Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

In Uganda, many people use Matatus and buses for transportation, often listening to radio stations for music and programs during their journey. The Transit Media app aims to play ads and paid programs during this travel time by paying the vehicle owners.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our goal is to design a Transit Media app that plays ads and 30-minute paid programs for passengers. Many people sit idle in taxis, Matatus, or buses, presenting an opportunity to engage them with advertisements. The Transit Media app will load and play ads via an iOS or Android phone connected to the vehicle’s radio. The app will also monitor playtime, ensuring accurate tracking and billing. Different rates will apply for ads and programs played during peak times (6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM). This innovative solution effectively utilizes commuter downtime for targeted advertising.

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

The main problem being solved by the Transit Media app is the underutilization of commuter downtime in Matatus, buses, and taxis. Many passengers spend significant time seated and idle during their journeys. This app transforms this idle time into an opportunity for targeted advertising, allowing businesses to reach a captive audience. By playing ads and paid programs, the Transit Media app provides a new platform for advertisers while enhancing the travel experience for passengers with engaging content.

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 Transit Media app offers several key advantages over traditional media: 1. Targeted Advertising: The app targets a captive audience of commuters, ensuring ads are heard by engaged passengers during their travel time. Imagine playing a Jinja concert ad in all taxis going to Jinja! 2. Cost-Effective: The app provides a potentially higher ROI with more precise targeting, making it a cost-effective alternative to broad-spectrum traditional media. You can reach 10,000 people without estimating. You need at least 800 matatus to reach an audience of 10,000. This is possible by advertising in long route taxis that are always full capacity. You need 90 buses to reach 5000 people per route. 3. Shared Revenue: By partnering with taxis and buses, the app ensures that advertising revenue is shared with multiple stakeholders, benefiting many people. Vehicle owners and drivers earn passive income simply by tuning in, unlike traditional media where profits primarily go to media houses.

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

The app has three beneficiaries. 1. Music Studios and Musicians. For instance a music studio that wants to promote their music, can play music in matatus and buses for a whole year during none peak hours. Instead of struggling to get air play on radios and T.Vs, you can get air play in Taxis and buses. 2. Events organizers, Government and everyone else that advertises on Radio and TV: We are not saying that we are going to replace the traditional media. We are simply expanding the reach in a more targeted way. Everyone that has been doing voice ads can be our customer as long as what you are selling is of benefit to people who use taxis. 3. Churches: Pastor often pay for airtime on TV to play their sermons. They can as well play their 27 minute sermon in 1,000 taxis to reach at least 10,000 people. Unlike T.V and Radio where someone can change the station. With the Transit app, people will listen to your content without switching the station.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-06-05

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

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

Alfred Ochola: Website designing, graphic designing and app development with experience of over 5 years Namugenyi Eunice Ephrance: Lecturer at Kyambogo, Engineer and Church Leader. More than 8 years work experience. Nyamwiza Blessing: Communication and Marketing expert skilled Email marketing, social media marketing. Communication specialist at Alliance Francaise Kampala. More than 3 working experience Mrs Nyarwa Susan: Professional Laywer: More than five working experience

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

When the project kicks off, it will need more people to work on ad recording and refining, script writers among several other media related services. It will obviously employ some of the people that have been cut off by traditional media houses. On top of employing people, we shall be broadcasting advertisements for job opportunities.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The project will aid the dissemination of information that can help out in achieving the Zero hunger goal. For instance I know of a church that is intending to start a free lunch program where they offer free lunch to strangers. If such a program kicks off, we will obviously offer free ads or discounted ads for the benefit of the society

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Our work is mainly dissemination of information. There is still need for more information regarding Malaria prevention, HIV AIDs check ups, circumcision, among others. Our media will help improve the dissemination of this information.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

There is an information gap more so regarding scholarship opportunities. Our media platform will give the people who use matatus to learn of these opportunities. Some of the ads will be played free of charge and these are some of the things will can broadcast fee of charge.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our goal is information dissemination. The Transit radio will be airing information that will support gender equality. We believe some of our clients will be recorded programs like Naguru teenage center while others will merely be ads informing the public about different gender equality issues.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Part of the information will be putting out will inform the public about clean water practices. For instance not drinking un boiled or untreated water. Our project is all about information dissemination.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Through our transit radio, people will learn about the different affordable energy options as well as clean energy. Energy companies that have not got visibility through the traditional media will get audience through transit media

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our innovation is building an information dissemination infrastructure. Through Transit media, many people that have not had the opportunity to advertise on the main stream media houses will have the opportunity to advertise.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Knowledge is power. There is nothing that can transform people's lives like giving them the information that can move them from one point to another. Even if it is merely an inspiration message, people can get a chance to dream again and see the possibility of things.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Our transit radio will give city councils a chance to disseminate important information that they will need to work together with the public.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

People will learn about responsible consumption and production through our transit radio. Unlike other media houses that a stuck on programs, for us we can air as much content as possible but merely targeting different routes.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

6

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

6

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Most of these goals will simply be assigned months. It is not possible to air programs covering all these goals but by assigning months; we shall focus on dissemination of information in line with these goals. Something that traditional media houses cannot do.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The government of Uganda borrows money internationally to work on projects in different areas. Through the transit radio, people in these areas will be informed about money that has come through to work on projects in their areas. This will create community policing thus avenues for accountability as well as partnerships with people on the ground.

05.01 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

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

6

05.08 Justification

Though people have been listening to radios in Taxis and buses. No one has ever taken a deliberate step to be in charge of the content aired in taxis and buses. With this deliberate step, you can air the same content in over 100 taxis.

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

Our main competitors are the radios stations and TV stations. We stand out because we reach a particular group of people. If someone does not use taxis and buses; they are not part of our audience. If you have information that you wish to pass on to people who commute by taxis, coaster and buses; we shall be the only people you should trust to pass on that information.

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

No