Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Rim is an LPG smart gas meter that tracks gas levels, monitors consumption, and alerts on low gas levels allowing consumers to save on cooking gas, reduce extra gas expense, and efficiently plan and budget for upcoming cooking gas refills.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Rim aims to simplify Lpg cooking gas management to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking to millions of consumers in Kenya and across Africa. For consumers and distributors who find it hard to monitor and manage Lpg cooking gas consumption, we offer an Lpg smart gas meter paired with a web app enabling consumers to : 1. Save on cooking gas - through real-time gas level tracking and consumption monitoring 2. Reduce gas expense - with accurate planning and budgeting of upcoming cooking gas refills 3. Access clean cooking gas -with reduced abrupt gas runouts that minimize reliance on backup cooking fuel like charcoal. Distributors are able to : 1. Reduce losses -through data-driven stock management that simplifies asset tracking and refill planning 2. Retain customers - with timely and cost-efficient refill order fulfillment. So far the LPG smart gas meter has undergone over 20,000 hours of safety and functionality tests, won CAD 4000 & access to $150,000 cloud sponsorship from

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

The main problem we aim to solve is the lack of an easy and efficient way in Kenya for consumers and distributors to track, monitor, and manage LPG cooking gas consumption. Currently, consumers rely on outdated analog gas meters and backup fuel sources like charcoal stoves. This not only incurs over Ksh 163 billion in additional gas expenses but also leads to the emission of more than 22.8 million tonnes of carbon, posing significant health hazards. For distributors, the reliance on manual stock management results in inaccurate refill order planning and makes asset tracking of LPG cylinders challenging, leading to over Ksh 601 billion in lost revenue and negatively impacting their business operations.

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

Our solution, the LPG smart gas meter, features a plug-and-play design for easy mounting on LPG gas cylinders. Paired with its accompanying web app it allows consumers to: 1. Save on Cooking Gas: Through real-time gas level tracking and consumption monitoring that help them manage their usage more efficiently. 2. Reduce Gas Expenses: With accurate planning and budgeting for upcoming gas refills that reduces unplanned gas expenses. 3. Access Clean, Safe Cooking Gas: Through minimized abrupt gas run-outs, that reduce reliance on backup fuels like charcoal, promoting a healthier environment. Distributors also access the accompanying web app which acts as a point-of-sale solution allowing them to: 1. Reduce Business Losses: Through data-driven stock management, refill planning, and asset tracking that minimize losses. 2. Retain Customers: With timely and cost-effective refill order fulfillment that ensures customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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

Our startup's product/service targets two main groups: 1. Consumers: Including hotels, households, and restaurants, who make up a significant portion of the 22 million consumers in Kenya and over 50 million across Africa. They benefit from the LPG smart gas meter and web app as an efficient LPG consumption monitoring solution. 2. Distributors: This includes local gas vendors who operate in retail and bulk distribution, as well as major companies like Total Energies, Rubis, Shell, etc. The accompanying web app serves as a point-of-sale LPG solution for these distributors, facilitating sales, distribution, and refill operations.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-01-22

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

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.)

Arnold Kabare, CEO and co-founder of Rim NextGen oversees business, product management, and daily operations. He brings a diverse skill set to the team from business management, and software engineering, to mechatronics engineering. Steve Mwenda, co-founder and CPO, manages product design, embedded systems engineering, and hardware manufacturing. He has extensive technical experience in industrial automation, product engineering, and mechatronics engineering. Together, Arnold and Steve have collaborated for over six years, creating award-nominated products. In 2018, they developed Gridloc, a smart camera system for real-time carjacking detection using AI and IoT. In 2020, they launched Tone Safi, a cleantech solution for detecting vibrio cholera bacteria in water pipelines. In 2021, they created an autonomous drone to combat pest infestations in agriculture, which received global recognition. Their combined skills and experience drive Rim's product innovation.

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

https://www.rimenergies.com/

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to the Zero Hunger SDG by providing an LPG smart gas meter paired with a web app. This solution enables households, hotels, and restaurants to track their gas levels, monitor consumption, plan, budget, and order refills anytime and anywhere. By reducing reliance on backup fuel sources like charcoal stoves, we help decrease carbon emissions and lower the demand for charcoal. This reduction in charcoal use leads to less deforestation, promoting greater forest cover. Increased forest cover helps prevent soil erosion, preserving valuable nutrients essential for agricultural productivity. With healthier soils and more available water, sustainable agricultural practices are supported, ultimately reducing hunger caused by drought and promoting food security.

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

Our startup addresses the SDG of Good Health and Well-being by tackling fuel stacking in Kenya, where consumers often use LPG alongside charcoal stoves. This practice not only incurs additional expenses but also contributes to over 1.14 million tonnes of harmful carbon emissions due to charcoal burning, posing significant health risks. The lack of an efficient LPG management solution forces consumers to rely on charcoal stoves as a backup. Our LPG smart gas meter, paired with a web app, simplifies gas level tracking, consumption monitoring, and refill planning, eliminating the need for backup fuels like charcoal. This ensures that consumers can cook in a cleaner, safer manner, protecting their health and reducing extra expenses, thereby enhancing their overall well-being.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our solution significantly contributes to SDG 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. By providing an LPG smart gas meter paired with a user-friendly web app, we directly address several key aspects of this goal. Firstly, our solution enhances access to modern energy by providing households, hotels, and restaurants with a convenient tool to monitor and manage their LPG usage effectively. Secondly, in terms of affordability, our solution enables consumers to track their gas levels and plan refills more efficiently, thereby reducing wastage and ensuring that LPG remains affordable in the long term. Thirdly, our solution enhances reliability by allowing consumers to monitor their gas levels in real-time and plan refills accordingly, minimizing the risk of running out of fuel unexpectedly. In summary, by promoting LPG over charcoal, carbon emissions and deforestation are reduced fostering a greener and sustainable future.

