Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

An intuitive analytics tool designed specifically for SMEs in Africa. This platform features easy-to-use drag-and-drop tools, customizable reports, and predictive analytics models that help businesses derive actionable insight without technical expertise.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Deepslice offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to meet the needs of SMEs. Our platform includes a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily create, customize, and share reports and dashboards without extensive technical knowledge. We leverage advanced analytics powered by AI and ML algorithms to provide predictive analytics, trend analysis, and actionable insights. Our automated reporting feature saves time and reduces errors by generating regular reports based on predefined templates and parameters. Deepslice seamlessly integrates with various data sources, including databases, spreadsheets, and cloud services, and offers accessible tiered plans to suit business needs, with customers being able to pay in their local currencies. Our value proposition is to make advanced analytics available to all SMEs across Africa, offering affordable, customizable, and scalable solutions with top-notch customer support to help businesses make data-driven decisions.

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

Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Nigeria and Africa lack the resources and expertise to effectively analyze and leverage their data to make informed business decisions. Traditional analytics solutions are often complex, costly, and tailored for larger enterprises, leaving SMEs underserved in their struggle for data-driven insights. These businesses typically have limited access to advanced data analytics tools and expertise, making it challenging to leverage data-driven insights to optimize their operations and drive growth. By providing an affordable, user-friendly, and locally supported platform, we aim to transform data into a strategic asset for SMEs across Africa.

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

Expertise - Advanced analytics platforms can be daunting for users without a technical background. SMEs often lack staff with the expertise to navigate these complex tools, making it difficult for them to utilize analytics effectively. With Deepslice designed with simplicity in mind, we offer an intuitive user experience, customizable dashboards, and reporting features, allowing users to tailor their analytics to their specific business needs and industry requirements. High Dollar Costs - Due to prohibitive costs, many SMEs cannot invest in essential services and technologies, such as advanced data analytics. In Nigeria, the naira has depreciated by over 50% against the dollar since 2015, impacting the purchasing power of local businesses. Deepslice aims to provide affordable, subscription-based pricing tailored to the budgets of SMEs. Businesses can choose the one that best fits their needs and pay in their local currencies without breaking the bank or struggling with FX conversions.

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

Our target customers include small and medium-sized businesses across various industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services in Africa. Businesses that typically have limited funds and resources but recognize the importance of data analytics in driving growth and want actionable insights without the complexity of systems and running into depth.

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?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

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

Samuel Iheagwam (Founder/CEO) - 4+ years analyzing and interpreting data to drive strategic decision-making and foster organizational growth. Contributed to developing and implementing data solutions and products that people love, resulting in significant increases in customer retention, and operational efficiency. Femi Olomitutu (Co-founder/Technology) - 5+ years Leading Software Development with experience applying deep technical knowledge and creative design sense to amplify online traffic. Combines sound technical frameworks with appealing media assets to generate front-end solutions focused on expanding user bases. Olajumoke Ajala (Co-founder/Operations) - With bachelor's degree in Geo-informatics engineering and years of experience in data science and analytics, Olajumoke has a proven track record of developing scalable, secure, and user-friendly analytical solutions. She's the fonder of empovation, a virtual internship platform that helps learners improve their skills.

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

https://bit.ly/4ep2LFz

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

2

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

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

Firstly, we ensure gender diversity within our team by actively engaging and supporting women in tech roles, particularly in data science, engineering, and leadership positions. Additionally, we intend to offer training and mentorship programs specifically designed for women entrepreneurs and business owners, enabling them to leverage data analytics to grow their businesses and make informed decisions. By providing equal opportunities and fostering an inclusive workplace culture, we are committed to bridging the gender gap in the tech industry.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

We contribute directly to the economic growth in Africa by providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with analytics tools that drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability. By enabling businesses to optimize their operations and make data-driven decisions, we help them grow sustainably and create more job opportunities. Our commitment to decent work extends to our own employment practices, where we aim to offer competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment for all employees. Through our analytics solutions, businesses can also identify new markets and expansion opportunities, further driving economic growth and job creation.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

One of our major contributions to the the development of resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization is to actively collaborate with local tech hubs, universities, and research institutions to build a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within Africa. Our team utilizes cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer advanced analytics capabilities, that help businesses streamline their operations, innovate, improve, and adapt to changing market conditions.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

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.

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 are numerous data analytics platforms like Power BI, Tableau, and Zoho Analytics already serving a substantial customer base, Deepslice addresses a significant gap in the market for affordable, easy-to-use analytics tools tailored to the needs of small and medium-scale businesses in Africa. These existing solutions are either too costly or too complex for these businesses to implement effectively, creating a strong demand for a more accessible alternative. Deepslice leverages cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies to automate data analysis and report generation. This innovation allows businesses to gain deep insights without requiring specialized data science expertise, making sophisticated analytics accessible to a broader audience.

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

Following my competitor analysis in Africa, organizations that provide data solutions for businesses tend to focus on the consulting aspect of it, with only a few focused on the creation of data tools to handle these operations for their specific niches. This means that there aren't really any recognized competitors for this product in Africa. However, on the global scale there are platforms like Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Zoho Analytics and many others that offer similar value. But Unlike our competitors, our platform provides a more tailored approach for SMEs in Africa and Nigeria with a focus on affordability and custom reports for local business needs. Our platform includes localized support and training to ensure businesses can maximize their data’s potential without extensive technical expertise. Our user-friendly drag-and-drop interface makes it easier for users with limited technical skills to generate insights quickly, with flexible payment options in their local currencies.

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

Absolutely yes. In addition to being a data professional, I have successfully trained and assisted over 3,000 individuals worldwide in kickstarting their data careers, of which women make up 80% of this number due to my partnership and engagement in the Women Techsters boot camp program. Through this program, I have also mentored some ladies in kickstarting their data-related business operations such as Olajumoke(cofounder of this platform) launching her empovation platform, Angela Oluchi whose business got selected to participate in the TEF Entrepreurship program and Divine Apemaa who was the ex-cofounder of BPurple and a Top 50 Under 30 SLA Rising Motherland Mogul. These and many more are part of my contributions to increasing female participation in entrepreneurship.