Ghana - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Trofare is a smart paratransit system for smart cities improving commuters’ experience and productivity adopting Mobility-as-a-Serivice (MaaS) concept.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our product offers services for these categories Intracity( Trotro ) : Real-time update of transport fares, an estimation of total expenses for all intracity rides using trotro, We also efficiently connect Taxi drivers to passengers, allowing easy ordering of rides away from the traditional method. Intercity: Remote seat reservation for our public buses and electronic payment for rides. Delivery: Connecting dispatch riders to businesses ( SME's ) for smooth and convenient delivery. Trofare is tailored towards passengers getting a better experience of public transport however at the government approved fares. This makes our services affordable and open to the marginalized drivers and dispatch riders. Trofare connects emotionally and economically to the needs of citizens in this period of economic recession. That’s why with one tap we ensure 100% delivery and safety on your rides.

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

The unpredictability and frustrations many Ghanaians experience in using public transport is overbearing and we seek to be the change the country needs in that regard. Months ago, I had a frustrating experience during a round trip to Spintex using Trotro. The transportation cost was not only expensive but surprisingly irregular(considering this was an in and out trip).The vehicle was also rickety and made a lot of loud noise as it moved on the road. Accessibility to Trotro is very sometimes very difficult, so you’d have to resort to a taxi. When you are lucky to get the attention of a taxi driver, he would charge exorbitant prices because you have no choice. It was evident that the inaccessibility of taxis and the abundance of competition from new private ride service companies like Yango were contributing to the inefficiencies in the traditional system leading to low revenue for taxi drivers. Faced with these challenges,my team and I decided to take matters into our own hands.

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

The core of Trofare's solution lies in providing real-time fare updates for trotro rides. With this feature, passengers can be confident that they are paying the correct and fair amount for their journeys; reducing the number of disputes and chaotic scenes between passengers and conductors. Our app also allows for remote ordering of taxis, making it easier for travelers to access transportation services even in busy areas like Circle.Moreover, Trofare offers seat reservations for intercity transport, ensuring passengers have a guaranteed spot on their desired routes. This improves the overall travel experience and enhances the efficiency of the intercity transport system. Additionally, we have implemented an effective delivery and tracking system to support SME's in providing a reliable and seamless delivery service for products.We have integrated features that alert passengers and drivers about road conditions and anomalies, helping them make informed decisions and prevent accidents.

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

Trofare bridges the gap between transport operators, citizens, and business owners by introducing a comprehensive solution to tackle these issues. Our initial customer segment: - Students ( Primary Target ) - University Campuses - Campus Taxi Drivers - Trotro mates - Trotro Drivers - Station Masters - Trotro Owners

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-01-01

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

8

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

4

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

United by passion, our diverse team thrives on the strength of varied academic backgrounds. Our meetings peak with heated debates, refining our decisions. Research is key, led by a research assistant at TRECK in KNUST with published papers. Most of us have held university leadership positions, equipping us with valuable skills. Kwaku Frimpong, MSc. Transport Eng. graduate, leads research with expertise in transportation. Bismark, an MSc. student, specializes in prototyping GTFS systems. Wilhermina Oduro, a BSc. Midwifery student and tech enthusiast, manages EHS. Abdul Mateen, a computer engineering graduate, heads artificial intelligence. Our CTO is an experienced developer at NPONTU Technologies. Agnes, our HRM and political science graduate, has strong communication skills. Jessy Baki, an experienced software developer, manages our product. Grace Acquaye, an accounting graduate, is our CFO. Marketing head Julius Ampong, a social marketer with Campus Hype Crew, ensures visibility.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/company/trofare

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

c) Industry (equipment, commercial, logistical and professional services, transport)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Our solution streamlines public transport operations, exposing them to more commuters through optimized routes that cut down fuel costs and give them a competitive edge over ride-sharing services like Bolt. Our research shows public transport operators who adopt our solution can achieve a revenue increase of over 10% in the first 3 months of operation.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The current responsibilities of trotro mates poses a lot of health risk . With the introduction of digital touter role there would be no shouting and peeping through window in search for passengers. Also, our safety alert companion would help reduce road accident and educate the public on road safety.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

2

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

With our solutions, women can now play roles as touts traditionally reserved for men due to the chaotic nature of the job, aligning with SDG goal 5.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our ultimate feature of providing credit scores for drivers using our system makes us guarantors for trotro operators when accessing vehicle loans. This would help in the acquisition of more clean energy vehicles, such as electric vehicles, into the public transport space.

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

Our solution transforms the long-overdue and criticized mode of transportation, reducing various health risks and increasing revenue due to the new role of digital touting with route optimization, aligning with SDG goal 8.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Trofare seeks to digitize traditional means of transportation (trotro) with the introduction of mobility-as-a-service concepts. We offer a single platform that provides various services in the transportation, logistics, and supply chain industries, innovating this sector with technology and aligning with SDG goal 9.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Our system also makes public transport, which traditionally only the strongest can navigate during rush hours, accessible to all commuters in line with SDG goal 10.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal of fostering a more efficient and collaborative transportation ecosystem by: Making the design phase publicly available: This transparency encourages partnerships with key stakeholders and developers who can contribute valuable insights and functionalities. Building a collaborative team: Our team itself was formed through collaboration, demonstrating our commitment to working together for a common goal. Prioritizing integration and data sharing: Seamless integration and data exchange between different transportation services within the ecosystem are crucial for creating a unified and user-friendly experience.

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

6

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

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.

4

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

Trotro, taxi, and okada services are the most common means of transportation logistics and supply chain, taking around 80% of the existing market. Our innovation revolutionizes service with the following features: Realtime ride information sharing E-ticketing and E-payment Trip event reporting (e.g., delays, safety incidents) Available in both offline and online modes for flexibility Accurate wait time estimation Fare comparison and confirmation to ensure transparency We also introduce the new role of digital touters who perform digital seat management, passenger management, and identify areas of high passenger demand to optimize routes. For trotro owners, taxi drivers, and okada riders, we provide credit scores that make us their partners in securing vehicle loans.

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

Our main competitors are ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Yango. However, we're focused on improving the experience of public transport commuters, especially middle and lower-income earners, by providing improved services that match the fares, based on research. By leveraging on traditional rides we are able to provide affordable services giving commuters more value for fare paid.

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

Our projects currently has a 50:50 men to women ratio. This is to prove to the community that women can occupy roles traditionally meant for men.