Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Sick and tired of those distances that are too long to walk, yet too short to rely on cars? Move With Songa by renting an electric bike to save your time, energy and money. #MoveWithSonga - The Greenest Way To Move 💚⚡🚲

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Move With Songa is an urban transport solution to the challenges of on-demand micro-mobility. Daily, hundreds of thousands of people face distances that are too long to walk yet too short to rely on cars. This leaves commuters, university students and staff, people living in large gated communities, tourism sites, and corporations with large premises longing for a solution. Move With Songa bridges this gap by providing e-bikes on a rental model that is convenient, sustainable and affordable to the common Kenyan. How does it work? Users log in to the Move With Songa mobile app, proceed to the nearest docking station, scan a QR code to unlock the bike, and pay at the end of their ride.

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

On-demand micro-mobility remains to be a challenge, especially in African cities. Imagine the average commuter walking at least a kilometre (often more), just to get to their place of work. Or a student walking a similar distance from class to the cafeteria just to grab lunch (and they have to walk back for another lecture, or even worse, an exam). The people in the previous examples arrive at their destinations tired and sometimes even late! These distances, which are too long to walk yet too short to rely on cars, lack a modern user-friendly solution. Move With Songa solves the challenge of on-demand micro-mobility by providing electric bikes on a rental model allowing users to move around these in-between distances with ease. Bid farewell to tardiness, panting and sweating when you get to the office or class with Move With Songa - the greenest way to move.

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. Convenience - Instead of taking a 30-minute walk under the scorching sun just to get to your destination all sweaty, hungry and tired, you can ride an electric bike for 5 minutes instead saving you time and energy. 2. Affordability - due to time constraints or disabilities, there are people who simply cannot afford to walk. In Kenya, your only other option is to get a ride on a motorcycle which is usually expensive considering the distance. Move With Songa is helps such users save close to 50% because: they don't need to pay a driver and the bikes run on electricity, a cheaper source of energy than petrol. 3. Sustainability - Our fleet of electric bikes are eco-friendly as they provide a substitute to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles such as cars and motorbikes for short distances.

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

1. University Students & Staff - Many Universities have extremely large compounds and it is not uncommon to get students and employees walking long distances just to get to their classes, offices or eating areas. Starting with universities gives us room to experiment and learn more about our consumer's behaviour. 2. Large Gated Communities - Many dwell in large gated estates where the distance from their house to the main gate is so long, that they'd rather use their car. Providing e-bikes in such settings promotes a fun way to get around while advocating for sustainability. The same goes for large gated business premises. 3. Tourists - Move With Songa would also benefit both local and international tourists as it would help them tour cities and parks effortlessly. 4. Commuters - Move With Songa would serve both the commuters who either live/work far from bus stations, or those who live close to work but not close enough to walk there.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-02-01

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

4

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.)

1. Ryan Koech: Chief Technical Officer - Computer Science Major (Awaiting Graduation) - Mobile App Developer 2. Melissa Joe: Branding and Marketing Lead - Bachelor of Arts in Design - Graphic Designer - Social Media Manager 3. Winnie Mandela: Product Manager - Bachelor of Science in Mathematics - UI/UX expert 4. Peter Gichuki: Business Development Lead - Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Psychology - Partnerships and Sales Lead

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

https://movewithsonga.co/

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

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Move With Songa actively supports good health and well-being by encouraging regular physical activity through cycling. Commuters can seamlessly incorporate exercise into their daily routines, promoting a healthier lifestyle even amid busy schedules. Physical exercise is paramount for good health and well-being. For so long have people neglected to exercise due to their busy schedules. No longer! With Songa, you are able to exercise on your way to work or school, hitting two birds with one stone: getting a good workout done while getting to your destination faster. What a time saver!

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Move With Songa contributes to SDG 4 - Quality Education, especially at the tertiary level. Most Universities have large premises making it hard for students and staff to get around. This leaves students often arriving to class tired, hungry and late causing them to miss content and depleting their concentration span. However, when students Move With Songa, they are able to get to their classes on time and full of energy to grasp all the content delivered during the lecture.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

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

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Fossil fuels are neither affordable nor clean. Move With Songa promotes SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy - by providing a substitute to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles such as cars and motorbikes for short distances. Our electric and eco-friendly fleet of electric bikes use electricity as a source of energy for transport which is both affordable and clean.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Move With Songa allows bike owners to generate income by renting out their bikes. This provides a flexible and decentralized income source, particularly beneficial for those who may not have traditional employment.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Move With Songa contributes to SDG 9 through its innovative approach to micro-mobility and the use of technology in the following ways: Smartphone App Integration: Move With Songa leverages technology by providing a user-friendly mobile app for both bike owners and riders. This integration enhances the efficiency of bike rentals, making it a more innovative and accessible solution. Last-Mile Connectivity: Songa addresses the "last mile" problem in urban transportation, providing a resilient and sustainable solution for short-distance travel. This helps connect commuters from public transit stations to their final destinations efficiently. GPS-Enabled Locks: The use of GPS-enabled locks not only enhances security but also ensures efficient resource utilization. Bikes are tracked in real-time, allowing for better management of the fleet.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Move With Songa contributes to SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, by: Enhancing Urban Mobility - Songa contributes to building sustainable cities by not only alleviating traffic congestion but also fostering a more sustainable and efficient urban transport ecosystem. Increasing Community Accessibility: Through our affordable services, Songa ensures that all members of the community can enjoy the benefits of sustainable urban mobility, providing access to all areas of the community. In addition, Move With Songa favours people with mobility disabilities (like myself) who are unable to walk long distances by providing an affordable, convenient and comfortable transport option.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Move with Songa actively contributes to SDG 13, Climate Action, by reducing carbon emissions. Move With Songa actively addresses climate change by promoting the use of electric bikes, significantly reducing carbon emissions associated with traditional transportation methods. Our fleet of e-bikes operates on clean energy, playing a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of climate change by providing a substitute to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.

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

4

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.

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.

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.

5

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.

4

05.08 Justification

Move With Songa: 05.02 Represents an entirely new type of product/service (in Kenya) by introducing an electric bike rental service specifically designed for on-demand rentals in urban settings, offering a sustainable and affordable alternative to traditional transport options in Kenya. 05.04 Is an improvement on an existing product or service as our electric bikes for rent enhance the efficiency and convenience of bicycle rentals, reducing physical exertion and increasing the range of travel compared to traditional bicycles. 05.05 Could be described as an extension of a range of products or services as it extends the range of urban micro-mobility solutions available in Kenya, adding eco-friendly electric bikes to the existing transport options. 05.06 Responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services as it addresses the specific needs of commuters and university students and staff who require convenient and cost-effective micro-mobility transport.

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

Our main competitors include Little, E-Bee & E-Waka. They provide e-bikes to logistic companies such as Jumia to aid with delivery and they sell or rent to the normal consumer on a monthly basis. Move With Songa on the other hand tackles the need of on-demand micro-mobility by providing docking stations allowing customers to rent bikes to get from one point to another as opposed to renting a bike for an entire month.

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

Yes. At the University of Nairobi, I founded a technology and innovation club called UoN Coding Club (UCC). At the UoN Coding Club, we ensure there are females at the management of the club. My club co-founder, for example, is a female and she represents the needs of other females in the club and in the tech space in general. We are then able to curate programs that promote female-led innovations in the club. UCC also organised a hackathon called "Hack 4 Climate" which was aimed at promoting innovations to tackle climate change. Gender equality was key in selecting our participants and grouping them into teams, ensuring a 50:50 ratio not just among participants but in the teams as well.