Ghana - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

CoolGard is a portable, smart, solar-powered refrigeration unit using Peltier technology to bridge the healthcare gap and ensure proper medication and vaccine storage in remote healthcare facilities.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

CoolGard tackles the critical challenge of unreliable cold chain infrastructure in remote healthcare facilities. It utilizes: Solar Power:Eliminates dependence on unreliable electricity grids, ensuring consistent operation. Peltier Cooling:Provides silent and energy-efficient cooling, minimizing reliance on generators. Optional Features: Remote temperature monitoring for real-time medication management. Data analysis to optimize medication stocking and distribution. CoolGard's portability and adaptability make it ideal for remote locations.It's a cheaper and sustainable solution compared to traditional options.Beyond the technology, we aim to be a social impact project.By bridging the healthcare gap in remote Africa, we can ensure millions have access to essential healthcare.

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

The primary issue is the lack of a robust and reliable cold chain infrastructure that can maintain the required temperature range for vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medicines throughout the supply chain process, from storage to transportation and distribution. This lack of proper storage leads to wasted vaccines, medicine spoilage, ineffective medications, and limited access to essential healthcare, disproportionately impacting children, diabetics, and mothers. In some remote Ghanaian communities with unreliable electricity supply, they rely on drones to deliver these temperature sensitive medications, this however becomes an issues during bad weather conditions. Consequently, many remote communities face limited access to vital healthcare resources, posing a serious threat to public health and well-being.

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

1. Expanded Healthcare Access: CoolGard enables rural clinics and pharmacies to safely store and distribute vaccines, insulin, and other vital temperature-sensitive medical supplies. This dramatically improves healthcare access for underserved communities lacking reliable cold chain infrastructure. 2. Sustainable Off-Grid Operation: Powered by renewable solar energy and featuring energy-efficient peltier cooling technology, CoolGard provides a sustainable cold chain solution for areas without consistent electricity access. This aligns with environmental priorities. 3. Precise Temperature Control: The integration of temperature control and management allows CoolGard to maintain different temperatures for different vaccines/medicines within their crucial range with a high degree of accuracy and reliability, preventing spoilage. Additional benefits include the affordability of CoolGard compared to traditional refrigeration units, as well as its portaltabilty enabling transportation.

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

CoolGard's portable refrigeration solution is aimed at serving underserved rural communities across Africa that currently lack reliable access to cold chain storage for temperature-sensitive medical supplies like vaccines and medicines. The primary targeted beneficiaries are: Remote village clinics, community health posts, and rural pharmacies that struggle to safely store heat-sensitive products due to lack of electricity and refrigeration units. Mobile health camps and outreach programs that need portable cold chain capabilities to distribute vaccines and medicines in nomadic/hard-to-reach areas. Individuals living in off-grid communities, including children missing routine immunizations, diabetics requiring insulin storage, pregnant women, and others in need of temperature-controlled essential medicines.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-03-01

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.)

Ruby Anorson: Skills: Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, marketing experience (potential from Enactus KNUST activities). Experience: Member of Enactus KNUST preLikely involved in project presentations, outreach programs, or social media management within Enactus KNUST. Josephine Ofosuah: Skills: Strong foundation in technical concepts, analytical mind, eagerness to learn Experience: First-year Telecommunications Engineering student with a strong base in technical knowledge. Jessey Adena: Skills: Creative problem-solving, brainstorming new ideas, entrepreneurial thinking, IoT devices, software programming. Experience: IoT Network Hub Africa member, hands on experience in product development.

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

CoolGard directly addresses the challenge of maintaining proper storage temperatures for essential medications, including vaccines, antibiotics, and other life-saving drugs. This ensures these medications remain effective and reach remote communities, leading to improved healthcare outcomes and reduced preventable diseases.

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

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

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

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

CoolGard's integration of solar power and energy-efficient peltier cooling promotes affordable and clean energy access for off-grid refrigeration needs.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

CoolGard supports entrepreneurship and job creation by enabling rural pharmacies/clinics to become viable businesses providing essential health services.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

CoolGard itself is an innovative cold chain infrastructure solution, incorporating technologies like peltier coolers.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

CoolGard reduces healthcare inequalities by expanding reliable access to medical supplies for disadvantaged rural populations.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

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

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The renewable energy-powered operations of CoolGard support climate change mitigation and low-emission cold chain solutions. CoolGard units use Lithium batteries that will be charged with solar chargers during the day enough for transportation and use through the night.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

4

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

5

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

2

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

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

Companies like Icen Technology Company Ltd, Sunny Medical Equipment Ltd and Joyikey are international companies that offer portable medical refrigerators. However, their offerings come at a higher costs. CoolGard, by prioritizing affordability and focusing on essential functionalities for remote healthcare settings, can make critical medications more accessible in resource-limited communities. CoolGard also stands out by offering a unique integration of solar charging, energy efficient peltier cooling and smart features like remote temperature monitoring goes beyond just keeping medications cold.

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

N/A