Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

GikoshOnline is an innovative eCommerce platform connecting buyers and sellers of outfits with advanced filtering, virtual try-on technology, and P2P transactions. We empower women entrepreneurs with low-interest loans.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our project aims to revolutionise fashion shopping through an innovative eCommerce platform that seamlessly connects buyers and sellers. Featuring a wide range of outfits for all budgets, our platform ensures that everyone can find clothing that suits their style and price range. Advanced filtering options and AI-driven search algorithms make it easy to discover the perfect items, while state-of-the-art virtual try-on technology allows users to visualize outfits on themselves before purchasing. We also focus on empowering women entrepreneurs by providing them with an opportunity to start their own businesses on our platform. They will have access to low-interest business loans from partner banks, enabling them to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Our project aims to make fashion shopping more convenient, inclusive, and sustainable, enhancing the experience for both buyers and sellers.

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

The main problem we aim to solve is the difficulty buyers face in finding affordable, suitable outfits and the lack of a convenient, inclusive platform for fashion shopping. Traditional shopping methods are time-consuming, often limited by physical store inventories, and can be overwhelming due to congestion in marketplaces. Our platform addresses this issue by offering a diverse range of outfits across all price ranges, enabling buyers to shop conveniently from home. Advanced filtering and virtual try-on technologies enhance the shopping experience, ensuring buyers find the right fit and style without the need for physical trials. While solving this problem we aim to support many aspiring women entrepreneurs who struggle to start and grow their businesses due to limited access to resources and financial support. This is by providing low-interest business loans through partner banks. We believe this will foster economic empowerment and inclusivity.

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

Our eCommerce platform offers several major benefits and advantages: Convenience and Efficiency: Buyers can easily browse a wide range of outfits from the comfort of their homes, using advanced filtering options and AI-driven search algorithms to quickly find items that match their preferences and budget. The virtual try-on feature allows users to visualize outfits on themselves, eliminating the need for physical trials and saving time. Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs: Our platform supports women entrepreneurs by providing them with the opportunity to start and grow their businesses. We offer access to low-interest business loans from partner banks, enabling them to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and contribute to economic empowerment and gender equality. Sustainability and Inclusivity: By promoting the resale and recycling of clothing, our platform supports sustainable practices and contributes to a circular economy.

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

Our project is aimed at serving multiple groups of beneficiaries: 1. Fashion Buyers: Individuals of all ages and backgrounds who seek a convenient and efficient way to purchase outfits. Our platform caters to a wide range of budgets, ensuring everyone can find suitable clothing without the hassle of traditional shopping. 2. Women Entrepreneurs: Aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their own fashion businesses. Our platform provides them with a marketplace to sell their products and offers access to low-interest business loans from partner banks, fostering their economic empowerment and business success. 3. Fashion Sellers: Small and medium-sized fashion retailers who need an online presence to reach a broader audience. Our platform offers them a user-friendly interface to list and sell their products, expanding their customer base and increasing sales.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-12-17

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.)

My business partner is a vibrant lady who has a successful track record as an entrepreneur in the retail/fashion sectors. She has proven to have great leadership and management qualities by starting and expanding enterprises successfully. She has insightful understanding of the industry and is well-versed in consumer preferences and fashion trends. She is technically skilled and has knowledge of digital marketing, web development, and eCommerce technologies. Also, she is capable of leading many teams and supervising project development because of her strong organizational and strategic planning skills. She is dedicated to supporting sustainable fashion methods and advancing economic opportunity for women since she is passionate about sustainability and empowerment. Her excitement for improving communities and the environment is a wonderful fit with our goals.

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

https://bit.ly/GikoshOnline

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

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Our eCommerce network offers women entrepreneurs and small fashion shops financial help and economic prospects, which makes a substantial contribution to the "No Poverty" agenda. We enable these people to launch and expand their enterprises, boosting their revenue and enhancing their financial security by providing them with low-interest business loans from partner banks and access to a large marketplace. Our platform makes affordable clothing available to everyone by accommodating purchasers with a range of budgets. This inclusivity lessens the financial burden of clothing purchases for those with low incomes, which helps to alleviate poverty. Our project is in close alignment with the objective of eradicating poverty in all its manifestations worldwide, since it fosters economic empowerment and sustains sustainable lives.

