Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

BettaCoal is a smokeless and affordable solid cooking fuel made from agricultural waste that helps low-income households and small businesses in Nigeria cut the cost of cooking energy while saving them from harmful cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

BettaCoaloal Energy is a sustainable energy start-up that seeks to help low-income households and small food businesses in Nigeria cut the cost of their cooking energy expenses while saving their lives from harmful cooking fuels like charcoal and firewood. The business converts the abundant agricultural wastes in Nigeria such as rice husk, sawdust, coconut shells, corn cobs, etc., to make and sell smokeless, affordable, and palatable cooking fuel for the poor Nigerians. The business also makes well-designed improved cook stoves one of which is battery-powered and is used in cooking in modern kitchens without stains.

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

Nigeria is a country that’s blessed with abundant resources including crude oil and a high potential for hydroelectric power, however, access to good cooking fuel sources like electricity in the country has been a very big problem. Cooking gas, on the other hand, has been very expensive, particularly to low-income households and small businesses that barely earn enough income to feed their families. As a result, over 60% of poor Nigerian households rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking and heating. These cooking fuels are so dangerous and pose several health problems to users including chaste pains, eye pains, and even death. The worst victims of these challenges are women and children who face these dangerous cooking fuels every day of their lives trying to prepare meals for their families. According to the World Health Organization, over 90,000 Nigerian women and children die every year as a result of smoke inhalation while cooking with firewood.

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. As compared to firewood and charcoal which emits dangerous smoke that causes users health problems, BettaCoal fuel is smokeless and gives users a smoke-free cooking experience 2. BettaCoal fuel burns 3 times longer than charcoal and firewood. Plus, a kilogram of BettaCoal costs N150 and can take a family of 5 people to cook a meal at least once, making it more economical 3. BettaCoal fuel is 80% stainless and is well packaged for easy handling and transportation 4. BettaCoal stoves saved 40% of energy and ensure the cleanness of people's kitchen spaces 5. It is made from agricultural waste, ensuring sustainability and constant availability 6. Using BettaCoal fuel enables you to cut down your carbon footprint and contribute significantly to the sustainability of the environment for the next generation to come.

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

BettaCoal sells directly to customers, businesses, and organizations. Our customers include poor households in urban and semi-urban areas of Nigeria with minimum family sizes of 3 people, and businesses like restaurants, poultry farms, BBQ, roadside foods, wholesale stores, and supermarkets, etc., as well as organizations like boarding schools and churches.

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

05/05/2022

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 ?

4

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

2

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

1. Bem Yangeun is a multidisciplinary designer and team player with expertise in UX design, web design, and team building. He delivers user-centered solutions, drives collaborative innovation, and fosters a culture of creativity. With a human-centered design approach, Bem crafts intuitive projects that put users first, driving business success. Bem is currently the Chief Technology Officer of BettaCoal 2. Sikih Christiana is a graduate of fisheries and Aquaculture but has remarkable experience in management and accounting. Her top skills include human resource management and data analysis. She is currently the Production Manager and Data Officer of BettaCoal Energy. 3. Terhemba Nicholas is a multi-talented marketer with 4+ years of experience in digital marketing. He is currently the Marketing Officer of BettaCoal Energy. 4. Ujah Jecintha is an undergraduate in Agricultural Extension and Communication. She is a scriptwriter and a presenter, with great customer engagement skills.

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://www.facebook.com/BettaCoal?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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

Énergie (équipements, services, énergie durable et fossiles)

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

6

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

BettaCoal Energy intentionally introduced a poverty alleviation strategy into its work by providing local women within its host community the opportunity to join its value chain and earn extra income. The project empowers the women with technical skills and resources to turn their farm residual into coal fine which is further used to make BettaCoal fuel. Currently, about 75 of these women have been trained and each of them earns at least between N3000-N5000 a week which is added to their farm income to take care of their family needs.

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

3

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

The smoke emissions from harmful cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal cause users health problems including eye pain, chaste pain, and even death. The World Health Organization in 2019 reported that about 90,000 Nigerian women and children die every year due to smoke inhalation from harmful cooking fuels, and if nothing is done to curb the menace, by 2030, Nigeria will lose about 500,000 people to dangerous cooking fuels only. BettaCoal is addressing this problem by providing them with a solid cooking fuel that's smokeless and burns steadily without sparks giving them a harmless cooking experience. Currently, over 300 people are using BettaCoal across Nigeria which also means that 300 poor Nigerians no longer experience smoke inhalation while cooking, keeping their health safe from the effects of harmful cooking fuels. This contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good health and well-being.

