Tanzania - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

SMILE is a platform dealing in selling entertainment content in the form of animated audio series (Novels) which include subtitles, graphic design and translation also a video documentaries. Smile application 80% of the content is free.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

SMILE’s entertainment application will be dealing with selling creative content in the form of audio and Video including Novels, Friction stories, and storytelling through series designed with animation, graphics design, translation and subtitles but also publishing documentaries, podcasts and TV programs, the content will be accessible free by 80%. 70% will be African content (local) and 30% Other Foreign Content (International). SMILE’s ideal customers are young people aged 19- to 35 (60% women and 40% men) and adults aged 36 to 55 years (women 35% & men 65%) who love reading, watching and listening to entertainment content. Users will have four options to access content 1. Free unlocked Episode per series every 12 hours 2. View ads to unlock the next episode 3. Buy coins 4. Subscription services. We are aiming to protect and promote African talents and content and increase employment opportunities by providing the best content and 234 job contracts for writers and content creators.

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

According to 2024 statistics around 36 million people in Africa are not employed among them they have been gifted with African talents in creative sector writing and designing and content creation based on African context but no platform to sell and promote their work and talents, furthermore Entertainment App usage in Africa per minute is 11.5% where for African who loves Novels, African entertainment content or African stories findS all available entertainment webs/apps 99% give you novels and entertainment stories based on Western context only.

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

When the user will be using the smile application to be entertained and remain with unforgettable smiles and memories as we stimulate their sense of emotions and thoughts. But will be contributing to three areas 1. Increase Job Opportunities for talented creative youth. 2. Protect and promote African Talents and Content. 3. Contribute to solving community challenges through 10% of Smile's annual profit will be given to community initiatives.

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

The smile beneficiaries will be Youth 60%, Youth with disabilities 30% aged (15-35) and Adults 10% aged (36-50). Who have passion/talent for Writing novels, Stories, designing and content creation specific to the creative industry.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-01-23

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

5

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

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

Mujuni Baitani Chief of Finance (BBA) Skills in Project Managements, Fundraising with 4 years experience in business and 7 years in non-profit organazation Varfomeeva Maskimovna International Coordinator & Public Relation ( MAIR) Skills in sustainable Energy Projects and Arts Performance with 6 years experience Anna Richard Communt Relation Manager -Bachelor of Arts in Develeopment Studies (BA DS) Skils in community project management 3 years expert in Digital Content Creation Deaogratius Mwakyusa Head of IT ((BCS) Skills in Paython language and experts in Backhend and FrontEnd Charles Chanya Head of Creative (MBM) Lecture with expertise on Content creation and Tv programs

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

https://makutanoafrika.co.tz/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Creative Industry

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

We are making sure to provide employment opportunities to every talented so they can benefit from their talents by escaping poverty prison and being able to support the welfare of their families. But also the world focuses on providing opportunities to professionals and forgets the higher number of people living with disabilities mostly in Africa they have been excluded from education opportunities and are living life in extreme poverty but blessed with creative talents they can use to earn income.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

We aim to empower all women and girls with talents through special programs designed for them and equal employment opportunities to our staff list.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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

We are targeting to provide 230 job contracts for writers and content creators by 2029 with good payment of their works submitted to be published in the application and provide other copyright benefits but also hire 34 permanent staff to carry out daily tasks with good salaries and decent working environments.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

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

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The 10% of Smile’s Annual profit will be distributed to Institutions/Champions who implement community initiatives to solve the existing challenges. This will help other SDGs that are not linked directly with the smile operation to be met with other stakeholders.

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

6

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

4

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

4

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

4

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

6

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

05.08 Justification

According to statistics, the number of eBook users worldwide is 1030 million and is expected to increase by 1123 million in 2027. A 2020 survey says that listeners prefer audiobooks 10-20 hours long. Women have purchased about 51.5% of the audiobooks, while men have purchased 48.5%. 56% of the population listens to audiobooks on smartphones, 26% on computers, and 14% on tablets.Subscription services like Audible state 41% of all audiobooks. The global audiobook market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 24.4% in 2028. Fiction audiobooks are a big category, accounting for about 65% of all audiobook sales. SMILE will be the only African entertainment platform producing Swahili/African novels (audio stories) from different writers and content creators in one platform with multiple options of content. The Smile will provide novels to those who like/ prefer e-books based on African context that they can't find on the existing available entertainment platforms.

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

Pocket FM and Good fm entertainment companies offer customized Novel series content based on content western context customized with artwork or animation, although they’re typically at a very high price point given the labour-intensive process of creating custom content. Beyond that, one of the biggest competitive forces in the creative industry for SMILE is the convenience factor. story lovers may decide too late that they’d like an audio series, and opt for video series content. Smile Application Competitive Advantage 1. Content Availability of Local and international Novel Multiple options for users to listen and watch video and audio content 2. Affordability Four options to unlock episodes than the other three options from competitors. 3. Features Animated Audio Content Translation to local language Subtitles 4. Accessibility Online and Offline

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

Through the Kijana Hai Foundation non-profit organisation l established in 2017,2021/2022, 60 women(widows, single mothers, women with disabilities and young women in Pemba- Zanzibar received entrepreneurship and financial management training skills training and mentorship, they are now running their own enterprize.