Zimbabwe - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

• Little Signs is a learning application for preschoolers who use Zimbabwean sign language

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Children learn at different paces and throughout time we have created different technological advancements to make sure that no child is left behind. But in doing so we have forgotten other children. We have left the deaf ,mute and hard-of-hearing child who do not use the same applications that we use . The community expects children of the same group to be at the same level of education yet other groups have, learning applications, quizzes and games to assist them with their learning The end goal is to make sure that every child has the same opportunity and experiences in education. Little Signs is an online learning application for small children. The application bridges the disability exclusion gap in Zimbabwe. With the use of Zimbabwean Sign Language (ZSL) ,we as Little Signs have introduced an interactive fun way to learn Sign language for little children. Maintaining the cultural diversity in Zimbabwe, Little signs assist children to grow and be sharp at a tender age.

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

Children learn at different paces and through out time we have created different technological advancements to make sure that no child is left behind • But in doing so we have forgotten other children; We have left the deaf child who does not use the same applications that we use . • The end goal is to make sure that every child has the same opportunity and experiences in education

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

Little signs bridges the disability gap where deaf and mute children only learn the traditional way It encourages diversity in learning Little signs provides the mute and deaf children a chance to learn at the same pace as other children It also encourages a fun way of learning sign language Little signs is the only application that teaches children Zimbabwean sign language Little signs encourages children of the same age to learn the same content in the same manner

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

Our target beneficiaries are the deaf ,mute and hard-of-hearing child who do not use the same applications that we use in learning We also target schools for the disabled where we will be providing them with a tool to assist teaching sign language.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-03-26

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

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

Kudakwashe C. Chipangura Full stack developer and open source enthusiast passionate about building technologies that drive social and economic development in his local community. He holds a BEng Honours degree in Mechatronics Engineering and is a Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer Associate. Sisasenkosi Mlilo argument reality (AR) , developer and technologist.Sign language expert and consultant. Cresentia Moyo Data Analyst who enjoys working with various technologies. She is highly adept at resolving issues and creating effective solutions. She has a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Informatics that has added as an advantage in solving tech related problems in the community,likes to participate in Hackathons . Shammah Mahobele Financial accounting degree at National University of Science and Technology. Expert at book keeping and company documentation

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

https://www.littlesigns.co.zw/home/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

3

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Little signs provides quality educations for the disabled children improving the traditional learning methods we have been using all this time

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

By empowering education we give the girl child the chance to know their rights

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

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

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

With the growth of this project we will hire more sign language consultants and also animators.thereby providing decent work. Little sign encourages the disabled to learn and be heard maybe our economic breakthrough lays within the deaf community

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

Little signs is an innovation to tackle the disability gap in education

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Little signs encourages other groups and languages to be heard and considered as we move ahead with technology

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

3

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Little signs is a new innovation that uses available technologies to bring change and equality

06.09 Competitive Analysis

We have no potential competitors

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

I am part of the communities that empower the girl child such as women tech makers. We have made meetups with schools where we encouraged children to purse STEM subjects.