Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our product, Zaoletu, brings digitisation, operational efficiency and transparency. It additionally gives identity to individual farmers and this data can be used to tailor financial services for these farmers based on their produce.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Zaoshinani is a Fintech driving agricultural transformation using technology and data to steer financial inclusion among smallholder farmers in rural Kenya. Our motto at Zaoshinani is 'Kilimo ni nguzo kuu katika nchi yetu, ndiposa yafaa tuinuke na wakulima wetu ili tujenge uchumi wetu' which means agriculture is a key pillar in our country, so we should rise with our farmers to build our economy. Our product ZAOLETU is different because it covers three critical matters; digitisation of farmers, for financial inclusion of the un-banked and under-served to enable sustainable agriculture. When we achieve our mission, our people are empowered and our economy grows.

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

The agricultural sector has been left behind in the adoption of technology. In Kenya, agricultural cooperatives still use paper based systems. This has led to three key problems. Firstly, there is lack of operational efficiency in there entities. Secondly, data is scarce and unreliable as historical records are not well stored. Lastly, the small holder farmers are facing a challenge accessing financial services such as loans and insurance as they are un-banked.

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

We are the one-stop-shop for digitisation and financial service. Our customers get operational efficiency for their day to day processes. We provide financial services for farmers who are lesser known by financial institutions.

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

Our targets are two. The agricultural cooperative and their farmers. The cooperatives benefit mainly from our SaaS platform while the farmers benefit from our financial services.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-01-31

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.)

Kamathi Limukii is my co-founder and she leads Finance and Strategy. She has a Bachelors in Economics and is a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya. Her expertise cuts across Business advisory, Accounting and Financial reporting for banks and Fintechs, Taxation and Corporate training. Kamathi has a biased interest in Economics of Digitization, Financial inclusion and Embedded Finance.

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

https://zaoshinani.com/

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

We empower small holder farmers, who typically live below USD 2 a day, in order to eliminate poverty in Kenya.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Providing financial products helps in increase in agricultural productivity for small-scale farmers.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

As part of our social responsibility, we have planned community training to impact both financial and farming knowledge to our customers.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Since most farm managers are women, we are empowering them to achieve better lives.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

We not only empower farmers to continue meaningful work but we also work with local area liaison officer thus creating jobs in our communities.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

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

In order to eliminate waste and pollution, we support the use of old digital weighing scales and have enhanced our product to read data from these through bluetooth. This not only reduces waste but also lowers expenditure costs for our clients.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

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

5

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.

4

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.

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.

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our product, Zaoletu, encompasses every step, end to end, from product collection to credit facilitation and not just specific processes.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are Vuna Pay and Digi Farm who have stand-alone systems for the different functions. Since we cover end to end, we are trusted by our customers. Our product was built with the farmers in mind. We conducted extensive research and engaged farmers throughout the prototyping and development leading to greater acceptability. We understand the farmers and they value our product.

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

Yes. Our startup Zaoshinani has 2 female co-founders.