South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We are an energy technology startup with prospective projects in smart energy management, green energy and energy storage solutions. Our current main activity is the development of a smart energy management system meant to ensure efficient use of energy.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our smart meter energy management system is meant to ensure efficient use of energy and digitize household prepaid metering boxes. It is a system that comprises of a smart meter unit connected to a central system and a mobile App. How the energy system works is that it can be easily monitored in real time by energy utility providers and local municipalities. This is done to prevent tampering of meter boxes which contributes hugely to inefficient use of energy. The system also comprises of a mobile App meant to digitize the metering units in order for users to be able to monitor their energy usage and get information. This is done to encourage efficient use of electricity.

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

The main current problem our project seeks to address is the inefficient use of energy that includes but not limited to ; meter box bridging and tampering. This negatively affects the local economy in that local businesses and institutions such as hospitals, schools, clinics etc that functional properly due to constant power cuts caused by this. The lack of smart grid management systems also means that power utilities lose revenue as a result of tampering or bridging of electricity. The real time monitoring of each and every household seeks to solve this problem. ensuring that each and everyone pays for their electricity and individuals are able to have full control of their meter boxes from the comfort of their phones.

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

The following are some of the key benefits of using our product : 1. Our product ensures efficient use of energy where users are able to monitor consumption from wherever they are. 2. It allows real time remote monitoring for by power utility providers. 3. They ensure constant power supply by preventing tampering/bridging. 4. They prevent loss of revenue for power providers.

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

Our target market for our current project are power utilities and local municipalities that are providing electricity to different households.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-08-01

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.)

The business is managed on full time – basis by the owner and director Mr Kemiso Motholo. Mr Motholo holds a ND Chemical Engineering qualification from the University of Johannesburg. He has 8 years chemical industry experience, where he worked 1 year as a plant operator and research and development assistance, he was then promoted to a production supervisor position for a period of 2 years and a director of his chemical company for 5 years. He also holds, a first aid level 1 – 2 certificate and Safety, Health and Equipment certificates. He various certificates in business development courses and programmes from various government and private sector such as SAB Foundation, Small Enterprise Development Agency, NYDA and MSC Business College.

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

https://sbewu.co.za

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

My startup contributes to this goal by ensuring that there are jobs created as a result of it.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

4

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

With efficient use of energy, this ensure that it can be affordable and everyone will have access to it.

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

Inefficient use of energy results in constant power cuts or loadshedding, this has a negative effect on the economy in that businesses and industry can't function. Our project is meant to ensure that the grid is stable and there is economic growth.

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

This is an innovative product that seeks to digitize the grid.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

With stable supply of electricity without any interruptions, business and institutions in cities and communities are able to function properly ensuring that they are sustainable on their own.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

The technology seeks to ensure responsible use and consumption of electricity in that, there is real time monitoring by energy providers from their central system and individual users from the comfort of their phones.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

4

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.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

The current products in the market do not have the anti tamper mechanism that our product seeks to bridge the gap on. They also have not moved into digitizing this product which we have.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are mainly from overseas. What makes use stand out is having digitized the techonoly and ensuring real time monitoring with anti tamper machanism.

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