Ethiopia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our project aimed to produce green energy ‘’Bio-gel fuel’’ from spent coffee grounds and bio-based additives and binders. It is a thick liquid fuel that burns with a clear flame and is comparable in terms of cooking efficiency to gaseous cooking fuels.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The project involves the conversion of spent coffee grounds, SCGs into a thick liquid fuel called a green energy bio-gel fuel via microbial fermentation, distillation, and then blending. The resulting biomass from the production process will be processed into bio-fertilizer as a secondary product. The bio-gel burns with a clear flame without smoke or soot and is comparable in terms of cooking efficiency to gaseous cooking fuel such as liquid petroleum gas and works with existing fabricated stoves. The project is a long-term investment used to minimize reliance on wood-based fuel and paraffin and eventually reduce deforestation and harmful emissions into the atmosphere, minimizing economic costs associated with potential health benefits, and increasing energy access and sustainability

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

The main problems that our project aims to solve: (i) producing a more sustainable, cost-effective, and clean energy source, (ii) waste management which is the conversion of a huge SCGs waste in our locality to fuel, (iii) controlling the environment/atmosphere by minimizing deforestation and emission of gases, (iv) income generation, and (v) job creation.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The major benefits and advantages our product are: (a) renewable energy source (alternative to traditional biomass fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and agricultural wastes, (b) sustainable, (c) low emissions (a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution), (d) cost-effective (lower cost than traditional fossil fuels, making it an attractive option for rural communities), (e) reusable, (f) high efficiency/heating value, (g) smokeless: (burns with a clear flame without smoke or soot formation, reducing indoor air pollution and improving air quality), (h) reduced deforestation, (i) improved health (the fuel reduces the exposure to indoor air pollution, which is a major health risk in many rural communities), and (j) job creation

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The bio-gel fuel production project is aimed at serving rural communities and urban (mostly tea-coffee makers) in Ethiopia who relies on biomass fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and agricultural wastes for cooking. The targeted beneficiaries of the project include: rural households, urban tea-coffee makers, women and children, small-scale farmers, local entrepreneurs and etc.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-09-20

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Mr. Alebel Abebaw, MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Chief technical assistant at Bahir Dar University 2. Miss Netsanet Mulusew, BSc in Mechanica/Industrial Engineering, assistant lecturer at Bahir Dar University

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business has the potential to contribute to the no-poverty goal by creating jobs, generating income, reducing fuel costs, promoting sustainable livelihoods, improving health, and addressing environmental challenges that impact the well-being of rural and some urban communities.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to the zero hunger goal by promoting sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food waste, improving food access, reducing food insecurity, supporting small-scale farmers, reducing deforestation, and improving nutrition.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to good health and well-being by reducing indoor air pollution, improving cooking conditions, increasing energy access, enhancing food security, improving health outcomes, increasing productivity, reducing deforestation, and improving nutrition.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to quality education by creating jobs, generating income, improving health and well-being, reducing deforestation, increasing energy access, and improving nutrition.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to gender equality by empowering women: by providing those with a clean and efficient cooking fuel that reduces the time and resources spent on gathering firewood and charcoal. This can help women spend more time on education, work, or leisure activities, improving their overall well-being and economic opportunities, improving health and well-being, increasing energy access, reducing deforestation, improving nutrition, and increasing productivity.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

The project's primary focus is on providing a sustainable alternative to traditional biomass fuels, which can help address issues related to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and indoor air pollution. The project's main contributions seem to be in the areas of renewable energy, waste management, and indoor air quality improvement. Our project utilizes huge biomass wastes as a source of energy/fuel which leads minimize deforestation and hence to prevent the soils to discharge in to water streams up on erosion. In addition, conversion of biomass wastes to fuel prevents the discharge of such wastes to the aquatic environment via several mechanisms. Hence, our project may contribute to the clean water and sanitation industry.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to affordable and clean energy by providing a renewable, clean-burning, and cost-effective alternative to traditional biomass fuels, improving energy access, reducing deforestation, and promoting sustainable energy production.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to decent work and economic growth by creating jobs, generating income, improving productivity, reducing deforestation, increasing energy access, reducing environmental impact, and increasing economic opportunities.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to industry innovation and infrastructure by providing a novel and sustainable alternative to traditional biomass fuels, improving cooking efficiency, reducing deforestation, increasing energy access, reducing environmental impact, and increasing economic opportunities.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to reduced inequalities by providing access to energy, creating jobs, improving health and well-being, reducing deforestation, increasing energy access, reducing environmental impact, and increasing economic opportunities.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to sustainable cities and communities by reducing deforestation, improving air quality, increasing clean energy access, reducing environmental impact, increasing economic opportunities, improving health and well-being, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing waste.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to responsible consumption and production by reducing waste, promoting a circular economy, sustainable production, and energy efficiency, reducing deforestation, improving air quality, increasing energy access, cost-effectiveness, improving productivity, innovation and awareness and reducing environmental impact

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to climate action by reducing deforestation, improving air quality, providing a renewable energy source, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, promoting a circular economy, improving health and well-being, increasing energy access, and reducing environmental impact.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business does not directly contribute to the Life Below Water goal. The project focuses on producing biofuel from biomasses, which is a terrestrial-based initiative and does not directly involve the oceans, seas, or marine resources. However, contribute the life below water goal by controlling the discharge of wastes of biomasses and soils to the aquatics.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to the Life on land goal by reducing deforestation, improving air quality, providing a renewable energy source, reducing waste, promoting a circular economy, improving health and well-being, increasing energy access, reducing environmental impact, increasing productivity, and reducing carbon footprint.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to the Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions goal by reducing conflict, promoting sustainable development, improving health and well-being, reducing environmental impact, increasing energy access, reducing waste, promoting a circular economy, improving productivity, reducing carbon footprint, and supporting local communities.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to the Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaboration and partnerships with local communities, entrepreneurs, research institutions, government agencies, international organizations, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to promote the adoption and scaling up of the bio-gel fuel technology.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

Our bio-gel fuel production startup business contributes to the region’s financial development by creating jobs, promoting local entrepreneurship, reducing energy costs, improving health and well-being, promoting environmental sustainability, using local raw materials, respecting regional values, communicating openly and honestly, and engaging with local communities.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The main potential competitors for the bio-gel fuel production startup business are companies that produce alternative biofuels, such as ethanol, biodiesel, and bio-oil. What sets the bio-gel fuel production startup business apart from these competitors is its unique production process, which involves the microbial fermentation of spent coffee grounds to produce a thick liquid fuel. This process is novel and innovative, and the resulting bio-gel fuel has a higher heating value than traditional biofuels. Additionally, the bio-gel fuel production startup business has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental impact, with the goal of reducing deforestation and indoor air pollution in rural communities. The company's use of locally sourced raw materials and its commitment to community engagement and education also set it apart from other biofuel producers. Overall, cost-effective, affordable, supper quality, ecofriendly, green, sustainable etc..

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

Yes. Based on the information provided in the search results, here are some ways the bio-gel fuel production startup business can initiate actions within the community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs: awareness raising, mentorship, networking and collaboration, access to finance, entrepreneurship education, policy advocacy, role model showcasing, and community outreach. By initiating these types of actions within the community, the bio-gel fuel production startup business can play a significant role in promoting and supporting female entrepreneurship, which can have a positive impact on the local economy and social development.