Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

SmartFreight is an online freight marketplace which helps connect customers who need items moved with transport companies who have the ability to do so. SmartFreight help customers move any items from small parcel right through to oversize mining machine.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Smart Freight helps save you money by posting your job to transport providers who are already travelling on your required route, thus reducing the need for someone to make a costly, dedicated trip. Smart Freight is not a transport company, so we can't answer your specific questions about transit times etc. however we do provide the advanced technology for you to be able to communicate with multiple transport companies, comparing their quotes, before you make a decision on which one suits you most. It is completely free to list your job on Smart Freight and all quotes you receive are under no obligation. Transport companies also benefit from Smart Freight as they get loads cheaply without investing heavily in marketing initiatives. Smart Freight is available 24/7 worldwide.

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

To connect transporters with customers and help customers reduce freight costs and allow transport companies to fully go digital (paperless). We are also seeking to help the African free trade initiative through liberalizing the movement of goods across the continent and beyond.

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

1) Reduces costs for both the customer and the transport companies. 2) International synergies in the freight marketplace and access to international markets for local players. 3) A paperless work environment for transport businesses through cloud based systems.

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

Our targeted beneficiaries are two facetted. 1) Our first and key beneficiaries are the actual freight and cargo owners who need parcels and goods moved from one place to the other both local and international. 2) Our second group of beneficiaries are the Transport companies looking for loads both locally and internationally. Our system helps bring both parties together and allow for fair market in a seamless way.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-20

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

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

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

In my team we have Tanyaradzwa who is a technology expert. He helps with system analysis and cloud computing. He has good experience in the Information technology space having worked with Medical institutions and technology companies as well. He holds a bachelors degree in Information Technology from Harare Institute Of Technology.

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

The website is not yet live

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

c) Industry (equipment, commercial, logistical and professional services, transport)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

One of the ways that African countries have been able to combat climate change induced drought effects is through distribution of food and basic needs to the affected areas. More than 80 percent of the food has arrived to these areas through different freight companies at a higher cost than the goods themselves. With the introduction of Smart Freight, food aid from government, NGOs and general commerce will be transported cheaply thereby reducing the cost of these supplies all together. This in turn will make basic goods more affordable and reduce hunger and poverty drastically.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

African countries have been able to fight hunger through agriculture. However the cost of delivery of the produce to market and the inefficiencies of the value chain offsets the gains the farmers could have realized in a fair, transparent and efficient value chain. With Smart freight, farmers can choose from a wide variety of transporters or even team up with other farmers to meet the minimum loads and attract cheaper freight easily. This safeguards their produce and gives them access to huge markets and the cash gains are a weapon communities use against hunger.

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

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Instead of the aged, women and children having to carry farm produce home, they can now find nearby transporters to help them at a price they can afford without putting themselves at risk. Profits from the transported goods to market can pay for food and medical insurance there by averting the adversities of malnutrition and poor medical care.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Most farmers across Africa are able to afford education for their children and themselves from the profits they make after transporting their produce to market. However they usually lose their produce due to unavailability of affordable transport thwarting their opportunity to fund their families' educational needs. Our platform will especially target these communities and afford them a free platform to find suitable transporters or team up with other farmers to transport their wares.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our system does not segregate between women and men. In fact there is nowhere in our system where either party's gender is highlighted. Our primary focus is on the needs of the customer against what the transporter can offer. The only qualifier is compatibility of customer's cargo with the transporters services. This allows for female transporters to thrive in an environment previously dominated by men.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Our system evens the play field for new transporters to be able to compete with established names and big brands. It also allows those in hard to reach areas to meet their freight needs with local and cheap solutions.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our system is disruptive innovation in the transport business and will create much value for the customers and service providers.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Our system does not segregate on an individuals personal circumstances or financial background. Our system focuses on the basis of genuine customer and genuine service provider. Those are the only circumstances through which we can qualify both parties thereby leaving no room for discrimination.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

With the modules in our system, transport companies no longer need to file physical delivery notes or use paper on any section of their business. Cloud computing now stores them and they are accessible on demand.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Suppliers can now find alternative and cheaper means to transport goods and basic needs to regions affected by the effects of climate change. Farmers can now also transport their farm produce to market efficiently and fight climate change induced poverty.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Smart freight also includes the shipping of goods across seas and oceans. These range from smaller packages to abnormal loads from one continent to the other.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our system help agricultural businesses to efficiently transport their wares. The profits from these harvests will be reinvested in preserving the farmland for future farming seasons.

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

2

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.

2

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

6

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

Currently there is no service in the country or in the region that allows the Customers to choose from a range of service providers all under one platform. There is also no platform that allow service providers to choose loads which they want to transport from the comfort of their offices. Our platform will change that and bring all the players under one roof.

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

Our main customers are other delivery and freight forwarding companies. However, their market niche is too narrow to compete with our platform as they focus on either too small parcels or they act as brokers for the large freight. Their platforms are not freely accessible and customers cannot dictate what they are willing to pay or team up with other cargo owners to be able to meet certain quotas.

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

Yes, we are particularly encouraging female truckers, female truck drivers and female owned and female run businesses to take full advantage of our system to advance their business.