Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Connectize is a corporate social network platform that brings together oil, gas, and energy companies to promote product and service accessibility. Connectize aims to link companies in different countries together, thereby enhancing visibility.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

With Connectize, we are building a corporate social network for companies in Nigeria, with the oil, gas, and energy industry as the primary target. Companies sign up on the platform and can create a company profile, list their services and products, make campaigns, and interact end-to-end with other companies. To ensure a safe and trustworthy marketplace, companies are verified, thereby increasing the confidence level of user engagement and peace of mind. Companies can appoint verified employees as representatives who can be trusted go-to people between different companies and professionals. By providing accessibility, visibility, and integrity, Connectize bridges the gap between local and foreign enterprises, ensuring seamless collaboration and mutual growth. This will bring more foreign investors into the Nigerian energy sector, significantly developing human capacity and infrastructure.

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

One of the major challenges of any industry is accessibility. Companies find it increasingly daunting to penetrate the market, reach target customers, and interact with trusted representatives despite the numerous social platforms and connectivity tools. This is seen in the poor development of the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Connectize is a platform that promotes accessibility between foreign and Nigerian companies in the energy, oil and gas industry. We want to eliminate the doubt of not being seen, not being heard, and not having access to the right people. Nigeria faces challenges with fraudulent companies, undermining the integrity of businesses. To address this, Connectize restricts platform access to verified companies and offers market intelligence to assist prospective businesses. Summary of the problems: 1. Accessibility 2. Visibility 3. Business Integrity 4. Interactivity and Connectivity 5. Market Intelligence 6. Human capital development, 7. Economic development.

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

Connectize offers several benefits: 1. Enhanced Accessibility: Connectize makes it easier for companies to penetrate and reach their target customers, overcoming traditional barriers to market entry. 2. Increased Visibility: Companies can create profiles, list services and products, and run campaigns, ensuring they are seen by the right audience. 3. Business Integrity: By verifying companies and their representatives, Connectize ensures a trustworthy marketplace, increasing user confidence and peace of mind. 4. Improved Interactivity and Connectivity: The platform facilitates end-to-end interaction between companies, promoting seamless communication and collaboration. 5. Comprehensive Market Intelligence: Connectize provides valuable market insights to guide prospective businesses, helping them make informed decisions. 6. Economic and Human Capital Development

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

The target users of our products include: - Foreign Companies: These are companies outside of Nigeria looking for a market in Nigeria for their products and services. The target companies include companies that provide products (hard/soft) and services to oil and gas companies, energy companies, manufacturers, and producers in Nigeria. - Nigerian Companies: These are registered and verified companies in Nigeria. - Professionals in the energy, oil, and gas industry. - Investors and stakeholders. - Government and regulatory bodies.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-05-29

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

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.)

Apart from myself, we have Lekia Prosper Kiisi, a Process Engineer with a background in Chemical, Petroleum Engineering, and Software development. He is currently spearheading the startup as a Product Developer. He has about five years of experience building enterprise applications and has worked as a Process and Business Development Engineer in the oil and gas industry.

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

https://connectize.co

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

i) Communication services (telecommunications, media, interactive services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Through Connectize, we will provide employment opportunities, increase government revenue, increase human capital development, and increase marketing and sales campaigns of companies, thereby increasing profitability, growth, and economic value. By promoting economic development and attracting foreign investors, Connectize can create jobs and stimulate economic growth, helping to alleviate poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

By fostering a more profitable economy, sales performance of companies, Connectize inherently pursues the goal of zero hunger in the society, especially by adding to government revenue generation and employment of young talents.

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

With the increase in the economic value and GDP of the country, the government can use the resources to improve the health economy.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Connectize thrives on the ability to transfer knowledge from various parts of the World to Nigeria thereby educating and improving the standard of knowledge in the oil and gas industry. This will enhance the opportunity for better knowledge transfer from all parts of the world to the Nigerian oil and gas Ecosystem.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

We strongly believe in gender equality as it is an integral part of our core values. Nobody deserves the chance to be discriminate against because of their gender. Currently, we have ladies already working in our midst.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Through Connectize, companies with clean energy technology can have all the accessibility and visibility they need to penetrate into the Nigerian oil and gas industry. With connectize paving the way with ease of access more clean energy company will greatly enter the Nigerian market thereby reducing the cost of clean energy and making it more affordable. Nigerian companies with innovations/developments in clean energy for the oil and gas industry will also have the means through Connectize to showcase their products and services to the world while being Nigeria. This will also make the cost of their technology transfer affotdable.

