Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

NaiRideShare is a carpooling platform aimed at connecting car owners with other car owners and passengers who are travelling in the same direction, promoting cost efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

During rush hour periods in the mornings and evenings, there is high traffic jam on roads leading to long travel time to work and back home. This is due to plenty of single traveler vehicles on the road. Also during off-peak times, passengers may still experience long wait times because they have to wait for matatus they board to get to full capacity before they departure from bus stops. This leads to time being wasted on the journey to where passengers are going. If commuters decide to use taxis they would incur a higher cost since they would pay for the entire car. With NaiRideShare, commuters can find rides quicker by connecting with car owners heading in the same direction. Passengers benefit from paying only for their seats while car owners save on fuel, making travel more affordable and accessible. Car owners also benefit financially because by sharing their ride they save on a few costs. This also reduces waiting times and provides a more efficient use of existing resources.

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

Reducing long travel times due to traffic jam problem in urban areas caused by vehicles with single travellers.

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. Cost Efficiency: Car owners can split fuel costs with passengers which reduces travel expenses as compared to them traveling alone. Passengers will also benefit from a slightly affordable means of travel as compared to using individual cars. 2. Time Saving: By connecting passengers with car owners heading in the same direction, NaiRideShare will minimize waiting times often experienced with matatus during off-peak hours which ensures quicker and more reliable journeys. Carpooling also reduces traffic jam by lowering the number of single traveler cars on the road increasing travel efficiency. 3. Environmental Impact: Encouraging carpooling reduces individual carbon footprints and eases traffic congestion, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment.

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

1. Commuters: Individuals looking for affordable, reliable and efficient transportation options during both peak and off-peak hours. 2. Car Owners: Drivers interested in sharing their vehicles to save on fuel costs and reduce maintenance expenses while contributing to a more sustainable urban transport system. 3. Environmentally Conscious Citizens: Those committed to reducing their carbon footprint by opting for shared transportation over single-occupancy vehicles.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-10

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.)

Ian (Me)- Founder/Software Developer Linus- Software Developer Winnie- Project Manager, Customer relations.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nairide/

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

2

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

By carpooling there is efficient and better utilization of energy because single traveller vehicles will be reduced on the road.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

By spending less time travelling to work and back home, people have more time to work and rest which increases the productive output of the population.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Carpooling leads to sustainable industrialization, since people who opt to carpool while going to work will reduce traffic congestion in urban areas.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Inequality will be reduced as people who carpool together will see themselves as equal contributors to the society and the economy as they go by their day to day activities whether its work or recreation.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Carpooling encourages a sense of community. It is also a sustainable solution since it optimizes occupancy of vehicles on the road leading to decreased traffic jam and a cleaner environment due to reduced emissions.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

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

Through carpooling, there is reduced traffic jam which means cars spend less time on the roads. This leads to lower emission of greenhouse gases by vehicles which pollute the environment.

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

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

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.

4

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.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

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

3

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

This project idea may seem similar to a taxi app but it is not the same concept. With existing taxi requesting platforms, a person requests for a cab and the destination determiner is only the passenger who is the end user of the application. With carpooling, a car owner is heading in a certain direction regardless of whether others are going in that same direction or not. A carpooling platform would be ideal in connecting car owners with each other as well as other commuters who are heading in the same direction at the same time. Carpooling is already being practiced in a smaller scale and there lacks a platform that would connect car owners with other car owners as well as commuters who do not own cars.

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

Matatus, Taxis, Public Service Vehicles. Car pooling is a cheaper means of travel compared to taxis since with traditional taxis or even using Uber, a commuter pays the price of using the entire car. With carpooling, commuters split travel costs with the car owner and they can even pay for just a single seat in the car. These split travel costs are fuel costs and toll costs such as expressway charges. Carpooling may be cheaper than using Uber, Bolt or traditional taxis but may be slightly more costly compared to using matatus. However carpooling will still offer shorter wait times than matatus since matatus stop at may bus stops and at times may not leave a certain bus stop until all the seats have been occupied.

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

Yes. I work with both male and female software developers and product managers.