Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

This is a creator-to-consumer commerce platform where content creators not only recommend products and services through their content, but also sell directly to their audiences through their creator shops and earn a revenue share from the total sales.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

Kuzaplus brings together three parties: Businesses seeking to increase their sales and brand awareness through content creators; Content creators seeking to monetize their content or add an additional income stream; and the consumers seeking to buy products recommended by creators

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

Kuzaplus solves two main problems: 1. Many creators lack access to brand deals and endorsements, leaving them largely unable to monetize their content and unable to earn a meaningful income despite having a meaningful and valuable reach that could be utilized by brands. 2. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot afford the high fees charged by top content creators, preventing them from leveraging creator marketing to promote their businesses. These problems can be better understood in context of the status quo in the market whereby: a. Creators are heavily dependent on brand deals for income, which limits their ability to focus on direct-to-consumer strategies. b. Many creators lack the tools, platform, or knowledge needed to effectively market and sell products directly to their audience. c. Brands, on the other hand, must pay substantial fees upfront to creators without any assurance of sales performance.

01.03 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service fourni par votre startup (au moins 3).

1. Creation of Employment - Kuzaplus utilizes social media as a tool to empower the millions of young people to be self-employed in the industry of content creation. 2. Supporting SMEs - Kuzaplus avails a cost-effective means through which SMEs can take their products to market with a reduced risk on capital specifically on marketing expenses. 3. Taking commerce to the next level - E-commerce has largely struggled in Kenya, and Africa at large because it mostly lacks the social element. Africans/Kenyans prefer to buy from people they know. Kuzaplus through Creator commerce bridges that gap and will help propel commerce in Africa to the next level.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adresse le produit/service de votre startup. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

There are two main beneficiaries in the Kuzaplus ecosystem: 1. Content creators - Any young person with some following online can sign up as a content creator and start benefitting from creator commerce. 2. Small and Medium size business owners will be able to take their products to market, and have an extensive distribution system like never before.

01.05 Quand votre entreprise a-t-elle été créée ?

14/10/2023

01.06 Vendez-vous déjà votre produit/service ?

Oui

01.07 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires de votre entreprise en plus de vous ?

1

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

1

01.09 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre startup (compétences, expérience, etc.).

My co-founder, Miss. Farida Kawira, has a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance specialty, and is also a CPA-K. She serves as the CFO to Kuzaplus, as well as creator manager.

01.10 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

https://kuzaplus.com/

01.11 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre entreprise ?

Autre : Commerce & Marketing

02.01.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Kuzaplus contributes to the goal of ending poverty in all its forms by enabling anyone who can access a mobile phone and a camera, to be able to earn a meaningful income, without any limitation! Anyone can sign up as a content creator and put in effort to convert whatever form of audience into paying customers. Kuzaplus also contributes to this goal by supporting small and medium size enterprises, which employ millions of people, to generate revenue through support in product awareness and distribution.

02.02.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

5

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.03.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

6

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

A lack of income can negatively impact the well-being of an individual. Having a meaningful income is a rightful step towards good health and well-being. Kuzaplus contributes to this goal by empowering young people, who are more likely to suffer from mental health issues as a result of a lack of income, to earn meaningfully from own efforts.

02.04.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Éducation de Qualité'

3

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.05.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Kuzaplus does not discriminate based on gender in any way. Women, who are more likely to be discriminated based on gender, stand to gain even more as they are the majority in content creation. Kuzaplus does not use gender as a factor in allocating campaigns and collaborations. We employ a no-barrier approach on our platform.

02.06.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

3

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.07.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

3

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.08.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Kuzaplus provides individuals with the opportunity to decent work in marketing through content creation. Individuals get an opportunity to collaborate and earn through the products that they regularly use and interact with. This income derived creator commerce goes towards economic growth. The support of SMEs also builds economic growth. SMEs are supported to build their revenues, in turn they will be able to expand, employ more people and collectively grow the economy.

02.09.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovation et Infrastructure'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

First, Kuzaplus democratizes access to brand deals and collaborations for creators. Kuzaplus does this through centralized products and promotions access and allowing creators of all sizes to access them. Secondly, Kuzaplus provides a cost-effective marketing for SMEs. This is an industry innovation that eliminates the high upfront fees and instead utilizes a performance-based compensation system. Third, Kuzaplus provides an enhanced consumer engagement model that is more personalized based on favorite creators, who promote products that they genuinely endorse. Finally, Kuzaplus provides a system in whole that is flexible and scalable.

02.10.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

6

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Kuzaplus supports reduced inequalities through

02.11.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

6

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Sustainable cities are built on the inhabitants being able to support themselves, and reduced dependency. By empowering individuals to build a source of income, Kuzaplus indirectly helps build sustainable cities and communities.

02.12.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsables'

5

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

By facilitating a direct creator-to-consumer model, Kuzaplus helps reduce overproduction and waste associated with traditional retail models. Kuzaplus also contributes towards reduced wastage on resources by SMEs specifically in marketing and product distribution.

02.13.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques'

3

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.14.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

3

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.15.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

3

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.16.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

4

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.17.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

4

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

06.01 Un grand nombre de clients utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire au nôtre.

7 = Tout à fait d'accord

06.02 Notre produit/service représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

6

06.03 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

6

06.04 Notre produit/service est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

3

06.05 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

6

06.06 Notre produit/service répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.07 Notre produit/service est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

2

06.08 Justification

The Creator-to-Consumer Model is completely new in the Kenyan market, and most of Africa. There is currently no centralized platform that allows for content creators to partner with local brands for brand awareness and product sales, through a performance-based compensation model. Kuzaplus is a response to the need of content creators needing to monetize their content without any other alternative means to brand deals and endorsements.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

There are two potential competitors. Wowzi - wowzi is a creator commerce platform that helps businesses access influencers for brand promotion deals. Twiva - is a social commerce platform that helps businesses manage their influencer-based campaigns. Kuzaplus stands out from both Wowzi and Twiva in that it is focused on direct sales and conversions through creators. Kuzaplus is all about empowering creators with an autonomy in managing and earning from their craft. Creators get to pick what brand products to work with instead of waiting for businesses to pick them.

11.05 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes entrepreneurs ?

Yes, first by partnering with a female co-founder, and secondly choosing to build an industry (creator marketing) that is female dominated.