South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Edible Meals is a SaaS start-up that aim to reduce food waste in the cafes, restaurants, food retailer (bakery section) , petrol station and hotels as well. It is uses a mobile application to connect merchants to consumers where they can save surplus food

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Edible Meals is a SaaS start-up that aim to reduce food waste in the cafes, restaurants, food retailer (bakery section) , petrol station and hotels as well. It is uses a mobile application to connect merchants to consumers where they can save surplus food at a lower price. It aim to reduce methane gas released by food waste by diverting surplus food from landfilled to customers at lower prices. It is a social enterprise aiming at teaching people about the impact of food waste on the environment ,it also aims to reduce food insecurity. With the application merchants can advertise their surplus food before it rich it best before dates.

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

10.6 million tons of food is wasted in South Africa while 20 million South Africans suffer from acute hunger, 20% of food waste occurs in food retail supply chain, some of reasons contributing to food waste is oversupply of products, date labeling (products approaching best before date are removed to limit the risk of product liability and potential damage to their brand reputation ), Customer behavior customer -customers want to pick newest product available. Customers can not separate between best before date and expiry date.

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

The environment will benefit as we are reducing methane gas by diverting surplus food from landfills. Businesses will also benefit and it will reduce profit loss due to food waste. Customers will also benefit by buying affordable food at a lower price. It will reduce food waste in South Africa.

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

The target market is people between ages of 20 to 45 and they are the one buy prepared food from data from obtained from Ubereats. It is students in university level who don't have enough food and don't have enough time to cook due to being busy and they also have excess to date and leave in the city. It is people living in city and have excess to restaurants, cafes etc..

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-01

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.)

I am currently working with a Mentor form California, USA who is Senior manager director at Blanchard company. She is the one who helps form time to time. I also get help from a friend who is a software engineer who offers advise and help with the app I am currently working on.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/portia-thando-zuma-0751a6234?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BdXudPj%2FxSU6K5gLvEmIdNg%3D%3D

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Getting affordable meals will help citizen spend less and have money to spend on other important things.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Reducing the price of food by 50% will help people afford food. It will reduce food security in the African continent

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

6

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

Having a meal is a important for mental health and well being especial for students who are away form home,

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

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

My start -up open jobs for women and have balance gender equality within our startups.

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

My start-up will promote circular economic growth and create jobs.

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

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

It will help those who cant afford food be able to have a meal to eat.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

With this innovation business will be able to prevent food waste that leads to climate change. My business idea also aim to teaching people about the effect on the environment due to food waste to promote responsible consumption and production.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Diverting food from lands fills will reduce the methane gas released to the environment and reduce climate change.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Reducing will methane gas will reduce methane gas will increase the climate temperature. This will lead to decrease of climate disasters in the world.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

This startup will advocate for the environment by letting people know what is the impact of not taking care of our environment.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Achieving SGD number 12 will help achieve SGD number 15 and 13.

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

2

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

3

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.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

A startup like my own already exist in Cape town but the collect food to a warehouse which raise cost because they already selling food at lower price, The don't use technology to get customers. Customer do directly to the warehouse.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

They is already a start-up like mine is Cape town but they don't use technology, They have a warehouse which cost them a lot because they already selling food at lower price and their warehouse keep on closing due to how expensive it is to rent a warehouse if you are already selling food at lower price. We sending customers to buy in the app and go collect directly from store. As for Urberats our prices are cheaper you get more for less.

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

Yes in university I was an women in Tech executive. It promoted women to not fear tech and to start their businesses as well. This included competitions for students.