Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Zone App Ltd also known as Zoner is a privately owned company which is Directed by Non- technical Founder Fredrick Munyua Thairu and Technical Co-Founder Ian Kamau Mungai. It aims at penetrating the e-commerce space and position itself as a competitor.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Currently on MVP test phase Zoner categorizes of 3 Apps namely Zoner Customer 1. Info - this is where you can view paid adverts from any small, medium and corporate level businesses 2. Maps - you view businesses which are pinned on a live map and you can search according to your category specifications 3. Chats - where customers and vendors communicate before or after purchase of a product 4. Favorites - you can personalize business or services list for easy user experience 5. Profile - You can view personal details, order tracking and payments options setup Zoner Vendor 1. Orders - management of orders e. g verifying and accepting orders then searching a near rider request for dispatch 2. Chats - Vendor and customer communicate 3. Revenue - Vendor can analyze daily and weekly sales. Scalable for more analytical presentations 4. Business - This is where one can register and manage a business e. g Status update and product upload Zoner Rider Rider accepts request and starts trip

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

Buyers 1. Most buyers cant see shops on maps e. g Jumia 2. Buyers can't purchase goods on the platform e. g WhatsApp 3. Buyers can't access local online shops in the satellite or remote areas 4. Buyers are distracted while purchasing goods and services on social media platforms 5. There is ease of verification of a business as it is within the proximity area Vendors 1. Can easily connect with nearby customers even physically 2. Advert rates are low as compared to other platforms 3. Marketing is very efficient and can reach more audience as compared to other platforms

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. Zoner intends to provide new and existing businesses a very unique and simple-to-use platform that will easily attract customers 2. Zoner has pocket friendly advert rates 3. Zoner also has free status updates as an option to market the products 4. Zoner will offer branding services to any interested vendor 5. Zoner has scalable statistical analysis feature 6. Zoner can easily adapt to the generative AI algorithms in future 7. Zoner has rider services and can partner with any company anywhere 8. Zoner will help vendors adapt good business management skills and culture as they are expected to be online and available for a successful sale 9. It will enable customers to easily identify fraudulent businesses via reviews and ratings thus Zoner Admin deleting them on the platform 10. You can be a vendor and customer at the same time. One can easily be a vendor without any capital. Just seek to be a Trusted agent of a larger business in a different location.

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

Zoner is a product developed to connect with businesses around you. It allows sellers to list their goods and services as digital stores and customers can easily browse through any product of their choice. The targeted beneficiaries are businesses and riders.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2017-05-22

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

8

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 Mungai Kenya - Technical Co-founder Mikias Ethiopia - Product Manager Betty Negu Ethiopia - Front End Developer Aderaw Ethiopia - BackEnd Developer Sam Ethiopia - Front End Developer Bete Ethiopia - Back End developer Hailelul Ethiopia - Front End Developer Yohannes Ethiopia - Front End and Back End developer

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/in/fred-thairu?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BCuhSG990T3yP4vI%2BHBGM9A%3D%3D

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

1. It will facilitate uptake of more e-bikes by the jobless youth so as to offer rider services 2. It will enable non fraudulent vendors to be trusted and suggest flexible partnerships with corporate and international companies as their admins in various sectors and locations 3. It shall scale up and expand to other countries and offer more job opportunities

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

It shall easily transport farm products from the producer-vendor-customer hence Zoner Admin can identify the production chain and locations information that can be used by govt and other interested parties to analyze the product availability trends e.t.c

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

1. It shall promote health related information. 2. It shall have health facility and pharmacy outlets available in the platform.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

1. It shall promote education related information e. g mentoring students on career/business paths 2. It shall have schools and colleges registered in the platform

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

1. It shall promote gender equality based information 2. It shall employ with all fairness 3. Any female is entitled to register a business and offer suggestions to the company if any

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

1. It shall promote the different forms of water harvesting and purification as part of CSR 2. Once a giant company, it shall provide free solar-pumped water supply 3. Water company outlets are free to market and sell their water on the platform

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

1. By the use of E-bikes for delivery, it shall preserve the nature from pollution 2. App once launched, it shall instantly promote the most affordable options of clean energy supply 3. Also there shall be home-to-home visit program to identify which package applies best.

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.The app itself shall ensure a vendor is constantly attentive to working as he/she shall be constantly updating and promoting sales and awaiting orders while in online mode 2. The app will help vendors identify and compare the significant differences and benefits of using Zoner compared to other e commerce or social media platforms thus being more committed to working with Zoner. 3. The app will give each individual freedom and an opportunity to register a business, start a business as an agent without any capital and offer delivery services 4. The app shall employ skilled workers and unskilled workers as well.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

This is part of the projected plans once it becomes a giant company and has financial capacity to 1. Venture into other sectors, 2. Learn firsthand B2B and B2C trends and opportunities and challenges 3. Promote on the platform modern innovation progressively 4. Utilize innovation upon construction of Zoner offices, Zoner Kiosks 5. Partner and integrate services with any company that can support me with relevant services

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

It will give anyone from any background to familiarize with the platform and offer guidance and advice of how to benefit from the platform

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Upon Zonal analysis via Zoner Admin using various parameters and upon candid interactions with/among the beneficiaries/customers, Zoner can identify and pain points that can be used to guide Governments, Investors, Zones so as to make informed sustainable decisions.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

1.Thanks to e-bikes we shall be contributors of combating climate change. 2. Offices shall be powered by green energy 3. As a form of CSR, we shall roll out supply and planting of trees periodically

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

I shall financially and technically support the companies already involved and any innovative startup related to the field.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

1. Zoner shall have Zonal offices where there shall be different departments offering different services and advice on various life and societal issues and opportunities thus one can be able to position himself or herself better in future. 2. Zoner shall promote peace and justice culture not only in the offices but among the beneficiaries. It shall have a department to mitigate and mediate once issues arise.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Future objectives are to be a global giant and align myself with Sustainable development mechanisms

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Zoner deeply corelates with WhatsApp Business though it has a special Rider and Payment plan feature. It also has a unique interface that can be easily scalable and competitors may fail to catch up.

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

WhatsApp Business Jumia Amazon Jiji Alibaba Cheki

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

Yes. I have worked with 4 ladies on the App Development journey. I am planning to engage another lady as the Marketing Insights Lead.