Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Mazao is a business idea aimed at creating an online marketplace for farm produce.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The project is aimed at developing an App and Website for farm produce purchase and delivery from business to business, by linking traders in the major fresh food markets to retailers with respect to location, market and price preferences.

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

Market Imbalance and Scarcity: There's a major scarcity of fresh food supplies in remote/rural areas. Most of the food is transported and sold in major urban areas leaving a wide food shortage in other areas. To eliminate this imbalance we are trying to link suppliers (based on markets preference and location) to retailers, this will also stabilize the prices due to the transparency created.

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. Stable market prices. 2. Employment Opportunities : Opportunities will be created in the delivery sector, food sector and farming. 3. Eliminate food shortage in remote areas. 4. Convenience to retailers in terms of time and sourcing costs.

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

1. End consumer/user : Provide a steady supply and wide variety farm produce at a fair price regardless of location. 2. Retailers : Provide steady market prices and a wider category of choices with an option for delivery. 3. Suppliers/farmers : Link suppliers and farmers to a wider market. 4. Couriers : Create business opportuinities for couriers(from hand delivery, carts, motorcycles, pick-up trucks to trucks).

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-01

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

1

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.)

Software Development : Full Stack Developer.

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

N/A

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

Creating Business Opportunities in the Agriculture, Transport and Food Processing market in urban and rural areas.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Most people in remote areas especially in Kenya do not have access to markets with a wide variety of farm produce (fruits, vegetables, animal produce), the online marketplace is aimed at filling in this gap by making the produce available to retailers who in turn sell it to the end users in both urban and rural areas hence increasing nutrition and food security by creating a steady chain of supply and business/employment opportunities.

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

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

User access will not be limited to either gender.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

1. Farming : Steady market prices will encourage farming. 2. This will create business opportunities in the food sector as well as delivery services.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Food is a basic need and human right. The business opportunities created are not limited to any gender hence no inequality.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

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

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The platform will be beneficial to all stakeholders involved by creating a non-discriminatory trading environment (as long as the rules of ethics are adhered to).

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.

4

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

3

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.

3

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.

2

05.08 Justification

For the Mazao App we intend to add all the major markets(e.g in Kenya we have Muthurwa, City Market, Marikiti) in a city or a town and allow the retailers to source their products based on the trader Market Location.

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

There are a number of online food marketplaces which specialize in certain categories e.g eggs or fish only, however for the Mazao App we intend to offer all the categories of farm produce offered at the major markets under one platform.

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

No.