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

Connectize will bring about significant economic growth by fostering an open market system in the oil and gas industry and the ease at which people do business in Nigeria. With improved sales from firms, we believe that government revenue will increase, as well as through tax payment as a registered company. We also contribute to decent work by employing young talents and graduates. So far, we have promoted decent work by engaging the service of a product designer, software engineer, social media marketer, and graphic designer. We are looking forward to contributing more to employment through decent work positions. Connectize promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by facilitating seamless collaboration between local and foreign enterprises. By ensuring a trustworthy marketplace through company verification, the platform attracts foreign investors, boosting the Nigerian economy and creating more job opportunities.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Connectize will drive industry innovation and infrastructure development by creating ease of access and visibility to opportunities within the Nigerian Oil and Gas Ecosystem. Companies with high industry innovation and infrastructure can easily locate opportunities in Nigeria and find ways to develop these opportunities, thereby driving these innovative measures. Connectize fosters innovation and builds resilient infrastructure by providing a platform for companies to list their services and products and engage in campaigns. This visibility and interaction encourage technological advancements and innovation within the energy sector. By bridging the gap between local and foreign companies, Connectize promotes the development of modern and sustainable infrastructure, which is crucial for industrial growth.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Through Connectize, accessibility and visibility will be granted to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Ecosystem but also companies worldwide will have a means to also interact and share opportunities relevant to their development. West African Region as a whole will also be extension benefit from this visibility and accessibility. By offering a level playing field for companies of various sizes to interact and collaborate, Connectize supports SDG 10 by reducing inequalities. Smaller local businesses gain access to the same opportunities as larger multinational corporations, fostering a more equitable business environment.

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

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Through the promotion of sustainable business practices within the energy sector, Connectize encourages responsible consumption and production. By facilitating the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions, the platform helps companies adopt more sustainable and efficient methods of production and check and balance activities in decentralized, peer-to-peer, and company-to-company reviews. With this global community of socializing companies, companies become more aware of improving quality to gain trust and earn credibility from customers and vendors.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Connectize indirectly supports climate action by promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy technologies. The collaboration facilitated by the platform can lead to adopting practices and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

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

6

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

Connectize enhances business integrity by verifying companies and their representatives, thus promoting a trustworthy and fair business environment. This commitment to integrity aligns with SDG 16, which emphasizes the need for peace, justice, and strong institutions. By reducing the prevalence of fraudulent activities, Connectize fosters a safer business climate, ensuring that transactions are conducted transparently and ethically, thus strengthening the overall institutional framework.

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

Connectize champions Partnerships for the Goal by fostering collaboration among diverse entities. By linking up organizations, businesses, and communities, Connectize enhances their combined efforts toward sustainable development. It actively assists in implementing these partnerships through strategic initiatives and resource sharing, ensuring that various stakeholders can effectively work together. Additionally, Connectize promotes global partnerships by raising awareness, facilitating communication, and providing platforms for dialogue. This approach creates a networked environment where collective action can thrive, aiming to achieve sustainable development goals on a global scale. The core function of Connectize is to facilitate partnerships between local and international businesses, directly supporting SDG 17. By enabling companies to connect and collaborate, the platform helps mobilize resources and expertise essential for sustainable development.

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

2

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

5

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

4

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

2

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

4

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Connectize is a unique platform designed to elevate Nigerian companies in the oil and gas sector by fostering growth and collaboration with foreign enterprises. Unlike any platforms, Connectize addresses the specific challenges foreign companies face in engaging with Nigerian expertise, offering enhanced accessibility, visibility, and integrity. This facilitates seamless partnerships and attracts foreign investors, driving significant development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Our mission is to spark business success in Nigeria by providing a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that ensures real-time communication and trust-building between local and foreign companies. Connectize also supports neighboring countries in accessing Nigerian expertise, contributing to human capital development. By keeping users informed about industry trends, Connectize promotes transparency and showcases Nigerian capabilities on a global stage, driving economic growth and develpment.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors are other social media platforms, especially LinkedIn and Collide. Unlike these platforms, Connectize is designed to target companies and businesses and promote their visibility, accessibility, and interaction. Connectize is a corporate social media streamlined for companies to showcase their products, services, and promotions, interact, and communicate seamlessly with one another. Our overarching goal is to eliminate the barrier of accessibility between industries and companies.

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

Yes, we have a female leading our social media campaigns, which will develop her skillset in starting her social media marketing company.