Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Preventing air, water and land pollutions, a footwear at a time.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Gold Coast Tokota is a social enterprise that leverages on upcycle textiles like jeans and khaki and turn used car tires into bespoke African footwear like Ahenema, slippers and shoes. Our designs have African symbols which inspires patriotism, unity, resourceful, hard work and leadership. Since its commencement in January, 2023, we created 15 unique designs, sold about 2500 units across Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the US. We created 25 new jobs for women, youth and person's living with disabilities. And upcycled 3 tons of waste.

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

Did you know 85% of all textiles are dumped, thereby releasing 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean which is equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles, resulting in 10% of global carbon emissions.

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

1. Using eco-friendly materials like textile wastes (jeans and khaki), there promoting sustainability and fair trade principles. 2. We promote Africanism and African craftsmanship, our products feature traditional designs, forms and patterns in celebrating and preserving our cultural heritage. 3. We produce high quality and durable footwear, we seek to it to each pair of footwear from Gold Coast Tokota meets the highest quality. 4. Creating job opportunities for local artisans, also we source some of our materials locally decreasing over reliance on foreign goods.

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

Demographic Age Difference 1. Kids 2. Teens 3. Young 4. Adult 5. Old Age Type of customers 1. Buyer 2. Gifting to other people 3. Wholesalers/ Stockists Location in Ghana Greater Accra Region 50% Ashanti Region 30% Remaining Regions 20% Location (Global) Ghana 50% Nigeria, Cote D'ivoire and South Africa 20% US 10% Europe including UK 10% Other parts of the world 10% Environmentally conscious people cause of the eco-friendly materials. Diasporas with African heritage connections. NGOs and philanthropic organizations

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-09

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

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.)

Mary Seade, Co-founder/ Administrator Education University of Professional Studies BSc Business Administration Sept.,2014 - July, 2018 (Management Studies) Skill 1. Visionary leader 2. Innovative and creative 3. Excellent customer service 4. Problem solving Work Experience Customer Agent (National Service) Vodafone Ghana Sept., 2018-July, 2019 1. Analysing customer complaints and addressing them 2. Handling objection from customers. Tele Sales Executive MTN Ayo(Insurance Policy) Sept.2019-May, 2021 1. Suggesting modifications and updates to clients. 2. Guiding clients in selecting selecting insurance packages for their needs.

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

https://goldcoasttokota.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

e) Secondary commodities (cars and parts, consumer durables and apparel, retail)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

By providing an income source, we've created decent jobs for local artisans and craftsmen. We've established a bigger production site which helps with shoe making skill acquisition for women, youth and person's living with disability, which provides a safe work environment. Our employees are duly paid which help improve their standard of living. We source locally by purchasing our raw materials for production from local suppliers which help boost the economy, create more jobs and income. Also we are very big on sustainability.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

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

4

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

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our co founder is a woman, we support women in leadership in our business, we created an all inclusive environment for women, also provide training and promotion for all our employee irrespective of the candidate being a women. We have rules and policies that ensure gender balance, non discrimination and zero tolerance for harassment. We have implemented flexible maternity leaves for our women when they take a seed.

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

At Coast Tokota, we seek to it that our business operation don't have any harmful effect on our water resources, we have effectively support the improvement of water and sanitation in our surroundings. The raw materials used for our sought after design, is sometimes sourced from water bodies, gutters and landfills

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Since the commencement of Gold Coast Tokota, we created twenty-five (25) direct and indirect new jobs for women, youth and person's living with disability. We also offer apprenticeship programs to you with practical skills in the shoe/ footwear eco space. This year, our goal is to have partnerships with local universities like KNUST and University of Ghana and also collaborate with other leather works institution to help with innovation and skills development.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

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

This year, our goal is to capitalize on investing in educational, health and infrastructure improvements for deprived communities, also give more equal employment opportunities to person living with disabilities with the sole aim to reduce inequality within and among countries.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Last year, one of our goals about sustainable was to educate customers about the essence of sustainable living and Coast Tokota forcefulness to promote urban sustainability and this year, we are taking it to the next level. Also we are sourcing 90% of our leather and textiles from local sources to reduce carbon emission.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

We use recyclable packaging materials for footwear products. With check and balance in mind and also to adhere to sustainable practices and environmental standards, we always audit our local suppliers. In the last quarter of this year, we will enroll our program where by we will use recycle plastic as our raw materials and also customers can pay with plastics.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

n/a

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

We've worked with beach cleaning institutions like Mayeko, Mckingtorch Africa to clean up the beaches frequently. After sorting out the waste into various forms like textiles, glass bottles, plastics, we sometimes use the textiles waste to make bespoke Africa footwear to help decrease ocean litter and enhance recycling and upcycling. This year, we will allocate 1% of our revenue towards ocean conservation initiatives.

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

n/a

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 want to promote sustainability goals through collaboration, inclusive business practices and capacity building. We have an e-commerce platform that help local artisans and craft men to have access to global markets. This year, we will be partnering with an NGO on community development projects such as school feeding, providing sandals to the needy in rural areas and street donations. We've given our artisans the chance and platform to use our production space for their workshop to help improve their craftsmanship and business skills.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

4

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

Traditional Ahenema is a native sandals wore by Royals in Ghana, it has nails and hard insoles and soles which makes it very uncomfortable to wear most of the time. We have added alot of modernization to the Ahenema, to make it aestheically pleasing, very comfy and sleek to wear. We use eco-friendly materials from landfills, beaches and local markets to make our Ahenema.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Competitiors 1. Sole Rebels ( Ethiopia) 2. Koliko Footwear (Ghana) 3. Haus of Hercules (Nigeria) Competitive Advantage 1. African inspires designs like the Adinkra symbols. 2. Customer experience and engagement. 3. Swift delivery. 4. Innovative designs and products.

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

Yes, through my footwear brand Coast Tokota, we believe in women empowerment, our co-founder is a female and40% of our current staff are females. In the next years to come, we will organize trade fairs solely for female entrepreneurs to showcase their products, moreover, offer training opportunities that focuses on skill acquisition like shoe making, beaded bags making, tye and dye making to women. For other female entrepreneurs to share knowledge and resources, we will create an online platform to foster this idea. Lastly, we will collaborate with local organisations and schools to spread the importance of female entrepreneurship in our community.