Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Viridi Solutions is a company within growth stage specialising in the production of vegetable based industrial and automotive lubricants or oils.The company specialzes in production of green innovative solutions in the energy sector.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Viridi Solutions is into manufacturing of ester or vegetable based lubricants such as transformer oil,hydraulic oil ,gear oil,turbine oil,marine oils and food grade lubricants.These lubricants are manufactured from seeds such as soyabean,castor oil and rapeseed.This oils is environmentally good,fire proof and biodegradable.It has been tested in the local market and proved the best in substituting mineral based lubricants.

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

Viridi Solutions is solving the issue of pollution were mineral oils would pollute if spilled into the environment but our ester based are biodegradable hence they can fit in any environment even in most senstive ones without polluting.Viridi oils are also fire proof because of high flash point thus losing transformers or electricity infrastructure is reduced by adopting this technology.This is a local product which is being manufactured locally so imports are also reduced and can be exported to first world where technology has been fully embraced.

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 advantage is that Viridi oils are environmentally friendly compared to mineral oils.This include being fire proof,biodegradable and does not cause cancer. The oil is being manufactured locally with local resources hence it will improve our production value chains from farming till the final product.With that most people are going to be employed and benefit along the value chain. The Viridi oils are also being manufactured at a favourable cost thus the price of the oils are competitive compared to mineral oils.

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

The project is targeting the industry that is were oils and lubricants are needed. Our major targets include Electricity Distribution and Transmission companies, Mining companies because of their environmental sensitive plea,Food manufacturing industry and Marine Industry.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2019-10-09

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.)

Patience Moyo is co-founder.

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

https://x.com/coleckheart?t=PNgCV5K3H3XtE69SwW0MJw&s=08

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Viridi will have out grower scheme were soyabean oil extracted some is channelled to food industry and some to stock feed and eventually other to lubricants manufacturing.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

We supply food from our processes.

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Good food from our by products.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Will sponsor underprivileged to school

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Employ more women.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

No pollution of water.

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 oil is from renewable source which is clean and non polluting.The oils are environmentally friendly.

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

Provide work for all.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

We are manufacturing and have an innovation.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Everyone has good working conditions.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Clean energy supported.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Yes

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Yes

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

6

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Yes

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Yes

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

6

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Yes

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Yes

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.

5

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.

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Viridi Solutions is the first company in Zimbabwe to be manufacturing Ester based lubricants from vegetables and second in Africa to have such technology.

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

Main potential customers include electricity companies,mining companies and other manufacturing industry. Main competition are lubricants distribution companies such as Total, Engen and others

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

Yes.most of our contract farmers are women.