South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Help Me Find It is an online platform that helps to connect people who lost their ID, driver's license and passport with people who found them.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Help Me Find It is an online platform that helps to connect people who lost their ID card/book, driver's license and passport with people who found them. Users are required to register the following information: • Name • Email address • ID number • Contact details • Next of kin contact details This information is stored in the database When someone picks up ID card / book, driver's license and passport, they will be required to enter the following information: • Name • Contact details • ID number of the found item This information is then sent via SMS to the owner of the item so that they can contact the finder In the event that the owner of the items is not registered in the database, the website retains the details of the person who posted the items, the owner will be required to type in their ID number, this will allow the owner of the items to see who picked their items and so that they can contact them.

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

People lose their identity card / book, driver's license or passport due to numerous reasons and people who pick up those items often have no contact with the owner, they normally post them on notice boards / lost and found for their owners to identify them. Some post them on social media, share them hoping that it will reach the owner or people who know the owner. Help Me Find It addresses that problem by connecting people who lost their ID, driver's license and passport with people who found them.

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

People often lose their identity cards, driver’s licenses, or passports due to misplacement or theft, where robbers discard the wallet with the owner’s cards. Typically, finders have no way to contact the owners and post these items on notice boards or social media, hoping they reach the owner. "Help Me Find It" (HMFI) connects people who lost their ID cards, driver’s licenses, or passports with those who found them. Given the long queues, system downtimes at Home Affairs, and inefficiencies in the Traffic Department, HMFI offers a crucial solution. Additionally, thousands of IDs, driver’s licenses, and passports are held at SAPS without owner notification. Users can register their details, and finders can submit found item information, which is then matched and notified via SMS to the owners. This system helps reduce the need to visit state departments, streamlining the recovery process and alleviating the stress of replacing lost documents.

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

People with ID, Driver's license and Passport

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

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 individual running the platform, the only thing I bring on the table is my brain😅. I have the ability to think. I have no technical experience or skills, how ever I intend to build a proper team after raising the required capital. I am currently investing in personal development.

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

http://www.hmfi.co.za

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

We will employ all genders in the near future

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

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

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

HMFI promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by reducing the time and resources individuals spend recovering lost documents, thereby increasing productivity. By streamlining the recovery process, HMFI enables people to return to work more quickly, ensuring full and productive employment. As HMFI expands, it will create employment opportunities by hiring skilled individuals to maintain and improve the platform. The platform also supports community-driven solutions, enhancing personal security and convenience, contributing to overall economic growth and stability.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

HMFI contributes to building resilient infrastructure by promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. By leveraging technology to create an efficient document recovery system, HMFI addresses significant infrastructural challenges, reduces the burden on public services, and promotes community-driven solutions. This approach not only enhances individual security and convenience but also exemplifies how innovative digital platforms can drive societal improvements and sustainable development.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

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

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

By minimizing the need for physical travel to state departments, HMFI contributes to reducing carbon emissions, supporting climate action goals. This digital solution promotes environmental sustainability by leveraging technology to cut down on unnecessary travel and resource use.

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

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

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

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

06.01 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

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Social media platforms but it is not their core service. Normally people post those items on Social media

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