Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Iris Optics is an optical shop duly registered in Kenya in January 2024. We aim to conduct mobile eye checkups and dispense quality and affordable eyeglasses to rural and urban communities in Kenya by utilizing a van fully equipped with mobile eye clinic

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Iris Optics is a mobile/ online optical shop duly registered in Kenya as a sole proprietorship business on the 19th of January 2024. We aim to conduct mobile eye checkups and dispense quality and affordable eyeglasses to rural and urban localities in Kenya by utilizing modern technology and a van fully equipped with all the necessary eye check-up equipment. We endeavor to employ marketing tools such as an e-commerce website and medical camps within our localities e.g churches, schools, rural dispensaries, industries, and community centers. During such activities, our optometrist(eye doctor) conducts good quality computerized eye check-ups where he/she dispenses prescription spectacles and eyedrops at a fee. Our business model seeks to improve access to quality and affordable prescription eyeglasses within the comfort of your homes, offices, and community social areas while at the same time making a profit.

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

Iris Optics seeks to ease access to eye care services more so by focusing on refractive errors which contribute to more than 50% avoidable blindness cases in Kenya. We realize the great need for access to eye care services as an early detection, prevention, and treatment tool which is critical in saving sight and improving the productivity of those affected. By deploying a mobile van fully loaded with all the necessary eye care equipment Iris Optics aims to traverse both the rural and urban localities in Kenya providing access to affordable and quality eyecare services and prescription glasses. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there are 38 million people worldwide who have severe vision impairment with close to 750,000 being Kenyan, 80% of these individuals are suffering from refractive error and ocular diseases which are treatable and avoidable when detected early on their onset.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Iris Optics provides access to primary eyecare services by moving through rural and urban localities. Additionally, we provide our clients with affordable and timely products and services at their doorstep. By utilizing modern technology tools such as social media marketing, and online/radio announcements we strive to reach a wide audience,

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

Iris Optics project is designed to serve urban and rural communities, being a mobile eye clinic we endeavor to traverse different localities setting up shop in churches, slum areas, shopping centers, social halls, chief camps, stadiums, and also in different corporate institutions. Our main target for the services are the rural and urban folk whose purchasing power for prescription glasses is limited either by geographical location or their prevailing economic status, therefore by availing these crucial eye care services, we can create access and affordability since the client does not have to travel a long costly distance to a major town or city for the same.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-19

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

1

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.)

EDWARD THUKU NGUGII is an Optometrist by profession, having graduated from Kenya Medical Training College in the year 2014. I have been practicing as an eye doctor in Kenya for the last 10 years working with different establishments such as DOT glasses, Baus optical, Eyemodes Ltd, Mamy Eyewear East Africa and Optica Kenya, therefore gaining a lot of experience and understanding of the available gaps and opportunities in this industry. I will act as the operations manager at Iris Optics. LIZA MUKAMI MICHENI-As a co-founder, she has been in the banking sector for more than 10 years bringing in a wealth of experience in business development and marketing currently as a sales manager in a car imports company (which is crucial in enabling Iris Optics to acquire a affordable state of the art van for mobile clinic installation). Liza will manage all the marketing and sales functions of the business, she is also a certified accountant.

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

facebook/tiktok -Iris Optics

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Iris Optics makes its contribution to eradicating poverty by conducting mobile eye check-ups in urban and rural localities enhancing access to these much-needed products and services. Studies have shown that corrected visual impairments for workers and employees in all industries lead to improved output productivity increasing earnings leading to better socio-economic status. As for the school-going children and young adults improved vision leads to improved performance contributing to suitable future career prospects.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Iris Optics makes its contribution to eradicating poverty by conducting mobile eye check-ups in urban and rural localities enhancing access to these much-needed products and services. Studies have shown that corrected visual impairments for workers and employees in all industries lead to improved output productivity increasing earnings leading to better socio-economic status. As for the school-going children and young adults improved vision leads to improved performance contributing to suitable future career prospects.

