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Thank you for your interest in applying to be a Sinapis 2013 Entrepreneur Fellow! Our next application process will begin this fall. Please check back for updates!
Sinapis 2012 Entrepreneur Cohort:
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Anthony Ngugi - Baobantu NaturalsAnthony Ngugi holds a diploma in Management and a Certificate in Agriculture as well as professional training in natural products marketing, processing and SME product development and has a commensurate working experience in Kenya’s agribusiness horticultural export sub sector with in-depth understanding of Kenya's horticultural supply chains from 'farm to fork'. His company, Baobantu Naturals is an agro-processor involved in the manufacture and marketing of 100% natural products that provide wholesome nutrition in addition to promoting good health and wellness. Baobantu Naturals are the pioneers for baobab products in Kenya, they seek to build strong brands around their two main products which are: BaoVita (a raw food supplement) and BaoDerm specialty cosmetic oil) both derived from the baobab fruit tree. These products have a dense nutritional profile and also aids in alleviating an array of conditions in the body. Baobantu Naturals is targeting at least 3 million consumers for their baobab products in Kenya. The baobab market in USA is young and unsaturated with an annual growth rate of 13% (UNICTAD 2009). The fresh avocado market in the EU is large and supply has all time been lower than demand. It is expected demand will outstrip supply potentials in the next decade. They have had several inquiries from international buyers for both their baobab and fresh avocado. |
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Daniel Mwaura - BuildMart CommoditiesDaniel Mwaura is an Architect with 13 years’ experience in the construction industry and is very conversant with the market trends and requirements. Also on the team are a qualified and experienced Engineer and a Fabricator. BuildMart Commodities specializes in the BuildMart Block, a concrete interlocking block with a unique but simple locking system that allows construction of any kind of wall without the use of wet mortar. They aim to package the blocks not as single units but as a new Construction System by partnering with other product providers to ensure the construction of any building with minimum wet construction. The BuildMart construction system using the BuildMart Block and other non-wet construction components, make it possible to drastically reduce the cost and period of construction. The elimination of high extractive costs to the environment together with reduced waste makes the BuildMart construction system resource and energy efficient and hence environmental friendly. |
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Denis Karema - Usalama Innovative Systems, LTDDenis Karema is the Director of Usalama Innovate Systems and begun his first business at the age of 10. He is a Computer Science graduate and has worked in the Information Technology sector since 2008 carrying out numerous projects in East Africa. His colleague Mr. Tolbert Omini is also a director of the company. He is a Computer Science graduate and has been developing internal banking systems for a leading bank since 2008. Usalama Innovate Systems seeks to address the rampant cases of fraud related to ATM cards where owners of cards lose all their money once someone else has access to their ATM and PIN. The product, UsalamaPIN, targets bank account holders and commercial banks in the region. The product will encourage people to utilize bank services to access money through the ATMs at any time or place confidently and without fear. The product also reduces the amount of money that fraudsters have access to thereby discouraging the fraud. The product also gives real-time information on occurring ATM frauds thus giving law enforcement accurate information to respond to. This is a system that reduces the amounts lost through ATM fraud by up to 90%. |
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Denis Onyango - Admass MediaDennis Onyango worked with Barclays Bank, Fina Bank (Sales and Marketing) and in the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (in the Digital Media Broadcast Research Department). He is currently consulting for EC Associates for an online Health Journalism program for Universidade de Politecnica, Maputo, Mozambique. AdMass Media is a digital media company that provides infrastructure, services and technology to enable interactive digital television on terrestrial, on mobile and online for the Kenyan and global audience. It seamlessly mediates many to many viewer interactions among producers, programmers, advertisers, and merchants by providing a common platform for each of the major industry segments. Admass Media will support the creation and publishing of digital content by eliminating the need for new infrastructure development by producers and publishers while offering the augmented reality that is the television, mobile and internet. |
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Dominic Mbiriri - BEI Naffu Ltd.Dominic Mbiriri is the CEO, Innovator and Technical director of BEI Nafuu Ltd. He obtained a degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant –CPA(k)Part 2. Dominic also has a diploma in Digital innovation. Bei Nafuu is a Virtual trading platform whose core business is provision of SMS offline and online trading services accessible via www.beinafuu.co.ke and short code 4231, and it integrates money transfer, insurance of good in-transit services and deliver all of which are interfaced with a settlement that will credit the merchants’ bank accounts in real time as paid via MPESA. Bei Nafuu business model is on the cutting edge of technology: it leverages existing GSM network& banking platforms to deliver amazing convenience for everyday shopper! Potential customers include 25 million mobile phone users and about 4 million internet users in the country in addition to about 2 million merchants/manufacturers. Globally targeting Diaspora remittances via U.S. PayPal. |
