AYAN

A platform where rural women can showcase thier products and crafts to the world, in order to increase sales and alleviate proverty.

Ikeade is a hardworking single mother of three beautiful girls; she lives with her children in a room apartment in Oshogbo, Osun-state Nigeria. 

Ikeade is a gifted artisan, she makes bags from scrambled clothes, which she gets from her tailor and neighbors, sometimes buy leather from the market.  

Her designs are very unique, neatly done and well designed. 

Unfortunately, she barely gets enough money to feed her children; none of them are in school because she can't afford school fees. though she lives in a single room with her children,  she is still behind on her rent of 3500 naira per month. 

Even though she designs good bags, she is unable to reach the right customers who will appreciate her products and also have the ability to pay a good profitable price for her products. 

She lives in a community where women's businesses or arts are not appreciated, hence the lack of good sales. 

She also lacks the business knowledge to market a product or grow a business, coupled with lack of capital. 

Ikeade represents 70% of rural African women, who works effortlessly to provide for their family through their crafts but are unable to grow the business to a profitable level.  

Our solution is to create a platform where these women can showcase their products /crafts to the world and reach a wider range of customers, in order to increase sales and alleviate poverty. We will educate them on how to improve their business and products.  We will also connect them with financial organizations that are willing to support small scale businesses. 

Majority of women in rural areas lack the ability to take advantage of technology to boost their business.  This is mostly due to lack of education,  capital and information.  

Ayan will empower these women by creating a platform where can reach a wider range of customers.  

We will also educate them on how to grow thier businesses. 

Living among these women in the last six years,  has enlightened me about their struggles and limitations. 

I have also witness their relentless ability to contribute to the community even with limited resources.  

In conclusion, we know ourselves, we have studied, experienced and encounter the different stages of business growth and only we, can empower and guide one another in the process of business growth.

Ayan will impact the lives of young girls and women in  rural parts of Africa.  Our solution will bring both financial and intellectual empowerment to any rural woman who has the ability to turn her resources to a product.  As well as a range customers worldwide. 

We will reach these women one on one through our trained workers who will educate and assist them In making their products visible online. 

Tracking of each seller's weekly activities - Over 3000 women sellers on the website

Tracking of each daily sales but returned and completed sales - Over 500000 completed sales record.

Frequent review and ratings from both customers and sellers. - 5 Star customer and seller's ratings

We will be using an e-commerce platform to connect people around the world to gain access to rural women's products. 

Even though the use of e commerce isn't a new innovation,  we will use this familiar platform to create new opportunities and growth for rural women. 

Ayan is centered around the financial and intellectual empowerment of rural women.  These women occupy the highest percentage of the population in undeserved communities. 

Women in rural areas lack access to the global market and face a society where their works ain't appreciated.  This is what we stand to change. 

"when you empower a woman,  you are automatically empowering the next generation" unknown 

Our solution will be accessible through our websites and local workers.  We understand that majority of these women can not read or write,  we will therefore train workers who can speak their local languages. 

These workers will train the women and also act as their account officers who will manage their businesses online. 

Yes,  our solution will be affordable as we will only charge them commission after sales. 

We intend to raise funds through acceleration programs, government funding and angel investors. 

The project is currently limited by lack of funding to develop the website and app.  

We also need volunteers from each African countries in order to break the language barrier in communicating with rural women who can't understand or speak English. 

I discovered SOLVE while checking for acceleration programs.  I believe SOLVE have the ability to help us pilot and grow this solutions.  

SOLVE can also help us by connecting us with different organizations or individuals who can help make this project a success. 

Ayan currently do not have any partner. 

E commerce platforms in Africa are our main competitiors such as Konga and jumia