République démocratique du Congo - Projet de création d'entreprise

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Zigida is a crowd-investing platform that helps SMEs in Congo raise capital for expansion and growth. While simultaneously providing investors (locally and in the diaspora) with access to one of the fastest-growing emerging markets in the world.

01.01 Décrivez votre projet en détail

Our project will be a web-based platform with a WhatsApp-based front-end where Congolese Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) that seek to raise funds to expand their operations, can list their businesses. In exchange, members of the public will be investing in those companies and get some equities in return. By doing so we are helping SME's raise funds but also providing Congolese investors (locally and abroad) with investment vehicles. We will charge a commission in exchange for our service, which will ensure our sustainability. By doing so we will be filling an existing gap.

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

Access to capital is the lifeblood of any business, without adequate financing, companies cannot grow their business (or even start in the case of small businesses). Access to finance allows companies to expand production capacity, launch new products or services, enter new markets, improve their infrastructure, hire more employees, and pursue other forms of activities beneficial to the economy at large. According to data from the World Bank, 40.6% of firms in the DRC identified access to finance as a major constraint. The massive gap in companies’ access to finance is found when considering that only 50.6% of firms declared having a checking or savings account, which is a drop from 71% in 2010 (compared to 83.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa). Lastly, according to the same study banks in the DRC only financed 0.9% of investment in the surveyed period. These statistics highlight the depth of the issue our company seeks to address. We aim to solve SME's capital gap and funding.

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

1. Ease of use for SMEs: Through a SaaS based platform accessible via a WhatsApp ChatBots and WhatsApp channel. Most investors can learn about potential businesses to invest in. As for the businesses, listing with us reduces the difficulty faced by trying to raise funds. 2. Access to capital at a lower cost for SMEs: Banks charge exorbitant costs to businesses for lending money to local businesses and less than 2% who apply for those loans get accepted. 3. Safe and secured access to investment opportunities: We will provide a safe, easy, and secure way for investors to make money. We conducted a survey of a local Congolese think tank and it shows that there is an existing market and interests for our service.

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

Small and Medium Entreprises: SME's in the DRC create the most jobs and economic growth yet are not endowed with a supportive system to help them grow.

01.05 Quand avez-vous commencé à travailler sur votre projet ?

01/01/2023

01.06 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires sur votre projet en plus de vous ?

1

01.07 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

0

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

I have studied in Cape Town and London, focusing on business. I have also had previous ventures with more focus on the use of blockchain for improving the financial infrastructure. I have recently concluded an Internship at PWC in the DRC. My partner has studied in Australia and South Africa, currently possessing a Master's degree in international relations and working for an international organisation in the humanitarian field. He has also had previous ventures focusing on the use of chatbots by companies and organisations. So we seek to combine both of our learned experience from previous ventures in this project.

01.09 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 :

01.10 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre projet ?

g) Services financiers

02.01.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

SMEs in the DRC create more jobs than large companies yet they are not endowed with the support they need. By providing them with that financial support they can expand their operation, grow and hire more people which directly reduce poverty.

02.02.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We would like to work with farmers and agro-businesses as well, which will then trickle down by reducing the costs of food through the increase of access.

02.03.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We will also work with businesses that are in the health sector in the same manner as others, by allowing them to list their businesse's on our platform. Which can help them expand their operations.

02.04.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Éducaiton de Qualité'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Considering the nature of the business there is a deeper need for investor and financial education at large. As such we plan to create a lot of content for financial education that will be spread and ideally create program where people learn as well. But SME's doing work in the Education sector are also welcome to list on our platform.

02.05.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We want to give an advantage to female owned businesses and help them access capital, thus contributing to the fight for gender equality.

02.06.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We will also work with businesses that are in the water sanitation sector in the same manner as others, by allowing them to list their businesses on our platform. Which can help them expand their operations.

02.07.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We will also work with businesses that are working on the adoption of affordable and cleaner energy in the same manner as others, by allowing them to list their businesses on our platform. Which can help them expand their operations.

02.08.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

SMEs in the DRC create more jobs than large companies yet they are not endowed with the support they need. By providing them with that financial support they can expand their operation, grow and hire more people which directly reduce poverty.

02.09.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovaiton et Infrastructure'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

As previously mentioned, the current financial infrastructure does not benefit SMEs. Bank loans are rarely given to them and the very few time it is, its at exorbitant interests. We are changing this by making it easy for them to access capital.

02.10.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

SMEs in the DRC create more jobs than large companies yet they are not endowed with the support they need. By providing them with that financial support they can expand their operation, grow, and hire more people which directly reduce inequalities..

02.11.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

4

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.12.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsable'

4

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.13.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Luttle contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

We will also work with businesses that are working on climate action in the same manner as others, by allowing them to list their businesses on our platform. Which can help them expand their operations.

02.14.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.15.01 Mon projetp contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

2

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.16.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.17.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

2

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

05.01 Il existe un grand nombre de clients qui utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire à celui que nous envisageons de créer.

2

05.02 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

6

05.03 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

05.04 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

05.05 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

5

05.06 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer 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

05.07 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

2

05.08 Justification de mon projet

We meeting a demand that is not satisfied by local financial institutions. By connecting our product to WhatsApp in that manner, we are innovating in a sector that has not been yet.

05.09 Qui sont vos principaux potentiels concurrents et qu'est-ce qui vous différencie d'eux ?

There is no one doing it yet.

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

no