Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Jiko solar is a DC or solar powered cook stove designed to reduce pollution, conserve the environment and reduce cooking bills.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Jiko solar is manufactured specifically to utilize natural energy to cook. It uses solar energy harvested by solar panel to charge a battery. The jiko solar is then connected to battery for constant energy supply. Most people especially in Africa use firewood, charcoal and gas to cook their meals. The above methods are expensive and pollutes the environment. There are many cases of people especially mothers suffering from lung cancer due to breathing smoke. The eye irritation due to smoke is another example. Firewood is mostly fetched by women and children mostly in forests which is dangerous and tedious. Children lack time to play, study and socialize due to responsibilities. There are also cases of fire outbreaks burning homes due to the above mentioned methods of cooking. Jiko solar saves the above mentioned problems as it is fireless and smokeless, uses clean, free and available energy.

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

1. Climate pollution by use of charcoal, gas and firewood. The above mentioned methods of cooking produce carbon monoxide which affects the ozone layer leading to global warming. 2. Diseases associated with smoke such as lung cancer, eye irritations and inherent coughing due to smoke. 3. Natural calamities such as fire outbreaks. Use of firewood, charcoal and gas can lead to fire outbreaks if mishandled. 4. Time wastage. Firewood is mostly fetched by women and children mostly in forests which is dangerous and uses a lot of time. Women are denied opportunity to improve themselves as their time is occupied with responsibilities. Children lack time to play, study and socialize with other children due to responsibilities. 5. High cost of living. Firewood, charcoal, gas and electricity are expensive to use and maintain. Most people cannot afford making their lives harder.

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

1. Jiko solar utilizes sun's energy hence it is cheaper to use and requires little maintenance. 2. Jiko solar is fireless and smokeless hence reduces chances of fire outbreaks and prevents climate pollution. 3. Jiko solar has regulated heat hence conserves food nutrients while cooking by preventing overcooking. 4. Jiko solar is easy to use and can be used by anyone including children and pregnant women. 5. Jiko solar can be used with any cooking materials.

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

Jiko solar is manufactured for families both in urban and rural areas. Each and every home including restaurants can adapt to clean modes of cooking to prevent climate pollution and reduce cooking bills.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-08-04

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.)

1. Electrical and electronic engineer. Responsible for the design, modelling, implementation and maintenance of jiko solar. 2. Sales person. Responsible for marketing our products to reach the targeted market. Also responsible for after sales consultations to ensure our customers are satisfied.

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

https://m.facebook.com/JikoSolar

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar is cheap as it utilizes natural energy for cooking. Families can easily install and use without fear or stress on cooking bills. Firewood, charcoal and gas are expensive and tedious to use, acquire and maintain.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar saves on money used for cooking. That money can be invested in farming to prevent 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

Jiko solar is fireless and smokeless. Unlike firewood, charcoal and gas it does not produce carbon monoxide which affects the ozone layer leading to global warming. Smoke from the above mentioned methods of cooking affects lungs and eyes leading to permanent healthy issues. Carbon monoxide also leads to death if inhaled for a long time.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar requires little to no maintenance. Firewood and charcoal is mostly fetched by women and children. Children are denied chance to read as they spend most of their time in the forests with responsibilities. Other children are also denied opportunity to go to school. Jiko solar saves time hence children can use that time to study.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar promotes gender equality as it mostly focuses on women and children. Women no longer waste their time with responsibilities of fetching firewood hence have time to work on their goals and improve themselves.

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

Jiko solar does not pollute the environment as it is smokeless. Emission of carbon dioxide and other chemical compounds affects the ozone layer hence polluting rain water. Jiko solar is clean hence ensures clean rain water, water bodies and sanitation in general.

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

Jiko solar utilizes sun's energy which is clean, natural and affordable.

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

Jiko solar promotes decent work and economic growth by encouraging women and youth to join technical work. A lot of job opportunities is created in installation of solar panels and women are strongly encouraged to participate. Jiko solar promotes economic growth through promoting sales of clean energy and investing money used for cooking in other businesses that stewards economic growth.

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

Jiko solar promotes industry innovation by manufacturing of jiko solar hence industrialization.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar promotes reduction of inequalities where women and children spend most of their time fetching firewood to cook for their families while husbands are out working. With jiko solar women are not confined to home responsibilities but can join the working class hence improving themselves. Women both in urban and rural areas can spend their time improving themselves.

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

Jiko solar promotes sustainable cities and communities as people can cook with jiko solar easily without fear of natural calamities such as fire outbreaks.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Jiko solar highly promotes climate action as firewood, charcoal and gas that produces carbon monoxide which affects the ozone layer leading to global warming.

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

Jiko solar uses clean energy hence does not pollute the environment by producing carbon monoxide which affects the ozone layer leading to global warming. Compounds released contaminates the clouds hence affecting rain water, which affects water bodies hence affecting life below water.

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

Jiko solar is fireless hence prevents natural calamities such as fire outbreaks which affects the ecosystem and life on land.

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

Jiko solar promotes justice and strong institutions by avoid blame games Incase of fire outbreaks. It also reconciles humans and natural environment.

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

Jiko solar promotes partnership for the goal of the country to use clean forms of energy and climate action.

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.

6

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

Jiko solar is a new technology opted to do away with firewood, charcoal and gas. It is also an improvement to the use of outdoor solar cooking where light rays are concentrated to a cooking pot by the use conclave material.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Athel technologies Our company ensures our switch are reliable and cooking stoves can cook faster hence our competitive advantage.

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

With manufacture of jiko solar I encourage youths and women to pursue technical courses and improve on themselves making them believe in themselves