Ghana - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

ACE is a virtual marketplace connecting informal workers with local gig opportunities, like plumbing, appliance repairs, etc. It helps workers find consistent jobs and improves their livelihoods, while providing households with reliable, quality

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

ACE is a virtual marketplace designed to connect informal workers with local gig opportunities, such as plumbing, roofing, appliance repairs, and cleaning. The mobile application allows users to request services easily and be matched with nearby professionals swiftly, ensuring reliable and quality services. ACE empowers informal workers by providing them with consistent job opportunities, enhancing their economic stability and personal growth. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, by promoting equitable employment opportunities and mitigating economic disparities. ACE's innovative approach uses technology to bridge the gap between service demand and labor supply, fostering community growth. Our clear roadmap includes essential features like job matching and secure payments, with future expansions planned. It promotes gender equality, offering equal jobs

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

ACE addresses the informal sector's challenge of securing consistent work, which leads to financial instability and high unemployment rates. Current solutions like job boards or word-of-mouth referrals are unreliable, often resulting in underpaid workers and dissatisfied customers due to poor service quality and accountability. In today's booming gig economy, with growing demand for on-demand services, the informal segment remains largely untapped. Leveraging mobile technology and internet penetration, ACE provides a structured platform connecting skilled blue-collar workers (plumbers, electricians, welders) with households and businesses in need. It stands out with its hyper-localized approach, robust matching algorithms, and strong focus on user experience and worker welfare. This sets it apart from competitors in both the gig economy and traditional job-finding methods. Formalizing this sector would benefit all stakeholders, offering a crucial solution in today's economic landscape.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Quality and Reliability: Users benefit from accessing reliable and quality services for tasks like plumbing, electrical work, cleaning, and welding through ACE. The platform ensures that professionals are vetted and matched efficiently, guaranteeing satisfaction and peace of mind for customers Convenience and Efficiency: ACE leverages mobile technology to provide a seamless experience for both service providers and users. With just a few taps, users can request services and be connected with nearby professionals swiftly, making the process convenient and efficient. This saves time and effort compared to traditional methods of finding and hiring laborers. Empowerment of the Informal Sector: ACE empowers workers in the informal sector by providing them with access to formalized job opportunities. This transition from informal to formal work improves their economic status, enhances their skills through regular work, and provides a pathway to social inclusion. Streamlined service hiring.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

1. Informal Sector Workers: These are individuals in the informal economy who lack formal qualifications but possess practical skills such as plumbing, roofing, cleaning, and welding. ACE targets these workers by providing them with access to consistent job opportunities through a digital platform. By formalizing their work and connecting them with gigs, it empowers them economically, enhances their skills, and improves their overall livelihoods. 2. Households and Businesses: ACE also serves households and businesses seeking reliable and convenient services in areas such as plumbing, electrical work, appliance repairs, cleaning, and more. Users benefit from the platform by accessing a pool of vetted professionals nearby, ensuring prompt service delivery and quality workmanship.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2021-12-27

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Nana Ama Boatemaa Ayenor: - Pursuing MBA and MS in Sport Management at UMass Amherst - Business administration background from Ashesi University - Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Leadership in sports development - Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, MailChimp, BaseCamp Niels Ayenor: - OSSD candidate at Canadian Independent College Waterloo - 93.8% average, Ontario Scholar status - Research Assistant for ILO's Decent Work Programs evaluation in West Africa - Proficient in data collection and meeting management - Leadership as SRC Treasurer and Football Team Captain - Organizational skills, analytical thinking Akua Adusei: - BSc in Business Administration (Banking and Finance) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology - 4+ years in the Fintech industry - Product management, client acquisition, financial modeling - Strategic planning and partnership development - Client relationship management - Proficiency in financial modeling and data analysis.

