Cameroon - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Skolarr is a machine learning, bilingual educational app designed to help secondary and university students in Cameroon and across Africa access carefully curated content like study notes, interactive exercises, quiz games, as well as online assessments.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Skolarr is a comprehensive online learning platform that provides over 10,000 students access to a wide range of educational resources and courses, especially those in disadvantaged and war-affected communities, with the help of AI and machine learning technology. Through Skolarr, students at both the secondary and university levels can unlock their full potential by exploring topics spanning across Arts, Sciences, Business, Technology, and Personal Development. These students gain access to thousands of high-quality study lessons, taught by expert instructors. The platform also offers interactive quizzes (in a game-like format), and exercises to reinforce learning. Additionally, Skolarr provides personalized learning paths and progress tracking features, allowing students to tailor their educational journey. Upon successful completion of each course, students are awarded badges and Certificates of Completion, further motivating and recognizing their academic achievements.

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

The main problem I am striving to solve through Skolarr is the significant educational disparities and access limitations faced by students in Cameroon and Africa, particularly those in the north-west and south-west regions affected by war and socio-political unrest. The closure of schools, lack of resources, and challenges in career orientation due to these crises have hindered the academic progress of thousands of students. Acoording to UNESCO institute of statistics most recent report, it shows that over 600000 students in Cameroon dont still have access to education due to socio political upheavals in the anglophone regions.

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

Accessible Education: Skolarr provides a digital platform that ensures education is accessible to all students, including those in war-affected areas or facing socio-political challenges. This inclusivity allows for continuous learning despite external disruptions. Personalized Learning: Skolarr's machine learning algorithm tailors the learning experience for each student based on their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. This personalized approach enhances student engagement and comprehension. Self-assessment Tools: Skolarr offers students the opportunity to test their knowledge through timed quizzes at the end of their study sessions on the app. These self-assessment tools not only help students gauge their understanding of the material but also promote active learning and retention. By enabling students to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement, Skolarr enhances their academic performance and fosters a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement.

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

Secondary School (K-12) Students: Skolarr targets secondary school students in Cameroon, particularly those facing challenges such as school closures due to conflict or limited access to quality education. By providing a digital platform for remote learning, personalized study resources, and self-assessment tools, Skolarr is to supporting these secondary students in their academic journey, enhancing their learning experience, and ensure continuity in education despite external disruptions. University Students: Skolarr also caters to university students by offering a tech-driven educational platform that supports their learning process and academic development. University students can benefit from personalized study materials, self-assessment quizzes, and access to resources that aid in their academic success. By providing a tool for self-improvement and knowledge evaluation, Skolarr empowers university students to excel in their studies and achieve their academic goals effectively.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-06-13

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.)

Harouna Kenfack is a skilled professional with 3 years of experience in the Edtech field. He holds a Master's degree in Data Science and is a self-taught mobile app developer, having been building apps for 5 years. He is proficient in programming languages like Dart for Flutter, Laravel, and React Native. Harouna is a creative and accomplished individual who brings a tech-savvy and innovative approach to our startup team. Emilie is a talented female tech leader with 1 year of experience in the Edtech field. She is an award-winning and skilled graphic designer with 3 years of experience in this creative field. Emilie brings a unique blend of design expertise and educational technology knowledge to our startup team.

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

https://linktr.ee/skolarr

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

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Many Cameroonian students struggle with limited access to quality educational materials. My startup tackles this head-on by high quality resources like study notes, past exam questions with solutions, and engaging quizzes. This empowers students to learn independently, solidify their understanding, and identify areas needing improvement. These resources provided go beyond simple memorization. By offering targeted practice and explanations, our resources help students truly grasp concepts, which can significantly improve their test scores and overall academic performance. Lastly, our innovative Digital Olympiads create a platform where students can test their skills against their peers in a healthy and motivating environment. This competition fosters a passion for learning, pushes them to excel, and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing, further solidifying their grasp of complex

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My startup is making a real difference in breaking down gender barriers in education here in Cameroon. We do this by ensuring all students have equal access to the resources they need to succeed. This focus on access empowers girls specifically. It combats traditional biases that might hold them back from pursuing their full potential. We also know that girls are often underrepresented in STEM fields. That's why our platform offers inclusive resources and encourages participation in STEM-focused Olympiads. This combination sparks their interest, build confidence, and dismantle stereotypes about these exciting career paths.

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

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

My mobile app, Skolarr, is making a real impact on jobs and the economy here in Cameroon. We do this by giving students access to online training programs in practical skills like programming and business. These are exactly the skills employers are looking for, so by learning them through Skolarr, graduates are much more likely to get hired. Skolarr doesn't just help students get any job, it empowers them to get better jobs. With valuable skills under their belt, they can compete for higher-paying positions and achieve greater financial security. This, in turn, benefits the whole economy of Cameroon.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Skolarr, our mobile app, is a game-changer for education in Cameroon. We're at the forefront of EdTech solutions, offering a user-friendly platform that delivers educational content and training programs directly to students. This makes learning more accessible and efficient, and it has the potential to completely revolutionize how education is delivered in Cameroon. By using Skolarr, students are actively building a crucial skill for the modern world: digital literacy. As they navigate the app, they learn how to effectively use technology, which opens doors to new opportunities in both education and future careers.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Skolarr is making a significant contribution to reducing inequalities in Cameroon, particularly in the conflict-affected regions of the North-West and South-West. By providing remote education access to girls and boys who were previously unable to attend school due to the ongoing war, skolarr is ensuring that these underserved communities can continue their education. Skolarr's model allows these students to access a wide range of educational resources at an affordable cost, overcoming the financial barriers that may have prevented them from accessing formal schooling.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

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

4

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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.

4

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.

6

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

The project we have developed is a new and more advanced version of most edtech applications ever built. On the Skolarr app, we have integrated our own video conferencing and scheduling functionalities, allowing teachers to easily teach their students from home. We are also implementing advanced AI features on Skolarr, through which students can generate flashcards and diagrams, thus facilitating their understanding. To make the app even more engaging, students have a dashboard that allows them, at the end of their studies, to analyze their level of engagement on the app and identify the career paths that would suit them best

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Skolarr has several competitors in Cameroon and around Africa Ulesson, miya academy, GCE app, but what makes us truly standout in our mobile applications interactive and user friendly nature. On skolarr students have the possibility to taking a final assessment graded 1-4 difficulty level. This assesment helps them access how ready they are for their official exams. In additition to this we have a machine learning algorithm on the app for carrier orientation. From the first day they get on the skolarr app and get to register, our mobile app start monitoring their actions on the app, what subjects they love most, which games they play most, and general interest and at the end of the year they get feedback based on this data what they can do in the future, be it medecines, engineering, law etc. This reduces the propects of our african parents taking career decision on our behalf

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

Yes. At Skolarr, we have been forging partnerships with other organizations across Cameroon, such as Cameroon Leaders Empowerment Initiative and Open Dreams. Through these collaborations, we have been able to provide training to women on how to start a business, how to build a strong team, and how to develop problem-solving skills. This initiative has empowered many more women around Cameroon to start engaging in various sectors, including Agriculture, Healthcare, and Education. As a result, these women have been able to launch their own powerful startups and organizations, contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. By leveraging our platform and expertise, we are not only providing educational resources to students, but also supporting the broader community by equipping women with the necessary skills, course and knowledge around entrepreneurship to become successful entrepreneurs. This collaborative approach has amplified the positive impact.