Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Scholard is your all-in-one academic assistant, merging resource sourcing, plagiarism and grammar checks, and report structuring into one seamless platform. We eliminate the tedium of report writing and the hassle of using multiple platforms for research.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Scholard is an AI-driven web application that transforms the academic research process by providing a unified solution for project ideation, data analysis, and writing assistance. It streamlines the tedious aspects of research, such as sourcing materials, checking for plagiarism, and ensuring grammatical accuracy, into a single, efficient platform. By harnessing advanced AI technologies, Scholard hopes to create a user-friendly interface that caters to the diverse needs of undergraduates as well as professionals by facilitating in-depth research and the creation of structured reports. For more updates join us on our telegram channel @https://t.me/+6Qc1t2Nl6wI3MWY8

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

Idea Generation: Many students struggle with finding original and relevant topics for their projects. Scholard provides resources as well as AI-generated suggestions to kickstart the research process. Data Accessibility: Scholard seeks to provide easy access to data analysis, which is often a barrier due to limited availability. Plagiarism Reduction: The platform includes tools to assist in reducing plagiarism, ensuring the originality and integrity of academic work. Project structuring: Scholard helps students to understand how to properly structure their reports, which is crucial for effective communication of research findings.

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

Streamlined Research Process: It consolidates various research tools into one platform, simplifying the research process and saving time. Comprehensive Writing Assistance: Includes grammar checks and guidance on structuring reports, improving the overall quality of academic writing. User-friendly interface: Designed to be intuitive, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.

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

Undergraduate students: who require support in conducting research and writing well-structured reports. Postgraduate students: who need advanced AI capabilities for their thesis or dissertation work, including sophisticated data interpretation and presentation. Researchers: including academics, scholars, and independent researchers who can benefit from AI's ability to analyze complex data interpretation and presentation. Independent learners and lifelong learners: interested in exploring new topics or enhancing their knowledge and skills through research. Professionals: from various industries who require research tools for generating reports and presentations as part of their work.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-06-01

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

10

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.)

Product manager Software developers AI specialists UI/UX designers Quality Assurance engineers Data scientists Marketing

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?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Scholard aims in academic research by providing tools for topic selection, data analysis, and writing support, by streamlining the process and enhancing quality, which indirectly supports the efforts to alleviate poverty by empowering education.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Nil

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Nil

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

It contributes to the "Quality education" goal by providing a platform that enhances access to quality education and promotes lifelong learning. It supports equitable educational by offering resources and tools that can be accessed by students from diverse backgrounds, thus helping to reduce disparities in education. By facilitating research and learning through AI, Scholard aligns with the Goal's aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Nil

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Nil

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Nil

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

3

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Nil

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

it contributes to the goal by enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities in the academic sector. It encourages innovation through its AI-driven research tools and supports the development of a resilient infrastructure for academic research.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

It contributes to the reduced inequalities goal by providing equitable access to academic resources and research tools, regardless of the user's background. It aims to level the playing field in education and research, which can help reduce inequalities within and among countries by empowering individuals with knowledge and skills that are essential for social and economic advancement.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Nil

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Nil

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Nil

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Nil

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Nil

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Nil

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

It contributes to the "Partnerships for the Goals" by fostering collaboration across various stakeholders in the academic community. It encourages partnerships between students, educators, researchers, and institutions, leveraging shared resources and knowledge to advance educational and research outcomes. It promotes a culture of cooperation and shared learning.

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

3

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

5

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.

6

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

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

5

05.08 Justification

05.01: There are existing solutions, but Scholard differentiates itself by offering a more integrated and comprehensive service. 05.02: Scholard is not just another incremental update to existing services but represents a new category of academic support tools, combining several functionalities into one seamless platform. 05.03: The product is seen as incorporating new technology, likely in its use of AI, to provide a more efficient and effective service than currently available options. 05.04: Scholard is perceived as an improvement over existing products, enhancing the user experience and providing better results in academic research tasks. 05.05: Scholard extends the range of available academic tools, offering new features or combining them in innovative ways. 05.06: The score reflects a belief that Scholard addresses unmet needs within the academic community, providing solutions.

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

Our main competitors include established platforms and services that offer various educational resources, such as Ambow Education Holding Ltd, D2L corp, MPS ltd, prepclass. What makes Scholard stand out from these competitors is its integrated approach to addressing the specific needs of final year students. Unlike other platforms that may focus on a single aspect of academic support, Scholard aims to combine report writing, plagiarism checks, and grammar checks into a seamless service. This holistic approach can save time and effort by eliminating the need to use multiple platforms for their project needs.

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

Yes, as a member of the Hebron Start Up Lab, a start up incubator at my institution, I work with both men and women, giving them equal opportunities to learn as well as implement what they learn on real time projects.