Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Bamboo turning point is a name of business idea envisaged to manufacture toothpicks, chopsticks among other useful bamboo products for commercial and domestic use.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The production of toothpicks and chopsticks among other products from locally grown bamboo is a viable green entrepreneurship and a revolutionary climate smart business concept. Other than manufacturing toothpicks and chopsticks from actual wood/trees;This business concept aims to advance the war against climate change through manufacturing such products from Bamboo.It shall supply mostly local market as over 80% of toothpicks used in Kenya are imported from China.This concept shall change the monopolistic narrative of importation while conserving the Kenyan forest cover. This business idea aims to create jobs through the whole value chain.It shall employ the local community at the production, packaging, transportation and retail stages. I already have a mature bamboo farm and only need support to get necessary production machines and man power. It shall promote government revenue collection through payment of taxes and improve tree conservation while impacting livelihood positively.

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

The business will be the turning point for unemployment among youthful kenyans.It shall create employment opportunities for men women and youth in Kenya.

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.Making toothpicks ,straws and chopsticks from bamboo will create new innovative opportunities for combating climate change.It will reduce exploitation of Kenyan tree cover for making similar products. 2.Farmers will have a new cash crop or there will be expansion of bamboo farming as cash crop among farmers who have never tried it. 3.It will improve livelihoods development while conserving the environment as the production will use clean energy/electricity and solar power.The products are fully biodegradable.

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

This project targets the overall population of Kenya and beyond as the products are universally used in the hospitality industry and at domestic level. In addition,It will serve a number of retail shops at micro small,macro and medium enterprises within and outside the country.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2020-04-01

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.)

The first female partner is a bamboo seedling production expert and farmer.She is a form four leaver in Kenyan education with passion for environmental conservation and wetlands management The second is a male college graduate in computer science -web development options. The Third is female,a form four leaver with strong skills and five years of experience in sales and marketing. Finally,a male farmer with interest in growing bamboo for commercial use.He has seven years of bamboo farming experience.

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?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

It will provide employment opportunities for men women and young adults in the production phase along value chain.In addition,It aims to scale up commercial bamboo farming in Kenya which will also create a number of job opportunities in the agribusiness.In general, this business concept ignites a new chain of income generating activities as well as promoting existing ones thereby reducing poverty levels among communities.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Through this business concept, employees will have a financial independence and hence access to livelihoods of their choice. Farmers will be able to get access to market of bamboo and sell their farm produces to get money for their livelihoods -Food ,shelter and clothing as basic needs as well as fund education of the younger generation.

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

Increased employment/Income increases good health and social well-being.This business idea will provide a large interface for personal health development for both employees in the manufacturing and corresponding value chain as well as in the production of raw material.This concept is designed to expand the production band in the agriculture sector among fermer inclined in a single raw of production.(Diversification of production).

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

To begin with, this concept opens a wide range of income generating activities to the community, Production of bamboo among farmers and corresponding activities as well as in the manufacturing towards retail.This means increased Income hence affordability of education.Both farmers and employees will be able to afford education for their children and relatives. Further, the business idea aims to develop a training model for the production phase /farming to the manufacturing phase ,employees will be trained on proper business skills in the overall value chain.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Farmers,male and female will be motivated through provision of ready market for their farm produces. Employment opportunities will be available freely to both male and female regardless of their ethnic and social background.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

This business concept reflects the green economy -both raw materials and the end product are biodegradable and hence promote zero environmental pollution in all its forms. The bamboo straws would preferably replace the common non-biodegradable plastic straws which has contributed in water and soil pollution.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The concept is designed to use clean energy/electricity and solar energy in the manufacturing. Employees and farmers within the bandwidth of this proposed business will then be able to afford clean energy for cooking such as gas and electricity in their home .

