Zimbabwe - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

we produce renewable heat energy by repurposing biomass wastes into clean cooking solid fuels called green briquettes aimed to end deforestation and provide low-income families with clean, affordable alternative cooking fuels in Zambia.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Muchitsa Initiative Limited is a social enterprise working to provide clean, affordable and sustainable cooking solutions in Zambia. Over 80% of Zambian households rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking, leading to severe deforestation and indoor air pollution deaths. Our core innovation is producing "green briquettes" - clean solid fuel made by purposing agricultural waste and other biomass. These briquettes are an eco-friendly alternative to charcoal and firewood. We also manufacture improved energy-efficient cookstoves that reduce fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional stoves. Our mission is to tackle deforestation, mitigate effects of climate change, provide accessible clean energy, and improve health outcomes for low-income Zambian families through sustainable energy products and services. With Zambia losing 250,000-300,000 adult trees annually due to unsustainable charcoal/fuelwood use, our green briquettes present a timely and and crucial solution.

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

The primary issue is Zambian households' overwhelming dependence on charcoal and firewood for cooking energy due to poverty and lack of access to alternatives like electricity or LPG. Low electricity generation has resulted in prolonged outages, further increasing demand for charcoal made from unsustainable tree-cutting. This rampant deforestation to meet charcoal needs is causing severe environmental damage and contributing to climate change. Our initiative aims to provide a clean, affordable and renewable alternative for cooking, heating and poultry energy needs. By purposing biomass waste into green briquettes and supplying efficient cookstoves, we intend to reduce deforestation, indoor air pollution exposures and overreliance on environmentally harmful solid fuels like charcoal and firewood in Zambian households.

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

1. High Burning Efficiency and Heat Output: Compared to loose firewood or charcoal, briquettes are denser and have lower moisture content. This translates to: Longer burning time: You'll need to add briquettes less frequently, extending your cooking or heating session. More consistent heat: Briquettes burn more evenly, providing a predictable and controllable heat source. 2. Convenience and Ease of Use: Briquettes offer several practical advantages: Standardized size and shape: This makes them easier to store and transport, compared to loose materials. Clean burning: Briquettes typically produce less smoke and sparks, making them a cleaner choice for grilling or indoor heating applications. 3. Environmental Sustainability: While not perfect, briquettes are a more eco-friendly choice than other options, Renewable source: made from biomass like sawdust or agricultural waste, briquettes utilize renewable resources. our Briquette generally produce fewer pollutants.

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

Poultry farmers: Our green briquettes can potentially serve as an alternative heating fuel for low-cost poultry farming operations. Urban households: Even in urban areas, a significant number of households rely on charcoal and firewood due to poverty or unreliable electricity supply. Our solutions target such urban households seeking cleaner, more sustainable cooking options. Low-income households: A major portion of our target beneficiaries are families from low-income backgrounds who cannot afford cleaner cooking fuels like electricity or LPG. Our affordable green briquettes and efficient cookstoves provide an accessible alternative to charcoal and firewood for this population segment.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-02-23

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.)

1.Mr. Emmanuel Miti - Director: With a diploma in strategic management, a diploma in operations management, and currently pursuing a degree in LAW, Mr. Miti boasts 7 years of experience in management positions. His green entrepreneurship background ensures strategic direction and effective leadership. 2.Miss Fanny Mumba - Material and Quality Manager: Holding a diploma in science laboratory technology and pursuing a degree in Agronomy, Miss Mumba has over 5 years of experience in a research lab. Her expertise is pivotal in material testing and maintaining quality standards.

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

https://web.facebook.com/?_rdc=1&_rdr

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

we create employment buy residues from farmers thereby giving them extra income cheap source of energy thereby freeing more money for other things

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

preserving forests thereby stabilizing rainfall patterns for agriculture purposes. we farm farm more crops for our raw materials therefore, increasing food accessibility

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

5

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

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

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

less than one year of operations and providing four full time employees

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

we are a sustainable industry using innovate methods to solve problems of climate change

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

women are equal employees

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

by reducing deforestation, our initiative makes significant contribution to mitigating effects of climate change and thereby, giving communities sustainable livelihoods.

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 promote circularity by recycling waste from agriculture and other biomass into a superior product .

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting smokeless charcoal. we are increasing carbon sinks by the bamboo plantation we are growing. we are saving forests by proving a better product than made by cutting trees

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

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

we are advocating for reduced cutting down of trees and planting of carbon sinks for sequestration and preserving soil fertility.

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

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

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 are working with many stakeholders, local and international organizations working on sustainable development goals.

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

3

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

4

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.

4

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

our product is new in our region but not new everywhere. we are getting customers slowly and we will improve with time.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

our customers are traditional charcoal sellers, gas stoves providers and electricity. however, our product is receiving good welcome because people have realized the dangers of traditional charcoal.

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

yes. we founded this initiative with a female and continue to motivate females to start entrepreneurship