South Africa - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The Natural resources of South Africa and Africa remain untapped especially those the fall into the hands of the Africans. I intended to use the power of data to unlock economic potential of these resources and solve our socio-eco ills

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

My unique academic qualification combination of Diploma in Forestry, Double major Bcom generic degree in Decision science and Business management and Occupational certificate as Data science practitioner together with five year professional work experience in the natural resource management industry in forestry. This experience has positioned me well to start a business with a niche market in the forestry industry with the aim to grow into the whole natural resource management industry which includes Forestry ,Agriculture and mineral resources. To offer data driven business consultancy service to help land owners to fully and sustainable optimise land resource for economic activities such as agriculture and forestry and / mineral extraction through use of data and informed data decisions systems.

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

The Natural resources of South Africa and Africa remain untapped especially those the fall into the hands of the Africans and majority administered by govt entities, companies and communities who in most cases are the people that have the indigenous knowledge to use the natural resource for self subsistence but fail to expand to an economic level that contributes to the domestic growth product of the country and region and help alleviate socio-economic issues facing this continent. This is due to amongst other things the lack of access to information , support and resources. Through technologic and data I can build data driven decision support and advisory to can help improve optimisation and utilisation , planning and execution whilst reducing potential risks associated with owning and managing natural resource resources to enhance economic benefit and output.

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 major beneficiaries of this project are firstly rural communities to small to medium land owner / business and users of natural resources for economic benefit to sustain their livelihoods and improve the standard of living in these areas. through a data advising and development entity the land owners will be empowered with information and technology to enable a sustainable natural resources management practices, using data to optimise land productivity , yield, and access to carbon sequestration benefit. The second beneficiries of this solution could be the Government department where they are empowered with data information that could help inform legislative governance , custodianship and help enhance planning and resource allocation. Lastly are Big corporate companies in Natural resource management to help Look for gaps in the market for eco-friendly natural resources products and create a data-driven business solutions to fill that need.

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

The project is aimed at serving rural communities who are dependent on surrounding natural resources for economic opportunities which will help improve standard of living and fight socio-economic ills.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-17

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

0

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

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

My unique academic qualification combination of Diploma in Forestry, Double major Bcom generic degree in Decision science and Business management and Occupational certificate as Data science practitioner together with five year professional work experience in the natural resource management industry specifcally forestry in the rural areas of South Africa. Inspired me to continue learning and developing myself so I can come up with informed solutions that can help solve and improve economic fortunes of my country. And I believe my current skill sets and academic qualifications are holistic and broad / multidisciplinary to provide a solution that is multi facet and current through leveraging modern technology and data

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?

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

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve land output and optimisation will help reduce poverty and improve food security

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve land output and optimisation will help reduce poverty and improve food security

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

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve land output and optimisation will help reduce poverty and improve food security

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge and decision making. This will help improve literacy levels through training , mentoring and coaching

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

This project is not gender specific rather focuses on the client if he/she has a land resource that is using or has potential for economic benefit

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Using data to informed natural resource management practices will help ensuring the sustainability of the resource together with the surrounding natural environment including the water resource.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Natural resources can be used for energy for either renewable or non renewable with data we can informed natural resource management practices that ensure greater strides towards cleaner energy from leveraging carbon seqestration amongst other things

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

Through improve natural resource management , optimisation and utilisation this will improve yield and income thus improving the economy.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Data science and decision science are 4th industrial tools that are still developing and thus becomes more important to develop together with these tool to use them unlock economic potential of our natural resources for economic growth and development.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve land output and optimisation will help reduce poverty and improve food security creating employees and employers especially for people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds thus reducing inequality

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve land output and optimisation and sustainability.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

By empowering rural communities with data informed information and decision support system to enhance indigenous knowledge to help improve natural resources management practices and thus promote responsible consumption and. production.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Using data to access opportunities for carbon sequestration will help not only fight climate change but also improve environmental reliance.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Using data we can improve natural resource managament practices which can help better manage our water resource ,reduce contamination and improve retention for the better and sustainability of the water resource but also ensure optimal utilisation and productivity of the land resource.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Using data we can improve natural resource management practices which can help better manage our natural resource thus ensuring life that is dependent on the resource is also sustained and preserved to enhance mutual benefits for the greater sustainable optimal use of the natural resource.

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

Rural communities and people from disadvantaged background need to be empowered and educated so that they can use the natural resources available to them to economical advance and develop themselves. Using data to unlock economic potential of these resource will help fast track this process ensuring peace , equitable justice especial in countries that are still recovering from colonial rule. Equipping communities with economic power to build institutions that will protect their rights and heritage

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

This project will use data as a tool to build decision support system that will pull together different stakeholders combining their strength to unlock economic potential of natural resources in rural and disadvantaged communities

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Data currently does not play a role in the decision making process of owner and dependence of natural resources due lack of this info being available to them. I want to create easily accessible information and decision support system that will help unlock economic potential of natural resources.

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

I have a unique skill set and work experience which distinguishes me from all existing consultancy firms. I have qualifications in data science and business intelligence knowledge together with a deep understanding and appreciation of the assistance rural communities who are dependent on natural resources after working with them for 5 years as a forestry to up skill these communities for timber production and procurement.

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

No.