Tanzania - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This is a ride-hailing application business based in Zanzibar. The business focuses on providing ride-hailing services in Zanzibar, especially in the West-Urban Region.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

This is a ride-hailing application business based in Zanzibar. The business focuses on providing ride-hailing services in Zanzibar, especially in the West-Urban Region. We are looking to launch a driver app and passenger app to enable passengers to hail a ride including motorcycle (bodaboda), taxi, and private hire rides within the city and to remote tourism areas. Additionally, the system consists of an operator panel where ride configurations, settings, driver registrations, and other business operations are conducted including tracking of rides. We are looking to purchase a white-label app from reputable app providers in a specific profit-sharing agreement or full purchase.

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

This app is looking forward to solving transportation challenges in Zanzibar to both locals and tourists. The current transportation situation in Zanzibar is challenging, especially taxi-hailing and ride-hailing. Nonetheless, the industry seems to be dominated on a cartel basis which makes these services expensive and non-friendly to users, especially tourists. By introducing the ride-hailing app, we believe that the transportation services will improve radically giving the users (passengers) more affordable options and easy ride bookings.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The major benefit of using this service is the ease of transportation to the Zanzibar citizens and tourists. Additionally, the app will provide employment opportunities to citizens in Zanzibar including youths. The product will register drivers and riders who will obtain jobs easily through the app and transform their economic situation. Nevertheless, Economic and Technological Transformation is another benefit of this product for the drivers, the business owners, and the country at large. This product will provide employment opportunities and transform the lives of ordinary citizens. The product will also pave the way for technological advancements and innovation in the country. Lastly, this product will assist in the security of the passengers both the locals and tourists, as rides can be tracked and records may be available for any security concerns. It will provide a sense of safety for tourists when going places using the online hailing services.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The app targets every smartphone user both locals and tourists. It targets transport users on the side of passengers and drivers providing transportation services. Nonetheless, this app focuses on motorcyclists known as boda-boda as well as taxi drivers/ car-hailing services. Both locals and tourists can use the app to book rides and transport services including private-hires and airport pickups.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-08-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

0

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

None

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

This project will provide employment to thousands of locals who are going to use this service for their taxi and commercial passenger motorcycles. This is indeed an economic transformation opportunity for youths in the country and a means of poverty eradication. Nevertheless, the operating company will employ several staff for operations.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

2

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The app will provide equal opportunities to all genders to conduct taxi or ride-hailing business. Unlike the current situation in Zanzibar where female taxi drivers are rare. The app will enable female riders and female taxi drivers including rick-shaws (bajaj) to acquire passengers with ease and provide equal economic opportunities between both genders.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

The app will help individuals to employ themselves and grow economically. The transportation industry in Zanzibar is still facing challenges for both passengers and drivers. Many drivers believe that the app will provide them with more passengers and ease of acquiring jobs from all kinds of passengers. In addition, for the app operators and business owners, the ride-hailing business in Zanzibar is an untapped area and has a huge potential, resulting to economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

This product will bring about technological transformation in Zanzibar. Zanzibar is very far left behind in technological applications, this app might open up the industry and more innovative opportunities to individuals. The success of this app will show the way for further digital infrastructure development and transport infrastructure in the country. It will also pave the way for more innovative solutions to various challenges in the country.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Transportation is one of the important sectors in a community. Ease in transportation is considered a major step forward in a country's development. Many developed countries invest heavily in transportation and communication solutions and ride-hailing apps have become one of the biggest businesses around the world. Tourists prefer ride-hailing apps as they are safe, provide a secure feeling, and reasonable and fair charges, therefore, the app will of a huge contribution to Zanzibar's tourism as it is the country's largest economic dependency. Local citizens consider transportation ease a necessity and the product will enhance the city's experience and sustainability.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

3

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

2

05.08 Justification

Ride-hailing apps are very common around the world. The likes of Uber and Bolt have been used in different countries and their popularity has been growing day by day. In Tanzania, these apps are already being used in major cities like Dar-es-Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha but Zanzibar has yet to utilize this technology and business model

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The main potential competitors are Bolt, Uber, and Faras in Tanzania Mainland. We would stand out from them because we aim to be a Zanzibar-based-only service where these potential competitors have not tapped into the market yet. We believe that moving fast to launch this product will provide us with a huge benefit as the first market entrant and as a local service provider.

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

None