Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Our project leverages AI technology and community-based initiatives to provide clean drinking water and early detection of waterborne contaminants, ensuring safe water access and preventing disease outbreaks.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

Our start-up is dedicated to combating waterborne diseases by combining AI technology with practical community solutions. We provide clean, safe drinking water to vulnerable communities, affordable water filtration devices and strategic partnerships with local water dispensing stores. Additionally, we are developing an AI-based early warning system that uses machine learning and computer vision to detect harmful waterborne bacteria in communal water sources. By training frontline community health workers to use this technology, we enable early detection and prompt intervention to prevent outbreaks. This approach not only addresses immediate water safety needs but also empowers communities to maintain long-term health and resilience.

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

The problem we`re trying to solve is the prevalence of waterborne diseases, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities lacking access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. According to the World Health Organization, 2 billion people globally consume water contaminated with fecal matter. In Kenya, the issue is particularly severe: between October 2022 and March 26, 2023, the country reported over 7,800 cholera cases alone and 122 fatalities. Additionally, since December 2014, Kenya has faced recurrent and significant cholera outbreaks, totaling 17,597 reported cases. These outbreaks are exacerbated by environmental factors such as inadequate sanitation, unplanned urbanization, and floods, impacting especially the 67% of households without access to piped water in their homes.

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).

Our start-up provides bulk clean water through advanced technologies like reverse osmosis, ultraviolet treatment, and ion exchange. This water is distributed to community stores and partner water dispensing locations around Nairobi, ensuring widespread access to safe drinking water at an affordable price of as low as 5 Kenya shillings per litre. This directly addresses the urgent need for clean water in communities lacking reliable piped water access, benefiting over 800,000 people annually. Our AI technology leverages machine learning and computer vision to identify harmful bacteria in water sources. This system is trained to recognize specific bacteria morphologies, such as the comma-shaped Vibrio cholerae and rod-shaped Escherichia coli. By equipping frontline community health workers with this technology, we enable them to regularly test communal water points and identify contaminants early. This proactive approach facilitates timely interventions, such as chlorination.

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

Vulnerable Populations in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas: Our primary focus is on communities that lack reliable access to clean, safe drinking water. This includes urban slum areas and peri-urban regions where piped water infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2022 data, only 33% of households in Kenya have access to piped household water, highlighting the critical need for our solutions. Frontline Community Health Workers: We equip community health workers with AI technology to monitor water quality in real-time. This empowers them to act quickly when contaminants are detected, ensuring that preventive measures are taken before diseases spread. These health workers also play a vital role in educating the community about water safety and hygiene practices.

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

18/08/2022

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 ?

2

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

0

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

Among the other owners, we have a seasoned lab technologist with seven years of experience in laboratory work, particularly focusing on microorganisms. They have been actively involved in responses to waterborne disease outbreaks, providing crucial insights and knowledge that help ensure our technology meets rigorous lab standards. Additionally, we have a software engineer who plays a key role in developing our contaminant detection technology responsible for curating contaminant morphology datasets, establishing training parameters, and implementing the AI algorithms that power our system. Their expertise in software development and machine learning is essential for creating a robust, reliable, and effective solution for identifying harmful water contaminants.

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 :

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

Soins de santé (équipements et services de santé)

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

6

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Cholera is a disease intrinsically linked to poverty, disproportionately affecting populations that lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), factors such as conflict, unplanned urbanization, and climate change exacerbate the risk of cholera outbreaks. Our initiative addresses these critical issues by providing clean drinking water and deploying innovative technology to test for harmful water contaminants. By ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to safe water, we significantly reduce the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases. We empower community health workers to regularly test communal water sources, enabling early detection of contaminants and prompt intervention to prevent outbreaks.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Access to clean water is a fundamental component of good health and well-being. Contaminated water leads to waterborne diseases, which are a significant public health issue globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2 billion people worldwide consume water contaminated with fecal matter, causing diseases such as cholera and dysentery. In Kenya, this problem is acute, with only 33% of households having access to piped water, leading to frequent cholera outbreaks. Between October 2022 and March 2023, Kenya reported over 7,800 cholera cases and 122 fatalities. Since 2014, there have been recurrent outbreaks with 17,597 reported cases, severely affecting vulnerable communities.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Access to clean water and sanitation is essential for maintaining public health and preventing waterborne diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2 billion people worldwide consume water contaminated with fecal matter, leading to severe health issues such as cholera, dysentery, and other waterborne diseases. In Kenya, this issue is particularly pressing. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2022) indicates that only 33% of households have access to piped water at home. Consequently, many vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems, rely on communal water points, which are prone to contamination. The situation is exacerbated by Kenya's recurrent cholera outbreaks. Between October 2022 and March 2023, Kenya reported over 7,800 cholera cases and 122 fatalities. Since December 2014, the country has faced substantial and frequent cholera outbreaks, with a total of 17,597 reported cases.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

5

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

In Kenya, where only 33% of households have piped water, millions of people rely on alternative sources that may be contaminated or unsafe. By providing these settlements with safe, clean, and affordable drinking water, we contribute to several aspects of urban development: Inclusivity: Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right and essential for the well-being of all residents. By ensuring that underserved communities have access to safe water, we promote inclusivity and ensure that no one is left behind. Safety: Unsafe drinking water can pose significant health risks, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. By providing safe drinking water, we mitigate these risks and contribute to the overall safety and well-being of residents. Resilience: Access to safe drinking water is crucial for building resilience in communities, especially in the face of environmental challenges such as droughts, floods, and climate change.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

2

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

2

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

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'

2

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

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

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

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

6

06.08 Justification

While the availability of clean drinking water from water vending kiosks is becoming more widespread within the community, our water contaminant detection technology stands out. This solution leverages the power of magnification through the use of a microscope to identify harmful contaminants in communal water sources. We harness the capabilities of artificial intelligence by training our AI to recognize contaminants based on their distinct morphology. For instance, Vibrio cholerae is identified by its comma-shaped structure, while Escherichia coli is recognized by its rod-shaped form etc. By training our AI to distinguish these and other morphological characteristics, we create a powerful tool for accurate contaminant detection. This offers significant advantages over traditional methods. Unlike expensive single-use chemical test strips, our solution can be used multiple times in the field. Community health promoters can regularly test communal water sources.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

Unlike many water vendors who may produce and distribute water on a smaller scale, we produce clean drinking water in bulk. This bulk production allows us to leverage economies of scale, reducing the overall cost per litre. We then distribute this water to our network of water vending partners. These partners only need to have a water vending machine, significantly lowering their capital costs and enabling them to provide affordable clean water to their communities. This model not only makes our water more accessible but also supports local entrepreneurship. In the harmful water contaminant space, traditional single-use chemical test strips are expensive and limited to labs and hospitals. Our technology, using microscopy to identify contaminants like Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli by their distinct features, offers several advantages: Reusability, Field Usability and a quick turn around time to identify what contaminant is in the water source.

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

Yes, we are actively promoting the role of female entrepreneurs within our community by supporting female-owned water dispensing kiosks. We provide these entrepreneurs with access to clean water for refilling services, enabling them to supply their communities without incurring substantial capital costs. This approach reduces their financial burden as they only need to invest in water vending machines, making it easier for women to start and sustain their businesses. By ensuring a consistent supply of clean water, we help these kiosks become reliable sources within their communities, increasing foot traffic and revenue.