Tanzania - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The project provides a sustainable lighting solution in walkways and visibility of road marks by using light emitting cement and solar energy.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The project aims to widen the boundaries of solar energy by using light emitting cement. This material has illuminating properties in darkness/night; hence using it will help to lighten up the landscape walkways of pedestrian roads, street roads, and highways road marks. The presence of lights on walkways and the visibility of marks on roads are important for the smooth and safe flow of road users. To have lights on the roads requires energy, the light emitting cement is capable of absorbing solar energy during the day and emits it as light in the darkness. Relying on solar energy which happens in most areas and with the light emitting cement use, will counteract the issues associated with the use of the same source of energy or any other in terms of initial cost, running cost, maintenance, and repair. Light-emitting cement material's raw components include silica, river sand, industrial waste, alkali, and water. This process doesn't require a lot of energy.

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

The project aims to solve two major issues which are; inadequate security due to the absence of lighting in walkways and road accidents associated with poor visibility of road marks. The solution approach utilizes the properties of light emitting cement and the potential of solar energy. Since light emitting cement can absorb solar energy and emit it as light in the darkness, It helps to light up the walkways and make the road marks glow hence improving their visibility. Since the project utilizes industrial wastes as one of the primary raw materials, it will help to recycle and reuse these wastes hence minimizing their impact on the environment.

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

The project's solution approach utilizes the potential of light-emitting cement and solar energy which offers the following advantages; Improving safety of road users when using as light-emitting cement lights up the walkways. The use of light-emitting cement as the part of road marks will make them glow hence improving the visibility which in turns ensures the smooth and guided flow of road users. The project utilizes sustainable solar energy which is exponentially available hence making the project significant to the bigger scale. The project utilizes industrial wastes as part of its raw materials hence helping in waste management, particularly recycling and reusing.

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

The solution provided by this project targets road users ranging from pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. The solution provides lights and improves visibility on road marks which is very essential for the safe, smooth and, guided use of the roads.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-03-11

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Christopher R. Luvanda is a Graduate Architect from Ardhi University. He is so ambitious in using science and technology to provide Architectural solutions to improve the built enviroment. In his course he did various projects related to transport, leisure, hospitality, residential, urban design, settlement planning, industrial research etc. they all proposed various built enviroment prototypes which incorporated art, science and technology ideas in providing innovative solutions. Christopher have also involved in international and local architectural competitions such as Great Green Wall Single Stage Students Ideas Competition and Kaira Looro where he earned awards and honourable mention, he have also continued to enhance his expertise in sustainable design and construction practices as he holds LEED Green Associate Core Concepts certification.

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

https://www.instagram.com/light_emitting_cement?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

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

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

Our startup focuses on ensuring the provision of well-being to pedestrians and other road users by maximizing their safety on the roads by lighting up the ways as well as to make the road marks visible to ensure smooth and safe flow of road users.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

If incorporated in walkways of boarding schools, our startup would ensure inclusive and equitable quality education by lighting up the walkways hence making students safe when they return to their dormitories from night studies hence preventing incidents such as leg breakage and snake bites which have been mostly reported cases in boarding schools.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to the Gender equality goal by giving a chance to girls and women to walk at night with assurance of safety because the walkways have been lightened by light-emitting cement. This gives them more time to do their activities without having a fear of walking at night hence improving the productivity of both genders.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to Clean water and Sanitation by recycling and reusing the industrial wastes that would be dumped into water bodies.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to affordable and clean energy use as it uses solar energy to provide illumination to walkways through the use of light-emitting cement which have less initial cost, running cost, and requires less maintenance and repair.

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

Our startup ensures this goal by providing an assurance of safe walkways and visible road marks which as essential for the smooth and safe flow of road users.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to this goal as it uses innovative solution to improve the lighting of walkways and improve the visibility of road marks by using light-emitting cement which in turn improves the roads infrastructure.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Our startup uses sustainable solar energy to light up the walkways and improves the visibility of road marks through the use of light-emitting cement hence creating sustainable cities and communities.

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

Our startup contributes to this goal by recycling and reusing the industrial wastes as the primary raw material for making the light-emitting cement.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our startup ensures clean solar energy with less impact on the environment which could lead to climate change.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes this goal by recycling and reusing the industrial wastes that would be dumped into water bodies.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

Our startup focuses more on the use of clean energy which in turn impacts other aspects of life for the people positively.

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

2

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

3

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

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

4

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.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

It is a product of recyling and reuse of wastes.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

My main competitors are companies who sell and manufacture solar street lights. What makes our startup to stand out is the fact that we use lower initial cost, no running cost and very low maintenance cost.

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

Yes, we have organized seminars and workshops to empower women.