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

N/A

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

ACE contributes to Goal 1: No Poverty by addressing income instability among informal sector workers. Many face precarious employment and lack regular job access. ACE acts as a digital marketplace, offering consistent gigs in services like plumbing, cleaning, electrical work, appliance repairs, and more. By formalizing these opportunities, it stabilizes income, reducing reliance on erratic earnings. This stability lifts workers from financial uncertainty, enhancing livelihoods. Lastly, it ensures fair practices with transparent payments and skill development, promoting economic equity within communities.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

1. Equal Job Opportunities: ACE ensures that job opportunities on its platform are accessible to all, regardless of gender. By offering a level playing field for both male and female workers, it contributes to breaking down barriers and biases that may exist in traditional labor markets. 2. Promoting Female Participation: ACE actively encourages female participation in the workforce by creating a supportive environment where women can thrive. This includes outreach efforts to recruit female workers, ensuring that they have equal access to job opportunities and the resources needed to succeed. 3. Empowerment Through Employment: By providing women with meaningful job opportunities through ACE, the platform empowers them economically and socially. Access to steady income and job security enhances their financial independence and decision-making power within their households and communities.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

1. Formalizing Gig Opportunities: ACE establishes a structured digital marketplace where unskilled laborers access formalized gig opportunities. This transition ensures equitable compensation, transparent job expectations, and consistent employment prospects previously absent in the informal sector. 2. Skill Development and Empowerment: ACE facilitates skill development and training for unskilled laborers, enhancing their capabilities and employability. This empowerment not only elevates individual livelihoods but also bolsters economic growth by cultivating a more skilled and competitive workforce. 3. Economic Impact: By promoting decent work through formalized gigs, ACE drives economic growth locally and globally. It spurs economic activity by connecting service providers with consumers, thereby expanding the gig economy and invigorating local economies with reliable service provisions.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

1. Equal Access to Job Opportunities: ACE provides a platform where individuals in the informal sector, regardless of formal qualifications, can access job opportunities. By leveling the playing field and offering equal access to gigs like plumbing, cleaning, and electrical work, it ensures that economic opportunities are not limited by traditional barriers such as educational background or social status. 2. Promoting Inclusivity: ACE actively promotes inclusivity by welcoming diverse individuals into its workforce. This includes reaching out to marginalized groups and providing them with opportunities to earn income through the platform. By embracing diversity, it fosters a more inclusive economy where everyone has the chance to contribute and benefit.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 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

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

2

05.08 Justification

While there may be existing services in Ghana catering to gig economy needs, ACE innovatively consolidates and formalizes fragmented services under one platform. This enhances efficiency and reliability, addressing latent needs for standardized service delivery. It integrates advanced digital platforms with traditional service sectors like plumbing and electrical work, innovatively transforming how informal labor connects with consumers. This technological integration represents a novel approach within Ghana's service industry landscape. Also addresses the unmet demand for reliable, transparent, and accessible gig economy services in Ghana. By formalizing informal sector jobs, it meets the growing need for secure, consistent employment opportunities while enhancing economic stability and community welfare. It innovates job-finding with transparent payments, skills development, and reliable services, elevating quality and satisfaction beyond informal practices.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

ACE's main competitors include other gig economy platforms like Gigmile and Utaska, as well as traditional employment agencies and informal job-finding methods.: • Hyper-Localized Approach: ACE prioritizes connecting users with nearby professionals swiftly, ensuring personalized and efficient service delivery. • Advanced Matching Algorithms: ACE uses sophisticated algorithms to match service providers based on location, skills, and user preferences, ensuring optimal job matches and high satisfaction. • Social and Economic Impact: ACE promotes economic empowerment and social inclusion within the informal sector, formalizing gig opportunities and supporting sustainable development goals like reducing inequalities and advancing gender equality. • Technological Innovation: ACE utilizes cutting-edge technology to streamline processes, offering a user-friendly interface and secure payment systems that enhance convenience and reliability for all stakeholders

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

Yes, promoting gender equality is a core principle of ACE. Our platform actively encourages women to participate in the gig economy by creating a safe and inclusive environment. We will offer promotional deals, such as a 10% discount for female entrepreneurs in specific industries. Additionally, a portion of our grant funding, if awarded, would be dedicated to initiatives that empower female entrepreneurs within the informal sector, including workshops and skills development programs. By ensuring fair work practices, transparent opportunities, and a secure platform, ACE aims to empower all individuals, including women, to thrive and contribute their skills effectively.