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

This concept will provide employment and employees skills development opportunity through learning/trainings . Further,it shall provide revenue collection avenue for the government thereby promoting economic growth. Further,it is in tandem with the government economic development model (bottom up) as it aims to start with local farmers in production of bamboo as well as employment of local young men and women in the manufacturing and production phases.This therefore promote economic growth of persons in the lower economic classes.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

The manufacturing of bamboo products will expand the production of bamboo in Kenya.Farmers never been to this agribusiness will be trained and motivated to try a new cash crop which is bamboo in the areas it has never been practiced .To them,the whole cycle will be a new venture hence innovation. In Kenya,There are very limited Woden straws if any.Infact , the proposed business idea have the ideal concept within it for making bamboo straws.This will be relatively a new product hence innovation.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

In Kenya, most recent economic surveys and learning peppers indicates that over 80% of toothpicks used in Kenya are imported from China among other Asian countries.This concept opens a monopsony global market rather than oligopolistic market as depicted by foreign countries in the Kenyan market. Both men and women will have equal opportunity for personal growth and financial independence as it aims to employ them equally at various stages of the project.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The business idea aims to provide employment opportunities for experts in the field of computer technology, advertising and marketing as well as farming leading to a complete cycle of self sustaining service. The taxes that will be remitted by this business will add to the government revenue which shall in turn used in urban development.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The business concept is designed to have an environmental conservation model through promotion of recycling of waste products into further useful byproduct e.g fertilizers among others. This business concept is designed to have public advocacy strategy on proper disposal of used products.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

This business concept is the face of green entrepreneurship.It is the turning point to climate justice production and consumption since it aims at reducing the exploitation of trees and forest cover in producing the same product.It is one of the pathways to world climate change mitigation green entrepreneurship innovation/concept. This business concept will have zero environmental pollution and instead provide an interface for carbon sink.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

The concept is designed to sensitise communities on bamboo production along river banks to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation of river bed. Further, farmers shall be encouraged and trained on production of bamboo in wetlands along the lake basins to act as wetlands conservation measure as well as marine ecosystems management.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Bamboo products are biodegradable hence doesn't contribute to any form of environmental pollution.The life on land is therefore safe with bamboo production and manufacturing. On land, manufacturing bamboo to end user products is designed under this concept to advocate for proper disposal and recycling of byproduct as well as used products.The massive bamboo production/farming will add value to the Kenyan biodiversity and ecotourism.

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

This business concept aims to create equal opportunity to all Kenyans, regardless of gender ,ethnic and social background.It shall advocate for climate justice entrepreneurship innovation and environmental conservation. Further,as the old adage goes "an idle mind is the devil's workshop",The creation of this business will ignite a chain of production engagement of youth in the value chain, keeping them busy while enjoying financial independence which is a form of social security.All who will engage in the line of this project shall have no time for committing criminal offenses.They will commit their time in a productive activity.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Unemployment is a global challenge and it's solution requires a collective effort.This effort should be explored at all levels while conserving the environment.There are a number of global environment conservation programs and policies that this concept is in tandem with.The government of kenya for example,has committed to plant over ten million trees to combat climate change, Similarly this business concept shall therefore create a mutual responsibility across actors of such programs and proponents of environmental conservation.The business concept aims to achieve this through provision of production support to farmers who shall engage in bamboo farming in the long run .The business envisage to offer trainings and technical support as well as incentives to potential bamboo farmers.This will improve partnership between producers and manufacturers .The partners in this business concept shares a common goal of creating employment while promoting climate change adaptation.

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.

2

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

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.

6

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

5

05.08 Justification

The product we envision to create is an expansion of a limitedly produced product in the nation .Over 80% of the product is imported while over 40% of such products are made from wood/trees.Other than promoting a culture of climate resilience,it is also contributing to environmental conservation,trainings and skills development to both farmers and potential employees . Production of bamboo as a cash crop will be a new venture to most local farmers.It shall be a beehive of creativity, innovation and environmental conservation.Most of the straws used in Kenya are made from plastics and poses environmental hazard.The need for having a biodegradable straws has not been met and this business concept is the turning point for the real solution.

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

Most potential competitors are foreign investors from China and Asian countries.I stand out because my products will be unique and will not be subjected to custom duties as well as air transport costs;hence will sell at relatively lower prices.The market is less supplied as depicted in the high prices of the products.Finally,we as Kenyans promote the culture of buy kenya-promote Kenya.There are few and far apart toothpicks manufacturing companies in Kenya and none in the western part of Kenya where I plan to set up the first manufacturing unit.The few available if any cannot satisfy the high demand.That is why most toothpicks over 80% used in Kenya are imported.I want to change this foreign monopolistic narrative.

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

Yes,I am a freelance researcher and most o f the time i employ young women as enumerators so they can earn a start up capital for their preferred business and encourage them to venture into business rather than seeking employment. This proposal will be the turning point to achieve my dream of promoting the role of female in green entrepreneurship development.