Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

E-commerce platform for convenient grocery shopping and delivery from local market women by linking Eco-conscious farmers to busy professionals and students. And through this, ensuring customers are eating healthily and avoiding lifestyle diseases.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Digimart Online Groceries is an e-commerce platform that allows customers to order groceries and already-cooked food packages through its Android and iOS apps. The service offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, pantry essentials, and more, sourced directly from local market women in Kumasi and Accra and eco-conscious farmers, in Ghana. Key features include: Convenience: Customers can order groceries and cooked meals from the comfort of their homes, with delivery options available. Cooking Lessons: The app provides cooking lessons and recipes from experienced chefs in Ghana, allowing users to learn new cooking skills. Local Market Sourcing: Digimart sources products directly from local market women and eco-conscious farmers, ensuring freshness and affordability. Variety: The platform offers a diverse selection of products, including fresh produce, essentials, and cooked meals. Delivery: Orders are delivered quickly to customers, ensuring timely receipt.

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

1. Time Constraints: Many individuals, especially working professionals and students, have limited time to visit physical markets or grocery stores, making it difficult to purchase essential items. 2. Limited Accessibility: Urban areas in Ghana often lack access to modern grocery stores, forcing residents to rely on expensive grocery shops, which often do not even offer a wide range of products. 3. Quality and Freshness: Fresh produce and other perishable items may not be readily available or may not meet quality standards in local markets. 4. Limited Options: Traditional grocery shopping often involves visiting multiple stores to find specific products, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. 5. Market for eco-conscious farmers: Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their food choices, but may not have access to eco-conscious farmers or sustainable products Farmers also often do not have the market to sell their products and hence get demotivated

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

Convenience: Customers can order groceries and cooked meals from the comfort of their homes. Wide Range of Products: Digimart offers a comprehensive selection of fresh produce, pantry essentials, and more, sourced directly from local market women and eco-conscious farmers. Quality and Authenticity: The platform ensures that products are fresh and authentic. Hassle-Free Ordering: Customers can order and pay for their groceries online, with transparent pricing and cash-on-delivery options. Time-Saving: Digimart saves customers time by providing a one-stop-shop for all their grocery needs, eliminating the need to visit multiple stores. Support for Local Businesses: By sourcing products from local market women and eco-conscious farmers, Digimart supports local businesses and contributes to community development. Cooking Lessons: The app provides cooking lessons and recipes from experienced chefs in Ghana, allowing users to learn new cooking skills. Job Opportunities: The platform promotes

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

Busy Professionals: Busy working professionals and students who have limited time to visit physical markets or grocery stores, making it difficult to purchase and eat healthily. Urban and Rural Residents: Individuals living in urban areas of Ghana, particularly those who lack access to traditional grocery markets or have limited options for fresh produce. Eco-Conscious Consumers: Individuals concerned about the environmental impact of their food choices, who can support sustainable agriculture practices by purchasing products from local market women and eco-conscious farmers. Local Market Women: Women who operate local markets, providing them with a platform to sell their products and increase their income.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-03

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

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.)

Female Co-Owner (Civil Engineer and PhD Student): A female co-owner who is a civil engineer and a PhD student exploring sustainable water solutions. She brings her expertise on sustainable solutions to the problems faced in Africa and incorporates them into the way Digimart operates. Backend Software Engineer: A computer scientist who is a software engineer with a specialization in backend development. Mobile App Developer: A computer engineer with a specialization in mobile app development.

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

https://duxgh.com

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Digimart supports local market women and farmers, providing them with a platform to sell their products and increase their income, which can help alleviate poverty in the local communities

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

By providing access to fresh, affordable, and authentic food products, Digimart helps ensure food security and availability for its customers, contributing to the goal of zero hunger

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

Digimart promotes healthier living by offering a convenient way for customers to access fresh produce and nutritious food options, which can improve their overall health and well-being

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Digimart helps students in tertiary education to have more time to study while eating healthily and affordably. This aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

The platform employs over 80% women and girls, which aligns with the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls

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

Digimart creates job opportunities for shoppers, order managers, and delivery riders, supporting economic growth, and also provides a platform for local market women and eco-conscious farmers to grow their businesses, contributing to decent work and economic development in the community

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Resilient Infrastructure: Digimart Online Groceries is built on a strong underlying infrastructure that includes automation, high availability, and continuous monitoring. This ensures that the app can withstand failures and maintain performance even under high loads. This infrastructure is designed to be scalable and resilient, which helps to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization by ensuring that the app can adapt to changing demands and needs. Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization: By providing a platform for local market women and farmers to sell their products, Digimart Online Groceries promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialization. The app helps to create job opportunities and increase income for these individuals, which contributes to the economic development of the community. Additionally, the app's focus on sustainable practices and local sourcing helps to reduce the environmental impact of the food supply chain, promoting sustainable industrialization

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The platform provides equal opportunities for employment and business growth to all individuals, regardless of their gender, race, or socioeconomic status. This inclusive approach helps to promote social and economic equality by ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

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

By sourcing products directly from local market women and eco-conscious farmers, Digimart promotes sustainable and responsible consumption and production practices, which can help reduce the environmental impact of the food supply chain

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

3

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

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

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

By ensuring we are promoting the businesses of eco-conscious farmers, more farmers will go into sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

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.

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

Digimart provides a convenient and affordable grocery shopping experience through technology, comprehensive product offerings, and affordability. We differentiate ourselves by leveraging technology to streamline the shopping process, sourcing products from local suppliers, and offering competitive prices. Our platform utilizes various technological solutions, such as mobile apps, and efficient delivery logistics, to create a seamless and hassle-free experience for our customers. We also focus on providing a comprehensive grocery shopping experience by curating a diverse selection of high-quality, fresh, and authentic products from local market women and eco-conscious farmers. Our focus on enhancing the customer experience through technology, comprehensive product offerings, and affordability sets us apart from the competition. We are not simply replicating an existing model but rather striving to improve upon it and provide a more tailored and satisfying grocery shopping.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Competitors: Nok Nok, Jumia, Glovo, local grocery shops and supermarkets. Local Market Women Collaboration: Digimart sources products directly from local market women, ensuring freshness and authenticity. This approach not only supports local businesses but also provides customers with a wider range of options. Comprehensive Product Range: Digimart offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, pantry essentials, and already cooked food packages. This comprehensive range of products caters to diverse customer needs and preferences. User-Friendly Interface: Digimart's mobile apps and online platform are designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for customers to navigate and order products. Prompt Delivery: Digimart prioritizes prompt delivery, ensuring that customers receive their orders within 30 minutes. Customer Support: Digimart offers dedicated customer support for inquiries and feedback, ensuring that customers receive timely assistance.

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

Yes, I am initiating actions within my community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs. I have trained 3 ladies to start their entrepreneurial journey, and I am a mentor to all young people within my environment who want to be entrepreneurs. I believe that empowering women to become entrepreneurs can have a positive impact on their lives and the community as a whole.