Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

SupaShop is a platform for hosting online stores, facilitating payments of goods and services and management of orders by merchants.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Successful businesses tend to establish an online presence to access the vast online market. At the moment, here are basically two models for creating an online store. The first one is by creating an application for your shop. This is the model that huge supermarkets e.g. Naivas and Carrefour have adopted. This model, however, is not viable for small businesses such as your local general shop due to the unbearable cost. The second model is the one used by Jiji where merchants freely add their products. This model however is only suitable for onetime purchases where the customer is solely interested with the product regardless of the location of the shop. SupaShop provides a platform for creating and managing an online store at a very low cost. SupaShop will also present shops rather than products to the user. That way a user can be able to do their regular household shopping from a local shop of their choice online.

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

The problem I am trying to solve can be broken down into two sub-problems 1. It is very costly for small enterprises to create online stores therefore I am offering an affordable model for creating and managing online stores for small businesses that cannot not be able to develop their own applications. 2. Since very few of the shops most people buy from have online stores, it is not possible to enjoy all the benefits of online shopping such as hustle free payments and shopping in advance. I am providing a platform where customers will be able to purchase from their local shop online.

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. On the side of the merchant, they will be able to create and manage an online store at a very manageable cost. 2. Local businesses with online stores will be able to receive purchases from all over the world. This will increase their income massively 3. Customers using SupaShop will be able to purchase goods and services from their local shops in advance. They will also be able to request for delivery from their local shops 4. Payment will be greatly simplified since the payment details for each shop will be predefined. The customer will not have to input all the payment details such as the Till number. This will also reduce the chances of making wrong payments.

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

1. SupaShop will benefit merchants who would like to open and manage an online store. 2. SupaShop will also benefit customers who would like to purchase online.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-11-01

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.)

NULL

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

Small enterprises comprise more than 90% of our economy. SupaShop aims at providing a platform for these businesses to expand. This will have a huge positive impact on our economy as well as enrich these merchants.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Considering that more than 90% of our economy is made up of small to medium businesses it would be good to provide a conducive environment for these businesses to thrive. SupaShop will empower these businesses by giving them an access to the online market.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Indeed, innovation and infrastructure is the backbone of our economy. SupaShop will build upon and expand the existing foundations, taking advantage of the national wide internet connection, Mpesa and the ever-increasing smartphone users. It is also my vision that one day it will become a foundation too upon which future innovators will build.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

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.

5

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

4

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

2

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.

4

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.

4

05.08 Justification

05.01. SupaShop is basically a shopping platform. A lot of similar platforms exist with millions of people using them e.g. Jumia, Jiji and Naivas online. 05.04. SupaShop improves on the model where a single business develops its own application e.g. Naivas online by accommodating more than a single store. It also improves on the model adopted by Jiji by focusing on presenting the shop rather than the product therefore making it ideal for our regular shopping needs. 05.06. Very few small shops e.g. general shops, hardware shops, butcheries, agrovets pharmacies and even supermarkets have online stores. This is a clear indication of an infrastructure gap that SupaShop will bridge.

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

All the existing online stores e.g. Jumia, Jiji and Naivas online might be considered as potential competitors. However, SupaShop stands out from these by being a marketplace rather than a single online shop as it is the case with Jumia and Naivas Online. This makes it versatile even in the remotest corners since the users in these areas could still be able to purchase from their local shops online. The other competitor is Jiji which allows users to sell their products freely. SupaShop stands out due to its presentation model. By presenting shops rather than products to the user, SupaShop is ideal for regular shopping activity e.g. when you want to buy some stuff at your local supermarket on your way home.

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

NO