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Edwards Hawi - Grassroots Water Ltd.Edwards Hawi is the CEO of Grassroots Water Ltd and holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the Association of Business Executives (UK) and is currently a final year student of Bachelor of Business Administration at the regional center of the University Of Sunderland at the Intel College Nairobi. Grassroots Water Limited is a social enterprise that aims at fulfilling the low income consumer gap that has been left by other drinking water producers. The company plans to set up water refill stations serving the lower end of the market thereby helping them to enjoy health benefits associated with drinking clean and safe water. Grassroots Water Ltd will help households get access to affordable treated drinking water through a water refill business which will focus on the lower end. The company will operate a water treatment plant with a capacity of producing 2000 l/h. The plant will use ultra violet filter to purify water. The company also plans to set up water refill stations that will reduce the cost of accessing clean and safe drinking water. |
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Eric Shikuku - Green City Clayworks ProjectEric Shikuku and Phillip Odniambo are the founders of Green City Clayworks Project (GCc.P) is a construction enterprise seeking to introduce into the Kenyan market two building interlocking products - concrete works and clay works. GCc.P is to be a coalition between Abahelwa Welfare Society (AWS), a non-profit organization and an implementing partner, Green Achievers Education Centre (GAEC) Limited, a registered company, limited by shares. The Project proposes to set up an innovative Public Private Partnership with the National Housing Corporation with two main goals: to firstly manufacture interlocking cement-stabilized compressed earth blocks, curved concrete blocks and to source and stock basic building; to use the building materials for its own development of 2-bedroom-self-contained-floor-3-storey low-cost housing units on 50x100 plots (which are poised to become the blue-print for civil servant housing, police housing as well as local council housing schemes to be able to offer decent and affordable accommodation), storm-water control and rain-water harvesting facilities for sale; and secondly to contract construction services for individual households and institutions, which we may supply building materials; and to reap from carbon credits achieved in the course of our green activities. |
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Francis Marekla - Tishyu Paper Company Ltd.Francis Marekia holds a Masters in Development Economics and an MBA and has over 20 years’ experience in project development and management fields. Tishyu Paper Company Ltd is seeking to establish a new toilet/tissue paper manufacturing facility in Nairobi, Kenya, using Chinese-sourced machinery and equipment. The current total toilet tissue market size in Kenya is currently conservatively estimated to be worth between Kshs2.5 billion to Kshs 5.0 billion (USD $30-$60 million) per annum. Through a commissioned market research of the key middle and low-income areas within and around Nairobi, specifically, in the following sub-regions of Nairobi and its environs, the research indicated that there is scope for a new entrant with targeted marketing. With initial investment being relatively low, the project model, once successful in a location like Nairobi, could subsequently been replicated in other towns of the country so as to save on transportation costs of the final bulky product to distant markets with the possibility of having many satellite toilet paper manufacturing projects across the country, which would complement and provide synergies to one another. |
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James Opot - IdeaHutchJames Opot and Tony Opot are brothers who are driven with a passion for design and functionality. James Opot is a trained Accountant, with experience in Business Planning and Finance, including tenures as a Financial Controller. James is also an advanced user of Adobe Flash with training from Zetech College as well as an avid user of Animate Pro. Tony Opot is a 3rd year IBA student at USIU focusing in the area of marketing, advertising, and communications and is also learning ToonBoom Animate Pro and AutoDesk Maya applications. IdeaHutch seeks to create unique curriculum specific education software products for the Kenyan primary school child to develop their math and science skills. IdeaHutch has embarked on creating E-Soma Study Pack which is a comprehensive suite of self-paced educational computer software specifically designed for the Kenyan upper primary pupil undertaking the 8-4-4 syllabus. The modules utilize media-rich resources in a unique format brought to digital life with graphics, animations and sound to create rich educational experiences. |
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Lois Gicheru - Solafrique Ltd.Lois Gicheru is the founder of Solafrique Limited. Lois holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Double Major in Finance and Accounting and has been running her own businesses for the past six years and has provided business development services to start ups in the Information Technology industry. Solafrique are distributors for solar generators, which are renewable energy substitutes for diesel generators. They offer clients clean, cost effective and uninterrupted power supply with an added benefit of cash inflows from the carbon revenue sharing scheme with the business. Solafrique will satisfy this growing need by offering an affordable renewable energy option that not only results in cost savings but an added incentive of cash inflows from the carbon revenue sharing scheme with the company. Solafrique brings to the market the solar generators which will provide a clean, uninterrupted and cost effective power supply for not only users in the rural off grid areas but also businesses in the urban areas thus reducing the economy’s reliance on fossil fuel and catalyzing the growth of the green economy. |
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Moses Thiga - NIPATE Ltd.Moses Thiga is a Computer Science graduate with six years in systems development and three years as an IT entrepreneur, currently working on a PhD in Information Systems (Kabarak University). NIPATE is a location based SMS marketing platform for use mainly by the SME sector. It works by obtaining contact and location information from service providers. This information is subsequently accessed by potential clients via SMS by sending a location and service to a designated short code. The system then responds with at least 5 contacts of the providers found on the system and also informs the providers of the inquiry. NIPATE targets Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s), providers of hard to find professional services and organizations all who have products and services to offer but lack the finances to use conventional marketing channels or who wish to share their contact information with the general public as their potential clients often times do not know where to find them. |
