Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Iwina Lab provides digital solutions to streamline compliance for Africa's subsistence agriculture and food export market. Leveraging blockchain and innovative software, we enhance efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and empower small and medium bus

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Iwina Lab revolutionises Africa's subsistence agriculture and food export market with innovative software solutions, ensuring compliance with international regulations, enhancing efficiency through digitalisation, and empowering small and medium businesses for sustainable growth.

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

The main problem Iwina Lab aims to solve is the difficulty faced by small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Africa's subsistence agriculture and food export market in complying with complex international regulations. Traditional compliance inspection systems are often paper-based, fragmented, and prone to errors, leading to inefficiencies and low productivity levels. This situation hampers the potential of SMBs to compete effectively in global markets. By providing innovative software solutions and leveraging digitalisation and blockchain technology, Iwina Lab seeks to streamline the export process, improve accuracy and speed, ensure compliance, and enhance transparency. This will empower SMBs, protect stakeholder reputations, and drive sustainable economic growth across the continent.

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

Streamlined Compliance: Our digital compliance product index window simplifies the complex regulatory requirements for international markets, reducing errors and inefficiencies associated with traditional paper-based systems. This ensures that only compliant products are exported, protecting stakeholder reputations. Enhanced Transparency: By incorporating blockchain technology, our solutions provide a clear and accessible means of verifying compliance metrics. This enhances trust between customers and suppliers, fostering stronger business relationships and instilling confidence in the quality and authenticity of products. Empowerment of SMBs: Our tailor-made solutions are designed specifically for small and medium businesses (SMBs) at the grassroots level. By improving productivity and efficiency, we unlock their potential, enabling them to compete effectively in global markets and drive sustainable economic growth across Africa.

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

Local Farmers: We provide tools to help farmers comply with international regulations, improving their market access and profitability. Small Industrial Production Clusters: Our solutions streamline compliance processes, enhancing productivity and reducing operational inefficiencies. Policy Think Tanks: We offer data-driven insights to support policy development and regulatory compliance strategies. Small to Medium Shipping/Exporting Companies: Our digital tools facilitate smooth and accurate compliance checks, ensuring that only compliant products are exported. Households and General Merchants: By ensuring product compliance, we help households and merchants trust the quality and safety of the products they trade and consume. Customs and Regulatory Authorities: Our blockchain-enabled solutions enhance transparency and traceability, simplifying the verification process for customs and regulatory bodies.

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-10-28

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

5

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.)

CEO - Enoma Efosa - Nigerian Public Management BSc, MBA, MA International Political Economy, 8+ years in project management. COO - Alice Wanjiku - Kenyan Mathematics and Physics Education Teacher BSc, MSc Operations Management, 10+ years in teaching, logistics, and product research. CPO - Taha Sabha - Syrian Pharmacy BSc, Humanitarian Logistics Diploma, MSc Operations Management, 10+ years in logistics. CMO - Imuetiyan David Enoma Biochemistry BSc, MBA, expertise in marketing, sales, product development, and business strategy.

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

https://iwinalab.org/

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Iwina Lab directly contributes to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of "No Poverty" (Goal 1) by empowering small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Africa's subsistence agriculture and food export market. Our innovative software solutions streamline compliance with international regulations, reducing barriers that hinder SMBs' access to global markets.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

By improving compliance with international regulations and enhancing efficiency in the export process, we enable small and medium businesses (SMBs) to increase their productivity and access broader markets. This directly contributes to food security by ensuring the reliable export of quality agricultural products.

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

5

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

Our digital compliance and quality assurance tools ensure that agricultural products meet stringent international standards for safety and quality. By streamlining the export process and reducing inefficiencies, we help prevent contamination and ensure that only safe products reach consumers both locally and globally. This promotes public health by reducing the risks associated with consuming unsafe food products.

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

Our innovative software solutions streamline compliance with international regulations, reducing barriers that hinder SMBs' access to global markets. By enhancing efficiency in the export process and ensuring product quality, we enable SMBs to compete effectively and sustainably. This leads to increased productivity, job creation, and economic growth within local communities.

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

Our digital compliance and quality assurance tools revolutionise traditional export processes, replacing paper-based systems with efficient, technology-driven solutions. By enhancing the transparency and efficiency of supply chains, we promote infrastructure development in logistics and trade, facilitating smoother operations and reducing costs for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Our digital compliance solutions enable SMBs to meet international standards, leveling the playing field and providing equal access to global markets. This reduces the disparity between larger enterprises and smaller businesses, fostering economic inclusion.

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

Our digital tools streamline compliance with international regulations, ensuring that agricultural products meet rigorous standards for safety, quality, and sustainability. This promotes responsible production practices by reducing environmental impacts and enhancing product traceability.

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

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

We collaborate with stakeholders to promote conservation initiatives and sustainable land management practices. This includes partnering with local communities, conservation organisations, and regulatory authorities to ensure that agricultural activities align with environmental sustainability goals.

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

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

y assisting small and medium businesses (SMBs) in adhering to legal frameworks and regulatory standards, we strengthen institutional capacities. This supports the rule of law and promotes stable business environments conducive to economic growth and development.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Through partnerships, we strengthen the capacity of SMBs and local communities by providing training, resources, and technical assistance. This empowers stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices, comply with international standards, and improve their competitiveness in global markets.

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.

6

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

6

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

2

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.

6

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our solution represents a new type of solution within the context of Africa's agriculture and food export sector, leveraging digital compliance and quality assurance tools that are tailored for small and medium businesses (SMBs). These tools incorporate advanced technologies like blockchain for enhanced transparency and efficiency, which are novel in improving compliance and export processes.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Iwina Lab's main potential competitors include global compliance and software solution providers like American Selerant and Australian Agility, who cater predominantly to larger enterprises. What sets Iwina Lab apart is our specialised focus on small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Africa's agriculture and food export sector. Unlike our competitors who target larger enterprises, we offer tailored digital compliance and quality assurance solutions designed specifically for SMBs, addressing their unique challenges such as limited resources, complex regulatory environments, and the need for affordable yet effective technology solutions.

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

Training and Capacity Building: Organising workshops, webinars, and training sessions specifically tailored for female entrepreneurs to enhance their knowledge of export regulations, market access strategies, and business management skills.