Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

AKATABO is an online book-sharing library that allows its users to access physical books at affordable prices from other users. Users can list and borrow books while earning passive income and also access a wide range of books.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

AKATABO is online book sharing library that allows you to borrow a physical book from another user. Given that the cost of physical books is quite high in Uganda, not everyone has access to knowledge and literacy growth. AKATABO provides an affordable and efficient solution by enabling book lovers to share their favorite reads with each other. Users can list their books on the platform, earning passive income through our revenue-sharing model, while borrowers gain access to a wide variety of books at a fraction of the cost of new ones. This fosters a vibrant community of readers and promotes the circulation of books, including authentic Ugandan publications. AKATABO is more than a book-sharing service; it's a literacy movement. By increasing the availability of books, we aim to enhance literacy rates and support local authors and publishers. With a vision to scale globally, AKATABO aspires to transform book accessibility worldwide.

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

We are solving limited access to physical books in Uganda due to their high cost. This problem limits the number of people who can access literature, especially those who cannot afford new books. By creating an easy-to-use online library, users are able to borrow academic and fiction books from each other, thus making books more accessible and affordable while fostering a vibrant community of readers. AKATABO aims to enhance literacy rates and contribute to Uganda’s educational and cultural development.

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

1. Affordable Access: By borrowing books instead of buying new ones, users save money, making reading more affordable for everyone. 2. Income Generation: Book owners can earn passive income by listing their books on the platform, incentivizing participation. 3. Enhanced Literacy: Increased access to books promotes reading and literacy, contributing to personal and educational growth.

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

AKATABO is aimed at serving multiple stakeholders: 1. Readers: Individuals who love reading but face barriers due to the high cost of books. They benefit from affordable access to a wide variety of books through borrowing. 2. Book Owners: Individuals with collections of books who wish to share their passion for reading and earn passive income by listing their books on the platform. 3. Local Authors and Publishers: AKATABO promotes the circulation of Ugandan publications, providing exposure and potential revenue streams for local authors and publishers. 4. Community: The platform fosters a vibrant community of readers who share and discuss books, enriching the reading experience for all members. 5. Education Sector: AKATABO contributes to enhancing literacy rates and educational growth by increasing access to books, benefiting students and educators alike. 6. Environmental Sustainability: By promoting book sharing and reuse.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-12-15

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

3

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.)

Valeria. She is a recent graduate of Computer sciences from USIU- Kenya. She comes on board as our UI/UX designer, she is on this project partly to grow her portfolio and also cause she loves books. Byaruhanga She is also a recent graduate of computer sciences from IUEA-Uganda. She hates reading books online, and therefore is very excited about this idea. She comes on board as the back-end developer. Anzo He shares the same background as that of Byaruhanga and also loves to read physical books. He comes in as our graphics designer and front end developer.

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

wedon'thaveoneyet.com

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

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Because it allows users to borrow books cheaply, it contributes to access to educational material and therefore reduces the costs of buying new educational material thus contributing to the no poverty SDG.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

I believe that access to books means access to knowledge on a wide variety of topics, such as better farming techniques, historical data on how to maneuver hunger as a problem, and access to research work that can formulate sustainable strategies even at a homestead level.

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

By increasing access to relevant knowledge in this topic like ways to eat better, maintain a good hygiene and generally exposing peoples minds to the importance of good health management

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

This project will largely provide marginalized communities with easy-to-access knowledge, which will in turn result in a positive impact on access to quality education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

As evidenced by our team mgt, we aim to promote gender equality a san organization going forward.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

This project allows it's users to benefit by earning passively using our revenue-sharing strategy.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

This will be a one-of-a kind virtual library that will eventually connect all book readers worldwide. Imagine the transformation this would bring about to african literature as a whole! The possibilities are endless!

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

This will definitely increase the visibility of Ugandan Literature worldwide and encourage users to create African centered stories for Africans by Africans on main stream media.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

This will reduce the need for reproduction of books, thus reducing on wastes and harm done to the environment like deforestation to produce more books.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

This will reduce the need for reproduction of books, thus reducing on wastes and harm done to the environment like deforestation to produce more books.

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

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

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.

2

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.

4

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

3

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.

3

05.08 Justification

Our product allows access to physical books. This makes it the first of it's kind since most online libraries only provide access to soft copy books which still limits the number of people that can easily access these products.

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

Our main competitors are online libraries that already exist, such as Zlibrary. However, we deal in physical books as well, which make us stand out. Also our users are able to earn from using our platform which no online library has yet developed.

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

not yet