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

4

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our eCommerce platform, which focuses on the empowering of female entrepreneurs, makes a significant contribution to the "Gender Equality" agenda. We offer a welcoming environment where women may launch and expand their own companies, giving them the resources and chances they need to be successful in the fashion sector. Through our collaboration with banks, we offer low-interest business loans that assist women break through financial obstacles and realize their aspirations of becoming entrepreneurs. Furthermore, our platform supports women's financial stability and independence, which can benefit their families and communities as a whole. We help to close the gender gap and advance gender equality in the business and economic domains by creating an atmosphere that is welcoming and encourages women-owned enterprises. Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is strongly aligned with our aim to create a platform that is inclusive, supporting, and uplifting for women.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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

Our eCommerce platform empowers women entrepreneurs through a virtual marketplace, which advances the goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth. We offer a platform that helps vendors reach a larger market and make more money—especially women sellers. Through the provision of low-interest loans and the facilitation of efficient transactions, we foster inclusive economic growth and entrepreneurship. Our platform promotes inclusive and long-term economic development by increasing productivity and job possibilities.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our eCommerce platform creates a robust digital infrastructure for eCommerce operations, which helps to achieve the Industry Innovation and Infrastructure aim. By giving small companies and craftspeople access to a wide digital marketplace, we support inclusive industrialization by encouraging economic growth and diversity. By incorporating cutting-edge features like virtual try-on technologies, our platform improves user experience and establishes industry standards for eCommerce. In line with SDG 9 goals, we promote sustainable industrialization in the fashion industry by endorsing sustainable fashion practices.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Our eCommerce platform democratizes access to economic opportunities, which helps achieve the goal of Reduced Inequalities. We enable female small business owners and entrepreneurs by giving them access to an online marketplace where they may sell their goods all over the world. By leveling the playing field and raising the potential income of underprivileged populations, this lowers economic inequities. Through providing low-interest business loans, we encourage equitable opportunities for women in entrepreneurship. In order to further reduce social and economic inequality, our platform promotes inclusive growth and offers help to sellers that place a high value on ethical and sustainable business methods.

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

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Our platform's advocacy of sustainable fashion practices is crucial to the advancement of the Responsible Consumption and Production goal. Through our marketplace, vendors promote fashion items that are made ethically and environmentally, enabling customers to make ethical decisions. We reduce our environmental effect by doing away with traditional retail procedures, which also promotes the circular economy. Additionally, we place a high priority on forming a community that is committed to sustainability by teaching customers about ethical consumption.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our platform lessens its environmental impact and promotes sustainable behaviors, which help us achieve the Life on Land aim. We support vendors who employ sustainable production practices and environmentally friendly materials to preserve biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems. We reduce the environmental impact of traditional retail, including emissions from transportation and deforestation, by enabling online purchases. We encourage a community that is dedicated to protecting our natural resources by educating our users about sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation through our educational activities.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Our platform facilitates partnerships inside the fashion industry, which is vital to the advancement of Partnerships for the Goal. We foster sustainable practices and economic empowerment by bringing together buyers, sellers, and other stakeholders. We promote sustainable consumption and production by partnering with eco-friendly goods and lending support to small enterprises, particularly those run by women. Furthermore, the low-interest business loans we provide in association with financial institutions demonstrate our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and reviving sustainable development initiatives.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

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

5

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

4

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.

5

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.

5

05.08 Justification

Our platform uses cutting-edge features and contemporary technology to reinvent traditional fashion retail services. Although our platform is built on the well-known idea of online shopping, its distinctive features—like AI-driven search, virtual try-on technology, and assistance for female entrepreneurs—make it a fresh and improved service that offers more value and usefulness than the previous one.

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

Our primary rivals might be well-known e-commerce behemoths like Amazon and eBay as well as niche marketplaces like ASOS and Zalando. We also have competition from specialized virtual try-on technology providers and platforms that target independent fashion businesses. Our platform is distinct due to its special blend of cutting-edge technology features and a significant emphasis on social impact: powerful Filtering and AI-Driven Search: In contrast to many of our rivals, our platform allows customers to identify products that exactly match their budgets and tastes using powerful filtering options and AI-driven search algorithms. This makes shopping extremely efficient and personalized.

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

Yes, I'm starting initiatives in my neighborhood to support the role of women in business. Examples include setting up mentorship programs that link seasoned female company owners with aspiring ones, hosting workshops on entrepreneurship skills exclusively for women, and pushing for greater access to capital and resources meant to assist women-owned enterprises.