Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Rochex is a roach and crawling insect control product designed to effectively get rid of pest in a family-friendly environment

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

We are building a cockroach and pest repellent product which is locally produced from locally sourced materials.

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

COCKROACHES! Cockroaches are the most hated, annoying and prominent household pests that have been running rampant in African homes and becoming a near pandemic recently. Unfortunately, due to their (pests) adaptability and a lack of innovation in this sector, the common household legacy brands which are prominent in stores now have very little efficacy in totally getting rid of the problem resulting in very costly, TOXIC, AND EXPENSIVE option of professional exterminators

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. Reliable results in getting rid of all cockroach species, silverfish, and some fungal growth 2. Cost effective solution compared to professional and forging processes 3. The product is considered safe and family-friendly as long as it is used and applied in adherence to the safety guidelines and not ingested in large amounts - therefore can be applied in inhabited areas, kitchen and places of business 4. Easy application and no need for direct contact with the pests when applying - which is generally the case with spray cans that need you to run around chasing pests around. 5. Gets rid of musty smells caused by cockroach infestations

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

The product serves home owners, tenants, shops, restaurants, office buildings, warehouses and pest control professionals to name a few

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-03-05

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

1

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.)

Leo Muza has 10 years CPG experience playing different marketing-related roles which include digital performance marketing, brand activations, new product launches, field sales team management, commercial management and rewards programs for top FMCG brands including Red Bull, SC Johnson, Coca Cola and Bacardi. Elssie Antonio is a health care professional and business woman based in Australia and active in the Events and Commercial cleaning industry

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

https://www.instagram.com/rochex_sa/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

Cockroaches and other similar pests can carry diseases and infections that can be of harm to humans. They can trigger allergies and asthma, transit disease pathogens and contamination (bacteria, salmonella, e coli, viruses & parasites), contaminate food with their excrete and saliva, as well as cause skin irritation and biting

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Southern African countries tend to have bad water supply and communities mostly store water in buckets which they then use to drink, cook and wash with. This water can be contaminated by cockroaches and other pests in contaminated homes. This increases risks for many diseases including e coli, salmonella, gastrointestinal problems, viruses, and bacteria

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

Most products (if not all products) in the category are imported or owned by the same large multinational companies. Rochex can help develop local economic growth through our fully locally produced products which will create jobs and increase cash flow in local communities

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

There isn't another product like Rochex on the market and we also have other innovative products we can launch and produce as we build a strong and trusted brand. Rochex has the potential of becoming an International brand that is locally produced in the country. This will bring trust to the locally produced brands and pioneer the production of other Consumer Packaged Goods in industries that are largely dominated by large multinational legacy brands who have lost a lot of their efficacy over the years with very little innovation in the category

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Production process of our product aids to the cause as well as our aim to develop sustainable packaging that can easily be recyclable

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our main active ingredient is a naturally occurring chemical which is water soluble. It is also naturally present in soil, vegetables and fruits - which makes it not dangerous to the environment in its small amounts and can also be cleaned off applied areas with a damp towel after use

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

The product is not poisonous to the pests therefore not spreading harmful chemicals which can potentially ruin other crawling insects but only makes the area inhabitable from the shard-like powder and kills them if only internally swallowed by the pests - forcing the greater clusters to move and seek shelter elsewhere

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

2

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.

4

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

3

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

2

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

6

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

3

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.

5

05.08 Justification

Although the active ingredient in our product has been available - it has not been particularly used the way we are using it and not produced for the particular problem. Let me put it this way, people do not by products - they buy brands, and people have not used this product simply because it hasnt been built in to a brand with a chemical formular to especially work in households

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

Are major competitors are : Doom, Baygon, Mortein, Raid and Efekto. We particularly stand out as our product has a higher efficacy which we have measured and compared their effectiveness. Rochex is also the only powder-based product and not an aerosol which makes application and longevity of effectiveness much higher than spray - which significantly less irritation on skin, eyes and accidental ingestion and inhalation . Rochex also gets rid of fungus and musty smells whereas our competitor products usually have a bad smell .

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

I often work with female freelancers to aid my business operations when needed