High Tech Aqua Farm is solving is the supply of poor fish seed by brokers which has led to poor production of table size fish in the region. Majority of fish consumed in the region is sourced from Kisumu, Homa Bay, North Coast, South Coast and earlier imported from China. The capture fish has also gone down in number because of the increased overfishing by fishermen across the region.

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

i.) Affordable high quality seed ii.) Improved quality in production of table size fish iii.) Increased quantity of production and employment opportunities as a result of increased farmers and interested players because of the improved results.

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

Our products and services are aimed at serving; fish farmers, organizations, county and national government entities, fish traders, supermarkets, restaurants, fish joints and hotels.

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-07-31

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.)

There are no other owners but employees in the company. An aquaculture specialist, secretary, an accountant, agribusiness officer and casual laborers.

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

https://hightechaquafarm.com / https://web.facebook.com/princemwamburi/?_rdc=1&_rdr

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

With the supply of right quality fish fingerlings at an affordable price to the farmers, farmers are able to attain the targeted production withing a short period of time thus earning good amounts of revenue and profit in the process. Most of the locals have neglected their farms because of the poor harvest achieved since the introduction of fish farming in the region during the economic stimulus program in 2009. Demand for fish and fish products is high both locally and internationally. Income from the sales can really improve economic status of the society.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Increased production will directly translate to increased supply of food and income in the society thus alleviating hunger.

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

Fish is a good source of protein. It helps solve the challenge of malnutrition.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

With increased income in the community, parents will be able to take their children to school for proper education. The project aims at having farmers into out grower groups across Taita Taveta County.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Gender rule has been effected in our project. Our hatchery manager is a female and three other workers out of six are female.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Successful fish farming requires clean quality water without any form of contamination. My project ensures that there is clean water in the system through biosecurity measures and guidelines provided by the ministry.

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

My project makes use of green energy through the use of solar power in water pumps, heating gadgets and lighting in the farm.

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 are currently working with seventy seven (77) farmers in the region. If increased capacity by investors we will be able to have more numbers in the team hence improving the economic status of many if not the majority in the society.

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 project is employing high technology in production of fish fingerlings and other fish products with modern infrastructure. We are also working on developing a real data sensor that can get information about

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The project believes in equal opportunities for everyone.

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

After completion, the project will be able to run and sustain itself all through.

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

Our production and consumption is based on demand.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

My project is making use of harvested rain water and surface runoff. We are aiming at developing structures that can help hold rain water and serve the system throughout the year.

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

My project ensures sustainable use of water sources and resources

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 project site is benefiting from reverse land degradation. Water from the fish farming units with high nutrients will be used in irrigating horticulture and other crops in the farm.

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

Our project is all about peace and strengthening of institutions including fisheries. Accountability and justice for all is our motto.

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

Partnership and creation of business networks is what has brought the company to this stage. This has helped create several referrals and market linkages.

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

Fish fingerlings in the region are not of the required standard. We are providing the best quality fingerlings in the region. We are also providing affordable consultancy to our clients and also a market to our farmers for their produce.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Currently there is no authenticated fish hatchery in the region.

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

Yes. My startup tags along female entrepreneurs in our public forums, business meetings and trainings. Of the 77 farmers and traders we a working with, a half of them are women.