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

Our startup contributes to Decent Work and Economic Growth by offering innovative solutions for both consumers and distributors of LPG. For consumers, our LPG smart gas meter and web app enable efficient gas usage management, reducing expenses and ensuring access to clean energy, which frees up household income for other essential needs, thereby enhancing overall economic well-being. For LPG distributors, our web app functions as a point-of-sale solution, allowing them to monitor and plan refill orders, manage inventory, and receive payments efficiently. By leveraging data-driven insights, distributors can optimize operations, reduce losses, and drive business growth. This fosters a stable and sustainable business environment, supports job creation, and promotes economic development within the energy sector.

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

Our startup contributes to the SDG of Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by leveraging technology to enhance the LPG industry. Our LPG smart gas meter and accompanying web app introduce innovative solutions that transform how LPG is managed and distributed. For consumers, the smart gas meter allows for real-time tracking of gas levels, monitoring consumption, and planning refills efficiently. This not only ensures continuous access to clean energy but also promotes technological adoption in households, driving a shift towards smarter, more sustainable cooking gas management. For LPG distributors, our web app acts as a comprehensive point of sale and management solution. It enables efficient monitoring of inventory, planning of refill orders, and seamless payment processing. By providing data-driven insights, our solution helps distributors optimize their operations, reduce losses, and scale their businesses more effectively.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

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

Our startup contributes to SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, by enhancing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact through our innovative LPG management solutions. For consumers, our LPG smart gas meter and web app enable efficient tracking and management of gas usage. This reduces reliance on less sustainable energy sources like charcoal, leading to lower carbon emissions and improved air quality within communities. We promote healthier living environments by ensuring access to clean and safe cooking gas. For LPG distributors, our web app provides a robust point of sale and inventory management system, optimizing the supply chain and reducing logistical inefficiencies. This contributes to more sustainable urban infrastructure and services, supporting the development of smarter, more resilient communities. Overall, our solutions promote sustainable energy use and contribute to the creation of sustainable cities and communities .

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 product significantly contributes to SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production. The LPG smart gas meter, with its plug-and-play design and patented gas sensor paired to a web app, empowers consumers to track gas levels and monitor consumption. This enables informed decisions on meal preparation and gas usage, reducing wastage and fostering responsible consumption habits. Additionally, the web app aids distributors in monitoring upcoming refill orders, allowing for efficient stock planning and fulfillment. By providing real-time market demand insights, our solution minimizes overproduction and overstocking, reducing holding costs and optimizing LPG supply and distribution. Overall, our product promotes sustainable consumption and production practices, aligning with the objectives of SDG 12.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our LPG smart gas meter plays a pivotal role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) by empowering consumers to effectively monitor their gas consumption, plan refills, and transition away from reliance on backup cooking fuels such as charcoal. By providing real-time tracking of gas levels and usage, our meter enables users to optimize their cooking gas usage, leading to cost savings and increased access to clean, safe cooking fuel. This not only fosters healthier living conditions but also diminishes carbon emissions and diminishes the demand for charcoal. Moreover, by mitigating the demand for charcoal, our product contributes significantly to combatting deforestation. With fewer trees being felled for charcoal production, there's a consequential rise in forest cover, fostering carbon sequestration and combating land degradation and erosion.

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

Our product, the LPG smart gas meter, contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) by promoting forest conservation and biodiversity. By enabling consumers to monitor their gas usage efficiently and reduce their reliance on charcoal as backup cooking fuel, our smart gas meter helps decrease the demand for charcoal production, thereby mitigating deforestation. Through the reduction in charcoal demand, our product aids in preserving forest ecosystems, which are essential for biodiversity conservation. This contributes to the goal of halting biodiversity loss, as intact forests provide habitat for numerous plant and animal species. Additionally, by reducing deforestation and promoting forest conservation, our product supports efforts to combat land degradation and erosion. Healthy forests play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and maintaining soil fertility, which is vital for sustainable land use and ecosystem resilience.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

4

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

Our project's uniqueness and innovation stem from its design, user experience, and affordability. The LPG gas meter, featuring a plug-and-play design and advanced gas sensor technology linked to a web app, offers: - Real-time gas level tracking - Consumption monitoring through daily and weekly notifications - Budgeting for refills with low gas level reminders - Ordering and paying for refills from nearby distributors to avoid cooking interruptions For distributors, the web app provides: - Refill monitoring and planning with daily and weekly notifications - Payment management via a distributor wallet Moreso it's accessible on smartphones and basic phones, which reduces barriers to adoption, and for 2500 Ksh it's affordable. This blend of innovation, ease of use, and affordability distinguishes our product, effectively meeting the needs of consumers and distributors.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are existing LPG regulators, available in two variants: those with and without an analog gauge. - Without Analog Gauge: Lacks gas level and consumption tracking, leading to extra gas expenses due to reliance on backup fuels. - With Analog Gauge: Manual tracking is often inaccurate, causing extra gas expenses due to fuel stacking. Both types pose challenges for distributors, making refill planning inefficient and asset tracking difficult. Our LPG smart gas meter stands out with its plug-and-play design and advanced gas sensor technology linked to a web app. This allows consumers to track gas levels, monitor consumption, plan, budget, and order refills anytime, anywhere. Distributors access the web app, which act as a point-of-sale solution, enabling them to monitor and plan upcoming refill orders and conveniently get paid upon successful refill order fulfillment. The barrier to adoption is also reduced with its accessibility through smartphones and burner phones.

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