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'

5

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

BettaCoal Energy recognizes the importance of gender equality in societies and supports its existence by involving women in all phases of its workforce, starting from its Co-founders, through the employees, to direct beneficiaries. Currently, 2 out of the 5 Co-founders of BetteCoal are ladies. 4 out of the 10 employees are women and 75+ women are empowered under the project work and earn income. We hope to do more as the business grows further.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

BettaCoal is by itself a clean and sustainable cooking energy that seeks to avert the problem of cooking energy poverty and its consequences in Nigeria and across Africa. The business is currently supplying 300 households and over 50 businesses with its amazing cooking fuel and stoves across 5 states in Nigeria including Abuja and Lagos, contributing to the achievement of the UN sustainable development goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy for all.

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

4

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

4

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

3

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

4

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

3

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, and convert it to fresh oxygen which is used by animals including humans. However, in Nigeria, due to the lack of clean and affordable cooking fuels, trees are the major source of cooking energy. An equivalent of 5000 hectares of woodland is consumed in Nigeria for fuel every year. Instead of using trees as a source of cooking fuels, BettaCoal converts agricultural wastes into cooking fuel. According to climate scientists, an average tree absorbs 0.02tons of carbon dioxide annually, meanwhile, 1ton of BettaCoal is equivalent to 16.6 average trees. Since the inception of BettaCoal Energy, we have produced about 300 tons of BettaCoal saving 300X16.6=5000trees. If 1 tree absorbs 0.02 tons of carbon dioxide, 5000 trees will absorb 0.02X5000=100 tons of carbon dioxide every year. This means that BettaCoal has so far saved 5000 trees and prevented 100+ tons of carbon dioxide thereby mitigating climate change.

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

4

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

4

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

2

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'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

BettaCoal Energy believes in the powers of partnership and has used it to achieve great feats in its short time of existence. In two years, BettaCoal Energy has been able to win two international competitions, one in Bonn Germany, and the other in San Juan Puerto Rico. The project has also been able to reduce unemployment in Nigeria and contributed greatly to SGD 1, 3, 7, and 13. All this wouldn't have been possible without the powers of partnership. The business first started as a student project and was supported by my university making them the first partner of the project. Enactus Nigeria after endorsing the project as a great innovation provided it the platform to join the two Enactus-based international competitions which earned a total funding capital of about 15 million Naira. Today the BettaCoal is in partnership with over 6 organizations/institutions including construction companies as well as distribution companies.

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

4

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

4

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

6

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

4

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

6

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

4

06.08 Justification

Products like BettaCoal fuel exist in places like Kenya and Rwanda but it is an entirely new product in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State where the business is located. The uniqueness of our product lies in the fact that it's made from the abundant waste agricultural materials in Nigeria which are usually burnt to ashes by farmers. Unlike many other briquettes from other companies that emit little smoke, BettaCoal recognizes that gap and intentionally makes its product absolutely smokeless and 80% stainless for easy usage and handling. BettaCoal uses a high-pressure machine that compresses its product with a greater density, making it burn for a very long time.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

Across Africa we have companies like Zaacoal, Safi Coal, GreenbyAfrica, etc., however, in Nigeria, no noticeable company is making a product as BettaCoal fuel. This means no significant competitors of BettaCoal fuel exist in the country. Lump charcoal which already existed before BettaCoal is about 3X less effective than BettaCoal in terms of efficiency and economic benefits, making BettaCoal the top product in the market in the country.

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

Yes. Through one of my community development projects called Flow-Freedom, where I trained 100 adolescent girls in an all-girls school in Kano State to make reusable sanitary pads to help them fight period poverty, I extended my entrepreneurial knowledge to the young girls, explaining to them entrepreneurship as a pathway to financial freedom and the need for every young person to adopt it. This part of the program to fulfill one of the goals of Flow-Freedom which was to teach the ladies how to sell their produced reusable sanitary pads to other people to make income. The young girls were taught how to fund small businesses and basic marketing skills to help them sell their products.