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Samuel Waaithaka - MyPlaceIdSamuel Waithaka is the Founder of MyPlaceld and has been in the technology industry for the last seven years after graduating from the University of Nairobi having majored in Physics. He is also an experienced software developer with over five years’ experience. His business partners are Karen Mungai, a Project Manager with a Bachelor in Computer Science degree, currently pursuing her masters in computer science and Gabriel Saka (User Interface Designer) a highly talented and creative designer. He studied design at Nairbits School of Arts and specialized in graphic design, as well as web design making him an expert in designing a functional and appealing user experience. MyPlaceId is a web application that provides a standard code for the desktop, laptop or mobile phone, for storing addresses and is portable for easier and accurate sharing. People can share their 'Id's' with friends and family or share information about places and in the process create a platform for carrying out projects and ventures that will better those places through various collaborations. MyPlaceld will seek to integrate itself in the business and social communities in order to make accessibility easier for both social and business purposes. |
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Spencer Owuor - Spestravelocity Ltd.Spencer Owuor is the founder and Chief Executive Office of Spestravelocity Ltd. He holds a degree in Science from a predominantly agricultural university where he had an opportunity to see how proper animal husbandry is practiced. He has ten years’ experience in Business Management after working for companies like Barclays and Diageo (East Africa Breweries Ltd). Spestravelocity Ltd is commercial indigenous free range poultry farming, processing and marketing business whose objective is to transform indigenous poultry farming from a village livelihood earning activity to a modern commercially viable business. The poultry will be reared on a ten-acre farm in the rural Kisumu County where the infrastructure (such as fencing, poultry houses, etc.) is already in place. Though the company has a small incubation machine, it will primarily source day old chicks from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute which is breeding and selling them at affordable prices. Once the capacity of the 10 acres has been met, Spestravelocity Ltd will start contracting with farmer groups to raise more on their behalf but will train them on proper breeding practices. The company hopes to sell two thousand birds per month regionally and ten thousand per month nationally once well established. |
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Susan Njuguna - Kenya Environment Managment Ltd.Susan Njuguna is the Managing Director of Kenya Environment Management Ltd and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. She has 19 years’ experience in administration and logistics management. She possesses good leadership and organizational skills, strong customer relations and interpersonal skills, as well as excellent communication and presentation skills. Kenya Environment Management Ltd. is a company that is involved in the conservation of the environment, by reducing carbon emission into the atmosphere. Kenya Management Ltd’s current activity is the production Briquettes from biomass waste such as charcoal dust, sawdust, molasses and paper. Kenya Environment Management’s briquetting activities will reduce the need for tree logging for fuel wood, and reduce biomass waste from the environment, thus mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. |
Alumni Entrepreneurs Graduating from Sinapis Program in 2011:
Ernest Jura
Ernest Jura has an undergraduate degree in Computing from the University of Sunderland, a higher Diploma in Information Systems management from Strathmore University and a Certification in Information Security Management. Ernest’s work on developing the Ministry of Health’s NASCOP (National AIDS and STD Control Program) and ART(Anti-Retroviral Therapy) System has given him a great understanding of how the healthcare system operates, the challenges it faces and the practical know-how on how to best to leverage technology to improve healthcare. During his professional experiences, he realized the most significant challenge for healthcare professionals is managing information. It is currently very difficult for doctors to share information with other healthcare providers and provide the required information to labs, pharmacies and insurance companies. To solve this challenge, Ernest created a proprietary online healthcare IT system called Collabmed that can safely share information among healthcare players and ultimately allow doctors to spend more time providing superior medical services. Collabmed placed 1st in the 2009 Chora Bizna Business Plan competition out of 900 applicants.
Wachira Kariuki
Wachira Kariuki has both an MBA and a CPA with over 10 years of experience in business administration, distribution management, and manufacturing. Having been a small-scale dairy farmer himself, he started Ruring’u Milk Centre with a desire to help the primary producers of milk in both processing and marketing their products. His business has been in operation since September 2007, initially operating by simply buying milk from farmers in bulk and reselling it to processors. He quickly realized that because of the relationships he had built with the farmers, he could process the milk himself and capture a significantly larger portion of the profits. In April 2009, he started processing the milk under the brand name Classic and selling it to large retail centers to the Nairobi market. Now he has realized he can further leverage his valuable network of farmers by collecting and processing grain and selling it back to the same farmers as livestock feed. This will also increase his market share in the milk business, as it will allow many farmers to consolidate their processing of both milk and grain into one entity.
Francescah Munyi
Francescah Munyi is a self-trained entrepreneur from rural Kenya. After realizing that farmers who have relied heavily on synthetic fertilizers that have left their soils very unproductive, Francescah started a marketing and distribution company for a new organic fertilizer called Rotuba in partnership with a local scientist who developed a compound that increases both the size and quantity of agricultural yield. She has targeted small and medium sized farms to introduce her product as an affordable, easy to apply, harmless alternative to synthetic fertilizers that will reduce the farmer's cost of farming and improve their output.
