South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

At Thuto Pele, we are dedicated to helping high school learners in South Africa successfully apply for universities. As an upcoming unlaunched business, we understand the challenges that students face when navigating the complex university application.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Thuto Pele was founded with the vision of bridging the gap between high school education and tertiary studies. We recognized the need for personalized assistance, especially for rural-based learners who often have limited access to resources and face unique challenges in their journey towards higher education. With a team of highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of these learners by empowering them with the necessary tools and information to succeed.

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

Learners who sitting at home after grade 12, with little or no resources and knowledge to apply for the Universities

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

Our competitive advantage lies in our specialized focus on supporting rural-based learners and non-native English speakers. While there are other organizations that offer university application assistance, we differentiate ourselves by tailoring our services to meet the specific needs of these customer segments. By understanding the unique challenges they face, we can provide targeted guidance and support, helping them overcome obstacles and maximize their chances of successful university applications. Furthermore, our team's expertise in the university application process, combined with our in-depth knowledge of funding options and scholarship opportunities, sets us apart from our competitors. We understand that financial constraints can be a significant barrier for many students, and we provide personalized financial aid advice to help them secure the necessary information about their course of choosing.

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

high school seniors who come from low-income backgrounds. They are typically between the ages of 17 and 19 and reside in the Free State in (Maluti a phofung) regions of South Africa.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-04-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

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.)

I am the only owner

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

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

i) Communication services (telecommunications, media, interactive services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

My startup focuses on high school seniors who come from low-income backgrounds.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

N/A

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Learners from rural areas faces challenges in accessing educational resources. They belong to low-income households and are primarily located in the Free State and Maluti a phofung regions of South Africa.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

n/a

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

n/a

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Once learners have access to higher education, they will be able to contribute economic growth

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Compared to learners in the cities and suburbs they lack resources and it disadvantages them, this initiative will hep cab the inequalities.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

n/a

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

n/a

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

n/a

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

n/a

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

n/a

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

6

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

6

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

06.09 Competitive Analysis

No competitors

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