Malawi - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

LUWELL is a wellness startup created to support vulnerable people particularly those that are living with chronic illnesses, recovering from serious injuries/stroke, or experiencing either physiological or mental frailty.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

LUWELL was created for vulnerable people that are seeking physiotherapy, psychotherapy, professional massage therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. LUWELL adopts an integrated approach to wellness by providing a comprehensive wellness package all in a single working space. LUWELL envisages a healthy population with an improved quality of life. LUWELL is divided into two sections: the first section is a limited company which charges customers for its services, the other section which is yet to be established is a social enterprise which targets the most vulnerable communities and provides all our services free of charge. In summary, LUWELL exists to transform lives by providing wellness services in response to the sustainable development goal number three which calls for good health and wellbeing. Our goal is to reach millions of people here in Malawi, and later in Zambia.

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

According to the latest WHO data published in 2020 Stroke Deaths in Malawi reached 5,939 or 6.16% of total deaths. Disability due to musculoskeletal disorders in Malawi increased by 45% from 1990 to 2010. Osteoarthritis is listed as the fastest increasing major health condition and ranked second as cause of disability by World Health Organization (WHO). In 2017, a study by Mwale and Mafuta revealed that the prevalence of suicide in Malawi was at 0.009%, (9 out of 100,000 people commit suicide in Malawi) revealing that suicide rates are higher than ever before. LUWELL was therefore established to provide physiotherapy, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and professional massage therapy as a comprehensive package in a single space.

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

By accessing physiotherapy, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and professional massage therapy, peoples lives are transformed dramatically. We normally receive feedback from most of our clients explaining how the quality of their lives improved ever since they began coming to LUWELL. Our wellness services have the capacity to rejuvenate someone's health and bring them back to productivity as a member of the community. People that could otherwise not walk well or function in society end up finding relief when they access our services.

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

Our services target people living with chronic illnesses, recovering from serious injuries/stroke, or experiencing frailty. Our services provide pain relief for clients that are recovering from stroke or experiencing other musculoskeletal challenges. Through our services, we are able to help our clients by Improving relaxation, circulation, reducing muscle tension, reducing pain (physical/mental) and removing toxins and waste products thereby improving the quality of their lives.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-08-15

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

I hold a master’s degree in organizational psychology, a micro masters in International Project Management, and a bachelor’s degree in education. I am a certified member of the project management institute with a verified project management professional certification. Over the last 10 years, I have attained several professional certifications including monitoring and evaluation; improving health care quality; early childhood development programming for young vulnerable children; data use for program managers; leadership; HIV/AIDS surveillance, qualitative research and evidence informed decision making (EIDM). I consider myself a highly capable strategic planner and focused decision maker, well-versed in managing priorities.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-b-6007656b/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

Our services target people living with chronic illnesses, recovering from serious injuries, or experiencing frailty. Our services provide pain relief for clients that are recovering from stroke or experiencing other musculoskeletal challenges. Through our services, we are able to help our clients by Improving relaxation, circulation, reducing muscle tension, reducing pain (physical/mental) and removing toxins and waste products thereby improving the quality of their lives.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

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

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

The Physiotherapy department is headed by a trained physiotherapist from Kamuzu University of health sciences and she holds a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy. This department focuses on providing recovery support, managing chronic pain, and improving overall mobility and function. The Psychotherapy department is headed by a trained therapist also from Kamuzu University of Health sciences who holds a masters degree in counselling. This department focuses on providing mental health counselling as well as maternal counselling. Lastly, the Professional massage department employs four people who hold qualifications in public health as well as rehabilitation. With support from Total, we aspire to roll out occupational therapy and speech therapy.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

LUWELL is big on women empowerment. It is because of this principle that LUWELL employs 6 women out of 8 employees. We are convinced that women are just as capable as men and therefore should be given an opportunity to perform.

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

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

LUWELL business model is a business to customer (B2C) revolving around physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and professional massage therapy. Our clients choose a session and either book an appointment or just walk in. After a session, a client proceeds to the reception area to make payment. We also have the option of gift vouchers which people can purchase for their loved ones. The Physiotherapy department is in partnership with medical insurance companies which allows clients to pay for a session using their medical insurance. Together with all our partners, we are hopeful that we will improve the health and wellbeing of millions of people.

06.01 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

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

LUWELL is unique and innovative because it integrates several major stand-alone services in the wellness industry and provides them all under one roof making it more like a one-stop shop for good health and wellbeing. Aside from the traditional wellness approach, LUWELL envisages making an investment in modern technology to boost the versatility of our services and reach a broader market. As a legacy business set to operate for many years to come, quality tops the list of our priorities followed by profit of course. Our aspiration for distinction in the wellness industry hinges on our ambition to be of international standard. One way of achieving this has been to create opportunities for growth for the people that work for LUWELL primarily because we believe that if we take care of our staff, then our staff will take care of the business.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

LUWELL is the only wellness center offering an integrated wellness package comprising of physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and professional massage therapy all under one roof. Furthermore, because LUWELL provides a physiotherapy which is a clinical service, we are the only wellness centre in partnership with medical insurance companies which only support clinical work such as physiotherapy. It is interesting to note that all the competitors that have been mentioned above are all operating close to LUWELL, however LUWELL stands out because we are strategically located closer to town than the rest of our competitors.

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

I actively share entrepreneurial training opportunities to members of my community especially those that are not able to access such advertisements. In so doing, I have managed to inspire several female entrepreneurs to undergo business management trainings. Some of these women have gone ahead to establish their own businesses and are now doing well. Furthermore, I have also inspired my staff to be entrepreneurial by mentoring them on how to run their own businesses. I am proud to say that my business development manager runs her own business which involves packaging and delivering presents. My therapist also runs her own art gallery where she draws and paints. It is my ambition that through this grant, I will be able to conduct classes for females in my community for them to learn the fundamentals of running a wellness startup as lucrative as LUWELL.