Namibia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Imagine a future where Sub-Saharan Africa is at the forefront of the global workforce with talented and skilled professionals. This future is not just a daydream; it's our vision at Billet.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Billet enables Sub-Saharan African computer science students and graduates to gain practical experience through job simulations. Our B2B and B2C platform, recently launched as an MVP, addresses the absence of quality traditional internships, facilitating a smoother transition into the workforce in a market valued at 12.9 billion USD. Our immersive project-based learning experiences enable users to work on real-world projects and meet strict deadlines while honing essential soft skills. We stand out through our customer-centric approach, offering features like an AI assistant, product showcases, and talent matching. With over five years of combined experience in low code development, finance, digital marketing, and business development, our team is poised to revolutionize how Sub-Saharan African students and graduates gain practical experience and develop future-fit skills. This is backed by our successful MVP launch and Arise Accelerator graduation.

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

Several individuals across Sub-Saharan Africa struggle to gain the practical experience needed to get a decent job. This is especially true for those pursuing careers in tech. With technology advancing at a rapid pace, few companies offer quality internships, making the available opportunities to gain practical experience extremely competitive.

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

1. Our projects align with the global economy's skill needs, making the users who pass through Billet attractive to international hiring organizations. 2. We aim to provide users with exclusive access to remote work opportunities through our partner organizations. 3. Users can gain confidence in their skills and expertise through collaboration and community.

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

1. Final year computer science students within Sub-Saharan Africa 2. Computer science graduates within Sub-Saharan Africa 3. Higher Education Institutions within Sub-Saharan Africa 4. Companies/startups within and beyond Sub-Saharan Africa seeking tech talent

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-08-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

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.)

Magnaem is the co-founder and head of technology at Billet. She is a business management graduate, a self-taught low-code developer with over three years of experience working for local and international companies, and she's a Webflow template designer.

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

https://billetconnect.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

At Billet, we recognize that the knowledge and expertise gained at university may not fully equip individuals to thrive in the industry. While we do not provide direct educational experiences, we ensure our users are guided throughout their projects with high-quality educational content sourced from various reputable online platforms. This approach helps users understand new concepts and build upon their academic knowledge or any courses they have undertaken. Furthermore, we incorporate continuous development opportunities on our platform for users who complete projects and secure jobs, ensuring they have a reliable resource to continuously improve their skills and knowledge.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

At Billet, we recognize that Africa's young workforce is expanding more rapidly than job opportunities can be created. To address this challenge, we connect our users with remote work opportunities that enable them to earn a decent living utilizing their skills. This approach ensures that they do not need to relocate for employment, allowing them to continue contributing to their local economies and fostering economic growth in their home countries.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

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.

4

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.

5

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

5

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.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

Currently, we have identified four other startups—Bag, Co.lab, Forage, and Riipen—that offer a service similar to Billet. This positions Billet among a select group of project-based learning platforms that provide an alternative approach to acquiring or enhancing skills through hands-on experience. Unlike traditional methods where individuals typically study theory or complete courses before applying their knowledge in practical settings, our users learn and apply knowledge simultaneously. Project-based learning allows individuals to complement their academic knowledge. This is particularly valuable in Sub-Saharan Africa, where quality traditional internships, especially in tech, are scarce. Billet offers an opportunity for individuals to gain practical experience, bridging the gap between education and industry.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Direct competitors: 1. Bag - Rwanda 2. Forage - US 3. Riipen - Canada 4. Colab - US Indirect competitors: 1. Traditional internships 2. Online learning platforms 3. In-house training programs What makes us stand out from our competitors is focusing our job simulations on technology-related roles. We also offer an AI assistant that can provide support to our users while their working on the projects 24/7, aim to host project showcases (demo days) to have users present their projects to prospective employers and top performers are eligible for job matching with prospective hiring companies for remote job roles.

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