South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We are a holistic commercial cleaning service using eco-friendly products. Our journey began with the vision to revolutionise the cleaning industry and today we stand as a symbol of reliability and innovation to our clients. We are a female owned company.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Cleaning Consulting Pty Ltd, is a holistic professional commercial cleaning company. We provide a wide range of cleaning services using eco-friendly cleaning products and non-toxic chemicals. We believe in providing a consistent high-quality service as we think long-term and we are client focused. We work directly with our staff to maintain a high-quality service, all of our staff are insured, highly trained and background checked. We are a trusted company with great reviews and referrals, we also only hire experienced cleaners that are highly selected to proving a consistent high-quality service with a professional matter. Black female owned and locally operated to create employment for the unemployed youth of South Africa. We have employed a group of people and planning to scale & expand in order to create jobs. The National Youth Development Agency in South Africa has offered us great support in-terms of funding the business with equipment and stock in order to do day-day tasks.

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

Our solution is to provide a holistic cleaning service using non-toxic chemicals because we understand the importance of environmental responsibility and job creation. Main problem that we solve as a business is to provide a rare cleaning service to small & large businesses in South Africa while we promote sustainable development for future generations to benefit from some of the materials used to derive these cleaning chemicals. We have created a hub for the cleaning industry that is mostly looked down on and modernised it by coming up with luxe customisable commercial cleaning packages for businesses, use the environmental friendly cleaning chemicals and green equipment. We have an Environmental Awareness program where we host environmental education in township schools; the aim is to groom learners at a young age to think environmental friendly. This essentially creates jobs for youth and women in South Africa from disadvantaged families, and a commercial value in the states economy

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

Major benefits of using eco-friendly products is that they are environmentally friendly, they are free from toxic materials, reusable and durable, promote cleaning efficiency making our cleaning service one of the services in the commercial space to use green machinery when providing a cleaning service. We have a project which is Environmental Education to schools in the townships where we focus on promoting environmental awareness as the business and promote sustainable development in schools. Another advantage is creating jobs for the disadvantaged youth and women. The disadvantages of eco-friendly materials may include higher initial costs, limited availability and variety, potential performance issues compared to traditional materials, and challenges in disposal or recycling at the end of their lifecycle. We educate our clients about the importance of recycling material and the reuse of products. We are also work with credible environmentalists to achieve our goals.

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

Aimed at serving small to large businesses (corporate), municipalities in South Africa, private schools, financial institutions, and health care facilities. The above mentioned are some of the commercial buildings that allow us to provide the cleaning service and our target market as the business. We are looking at adopting the Sustainability "Clean and Green for the Future" standards, expand to the rest of the commercial space where we use sustainability in driving many economies throughout the world. The guidelines for limiting global warming call for reducing the net emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 50 percent before 2030 and to no net emissions by 2050, a goal commonly known as Net Zero. This goal is requires companies to evaluate their strategies for going green. We are advocates for a green economy and that starts with adopting these standards for our homes, businesses and states.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-12-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

I am the sole Founder & Director of the company. I am a young and enthusiastic entrepreneur passionate about the well being of the environment with an advanced Diploma in Environmental Management from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town. I have an extensive background in retail, sales and customer service. Worked for the Amazon Development Centre in the digital department, and I have 8 years of leadership and management experience from iStore well known as Apple South Africa. I am a beneficiary of the NYDA grant funding for startups and a future leadership alumni for Core Group South Africa.

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

https://www.instagram.com/cleaning_consulting?igsh=N2x0a2w5ZXVxejds

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

j) Public services

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The startup has created employment opportunities for unemployed workers from disadvantaged family backgrounds. The aim is eradicate poverty and this involves looking at a variety of ways including economic stability, improvement in the quality of life and promoting business-friendly environment. We took a look at some of the regions with low poverty rates and we are working at adopting their standards in to our business.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Through employment of the cleaning personnel they are able to provide basic needs for their families. Our mission is an impactful goal and noble approach where we have a proposal in place which entails our company mission where we address the critical need; hunger affects millions of people worldwide which leads to poor health, impaired development and reduced productivity. We have identified the core problem and align our mission with the United Nations SDG 2: Zero hunger which aims to end hunger and achieve food security, improve nutrition and to promote a sustainable culture by 2030. To develop a solution, we are in the process of building partnerships that will drive economic and social impact, innovation and efficiency and potential growth; the demand for solutions to hunger is immense and growing hence the course to work at presenting significant opportunities for our startup to expand and make a great impact.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

Our contribution is through the use of non-toxic and eco-friendly chemicals that we use to clean health facilities. We focus on the societal needs which include but not limited to health challenges, access to good health etc. Our focus remains launching a startup that contributes in providing good health taps into growing market with high demand and offers innovative and impactful solutions. Align with global health goals, well thought through strategic partnerships that also promote sustainable growth and overall positive impact.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

With the aim to provide environmental awareness in schools mainly in non-urban areas (townships) contribute towards the quality of education, identify the societal needs, market potential and the unique value proposition which remains environmental awarenesss for our 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 advocate for gender equality ensuring as the business there’s gender equality for all and we also have a channel iCAS for everyone to get a free therapy session.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Eco-friendly cleaning products save water and energy for a lot of business and families.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

By using non-toxic materials we contribute to energy efficiency.

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

We are super passionate about career progression and growth development through our training programs we keep our staff engaged and well informed.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Green machinery and biodegradable products

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Yet to learn about this.

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

Our aim is to have communities that are well informed of sustainable development.

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

We are pushing for a plastic free society.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

By using products and equipment that is not harmful to the environment.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Yet to learn about this.

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

We understand the importance of environmental protection hence we use cleaning products and equipment that is not harmful to the environment. Non-toxic and biodegradable

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

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

We believe in doing the right thing even if no one is watching.

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

We would like to see a significant change in the state of the climate so we’ve collaborated with some of the companies that manufacture eco-friendly cleaning products and green machinery in order to achieve our mission. The relationships between the two are still in their early stages and the overall impact is to partner and promote sustainable development.

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.

6

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

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

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

The products that we use are a rare example in the cleaning industry especially in the commercial sector. I have seen a number of cleaning companies but very few use the biodegradable chemicals so I’d say it’s a very unique and innovative way of cleaning. We have revolutionised and modernised cleaning products and cleaning as a whole, we aim to do away with the stigmas that it’s clean labour, and cleaners are just uneducated people with no knowledge.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

My competitors are other cleaning companies that have been on the market, I am a start up with less than a year operating but what sets us apart from them is that they continue to use toxic materials, non-degradable chemicals, and our value and mission we pride ourselves in using eco-friendly cleaning products. The South African cleaning industry is a multi-million rand sector employing almost 100,000 people, and there are over 13,000 companies in the commercial space that require cleaning so there's great potential for growth and economic development with the correct tools, and business compliance.

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

Yes, I have employed about four female employees and I am helping other females to register their businesses for free, assisting with funding and networking opportunities.