Malawi - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Mchepa pottery is a small scale manufacturer of ceramic products. The products range from dinner sets (table ware), decorative interior designing products (vases, lampbases etc) to construction materials (porcelain sinks and ceramic tiles).

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

IMATEC limited was established in 2022 to manufacture ceramic products for household use and for construction. The companies main operations is located in Mchepa village, in Lumbadzi, near Kamuzu international airport in Lilongwe district. The company produces various customized products for a side range if clients. The clients range from households to other businesses and hence the business model is both Business to business(B to B) and business to consumer (B to C). Currently the production is at a small scale and the products are sold through artisanal and small scale markets.

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

In Malawi, most ceramic utensils and construction products are imported and are generally expensive. As a result, most households are unable to afford these products and hence build sustainable decent houses.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our products are very durable. This is because they are producef from locally sourced geological material which contains heavy mineral deposits and positively affects products quality. Another advantage is that our products are custom made to the satisfaction and using the design of the respective client.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our target beneficiaries are individuals who are into building projects, and businesses who also supply household utensils and construction equipment.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-01-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Miss Tamara Mhoni is a holder of a BSc in public health, specialized in environmental health. She is experienced in issues of environmental management, occupational health and safety management, and people management. Ms. Mhoni also underwent business development trainings under gracia marcel trust and GIZ MIERA projects and has a strong foundation of business development. Mr. Titus Malakwa is a holder of a diploma in mechanical engineering and a certificate in small scale mining and mineral processing. He is experienced in geological material sourcing and material processing. Mr Malakwa also underwent business incubation under the Government of Malawi Jobs for youth project and is hence familiar with business and entrepreneurship principles.

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

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087783595706

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Provision of jobs ensures that people are able to eaen a living and live above the potverty line.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We provide trainings in pottery and ceramic Manufa

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our startup creates opportunity for both males and females and many roles in the production are (and can be taken by) woken, especially in material processing.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our products are fired using an electric kiln, as compared to the traditional methods of using firewood. This ensures that the production does not contribute to deforestation and uses sustainable energy.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Our production requires expertise across a wide range of professions and hence create decent jobs for many individuals.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Some of our raw materials are recycled rocks which are thrown away in mining sites. Utilizing these resources contributes to responsible production.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Our business to business sales have resulted into at east four notable partnerships with long terms clients.

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

3

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

3

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Most of our ceramic products originated in China and hence exists on the market as imported products. However we are able to emulate the production process using locally available materials and manufacture similar and improved products. At the heart of our innovation is the chemical technology of making a glass coating from locally sourced geological materials.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Dedza pottery and Nkhotakota pottery Our differentiating feature is that we focus on development of products for construction and interior designing while our competitors are only focused on producing dinner sets and other table ware. This means that we have a different market segmentation as compared to our competitors.

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

Yes. I offer business coaching to five women in the neighborhood who are doing micro and small businesses, including my own female employees who also own ot