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

Iris Optics contributes to the good health and well-being of the community by creating access to affordable prescription eyeglasses and other eyecare services in doing this work we make our mark in improving our community productivity as study shows that good eye health increases productivity in workers and improved performance in school going children.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Iris Optics makes its contribution to enhancing quality education by conducting mobile eye check-ups in urban and rural localities enhancing access to these much-needed products and services. Studies have shown that corrected visual impairments for workers and employees in all industries lead to improved output productivity increasing earnings leading to better socio-economic status. As for the school-going children and young adults improved vision leads to improved performance contributing to suitable future career prospects.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

One of the founders being female Iris Optics prides itself as an enterprise that has fulfilled the gender equality obligation. In our future activities, we endeavor to conduct all our activities within the confines the gender balance rule.

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

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Iris Optics makes its contribution to eradicating poverty by conducting mobile eye check-ups in urban and rural localities enhancing access to these much-needed products and services. Studies have shown that corrected visual impairments for workers and employees in all industries lead to improved output productivity increasing earnings leading to better socio-economic status.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

By utilizing the available technologies such as an e-commerce website and e-mobility Iris Optics has positioned itself as a modern-day enterprise. In the eye care industry, there are new and innovative equipment such as smartphone-powered eye testing devices that we seek to use in the course of conducting our daily activities, these devices are known to increase accuracy and precision which is a plus on our final product.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Iris Optics recognizes the inequality that exists when it comes to access to quality and affordable eyecare services between the first world and the developing world and we seize this opportunity to make our mark in improving humanity by employing modern techniques and technologies such as mobile clinics and an e-commerce website to reach the rural and urban people (slum areas) suffering from various vision impairments. When the gap in access to eyecare services is reduced there is a good increase in productivity within communities therefore brightening their economic prospects.

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

3

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Iris Optics recognizes that good eye care products and services are a basic human right and we are committed to bridging the gap that exists when it comes to access to quality and affordable eyecare services in the developing world we seize this opportunity to make our mark in improving humanity by employing modern techniques and technologies such as mobile clinics and an e-commerce website to reach the rural and urban people (slum areas) suffering from various vision impairments. Studies have shown that corrected refractive errors impact worker productivity increasing their earnings and finally changing their economic status for the better, in school-going children good vision improves overall school performance leading to good future career prospects.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Iris Optics recognizes the need/gap that exists when it comes to access to quality and affordable eyecare services in the developing world and we seize this opportunity to make our mark in improving humanity by employing modern techniques and technologies such as mobile clinics and an e-commerce website to reach the rural and urban people (slum areas) suffering from various vision impairments. Studies have shown that corrected refractive errors impact worker productivity increasing their earnings and finally changing their economic status for the better, in school-going children good vision improves overall school performance leading to good future career prospects.

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.

5

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

6

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.

4

05.08 Justification

Iris Optics employs modern tactics and innovative technologies in the daily running of its operations. First, we envision deploying a fully equipped mobile clinic all housed in a medium-sized van easing mobility and creating access to affordable eye care services for the testing equipment we endeavor to use the most recent eyecare testing kits which are smartphone-based increasing accuracy and speed of service delivery. We also plan on developing an e-commerce website and using social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to make our product and services/ brand more visible to our prospective consumers.

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

Iris Optics is set to fight off competition from Established eye care Centers, traditional family-owned optical shops, established eye hospitals, and chain optician clinics all located in major cities and towns e.g Optica, Baus Optical, Lions Eye Hospital Omega Opticians, city eye hospital among many other big players. Our main competitive advantage that sets us apart from our main competitors is the ability to move to different localities every day therefore creating new customers daily, we also endeavor to deliver the final prescription pair of glasses swiftly within the same day. By meeting our clients in their localities we save them time and the expense of travel to a big town near their homes or offices thereby increasing their purchasing power. E-commerce website - This tool enables one to shop for finished products online and we would ensure delivery countrywide. We will ensure personalized service to our clients, which is hard to come by from a bigger and busier brand.

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

Other than having one of the founders being female Iris