MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

HerYaHer.com

One-line solution summary:

Connecting the World to the Opportunities and Future of Learning, Work and Trade with Focus on the Female Gender

Pitch your solution.

As the world dragged its feet in the total embrace of virtual technology, we were suddenly hit by the reality of our lack of readiness for the future when COVID-19 struck. Benjamin Franklin was right, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Nigeria alone, experienced total education shut down and about 14.6 million jobs were lost as the pandemic prevailed. In times like this, marginalized groups suffer the impact the most. The female gender and Africa have been the least prepared for the future.

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

When scaled globally, HerYaher.com will generate over 100,000 future readiness engagements and up to 5,000 job transactions daily.

Film your elevator pitch.

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What specific problem are you solving?

In response to the concerns of loss of jobs as a result of automation and Artificial Intelligence, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD noted that rather than job losses, entirely new sets of jobs would be created. This would mean that new skill sets and education will have to be developed to ensure that humans are relevant for the future.

Unfortunately, regions like Africa have not made any significant progress at future readiness in the embrace of digital technology, the creation of relevant educational programmes or the education of the female gender. Globally, about 132 million girls are out of school and up to half of these girls are from Sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria having the highest figures. Sadly, the entirety who are fortunate to attend schools only have good basic primary education. Our secondary and tertiary educational programmes are soon to be more of a waste of their time than it is their preparation to take on opportunities of the future.

Additionally, with globalization, the African region is about to lose more opportunities to developed countries as a result of a lack of employable individuals to take on the opportunities of a future dominated by Artificial Intelligence.

What is your solution?

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

HerYaHer.com will:

Engage stakeholders in creating work (job/trade) and educational curriculum of the future
Create the opportunities to develop learning and skill relevant for the future.
Create future readiness programmes and tests.

HerYaHer.com Process and Technology involve:

Stakeholder Engagement: Government and business greatly determine educational and work creation opportunities. HerYaHer's goal is to reach out to these stake holders for the purpose of creating these opportunities through their organizations and making them available on our platform.
Software and Mobile Application: We have developed an application which has an immediate focus of connecting users to job opportunities and intend to launch a learning platform within the first year of gaining traction through the present MVP.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Our target users are

Ages: 14-75- Starting early is the best way to start and remaining relevant is to engage opportunities within your power irrespective of age. We target the age range at which our national educational programme seems to becoming obsolete. We understand that at age 14, most girls have completed a basic primary education and can read and write, hence the need to start preparing for the opportunities of the future.

Gender: Female- Beginning operations focusing on marginalized communities will avail us the opportunity to build inclusive and diverse economy. We intend to leverage on the worlds drive to address gender inequality.

Organizations and Institutions: Governments and Inclusive Business that will aid creation of learning, work and trade opportunities.

Understanding their needs:

Our team is presently recruiting a testing team of 50 girls/women to review our web/mobile application. Our goal is to create a solution that has contributions from our target population.
FUTURE.EN: Our event Future.en which is a technology meetup focuses on engaging enthusiast (girls, women, employers, employees etc) entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders. Our goal through the event is to help everyone peep into the future and connect them to our platform to engage opportunities.
Market Research

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Strengthen competencies, particularly in STEM and digital literacy, for girls and young women to effectively transition from education to employment

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge and your selected dimension.

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

We also address the target population of 0-24 years, covered by our proposal which caters for 14 and above. Additionally, our platform guarantees that users are prepared for the future in relation to learning, work and trade. Our goal is future readiness both in opportunities to develop a skill and be employed through the skill

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Lagos, Nigeria

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Queen Oduah

More About Your Solution

If your solution has a website, provide a link here:

http://www.heryaher.com

If your solution proposes an app that is currently live, provide a link to your app online or in an app store here:

http://www.heryaher.com

If you have additional video content that explains your solution, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link here:

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Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new business model or process

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

Most of our competitors are indirect competitors like Udacity.com focused only on learning; Fiverr.com, focused only on job opportunities and jobberman.com which also focuses on job opportunities and operates locally in Nigeria. However we are very much different, focusing on creating opportunities of the future, combining three interrelated fields and focusing on the female gender.

As the world fears what is to come as a result of domination by automation, our goal is to prepare the world to create and engage the opportunities that will be relevant for the future. This is what stands us out from the number of learning and job recruitment applications presently available. We will champion a course for the future by engaging stakeholders to create learning, working and trade opportunities of the future. We will also engage our users through Future and Enterprise Readiness Programme.

Our uniqueness is further explained below:

Future-Centred Opportunities: We are working with stakeholders to see the future and create the learning, work and trade opportunities for our target population.
Linking Learning, Work and Trade: We are connecting the concepts of learning, work and trade to ensure that the world can balance the learning and skill with work and trade opportunities.
Female Centred Solutions: We are targeting marginalized groups like females who happen to be the majority that suffer relevance and future readiness in the light of crisis and development.

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

The technology behind our solution is a Web/Mobile Application Software, while we consider the prospects of Artificial Intelligence in our operations, our core technology is Web/Mobile Application Software.

We are developing a platform that empowers users to create and engage opportunities of learning, work and trade. Our present goal is to populate our application with users whose major concern is the need for decent job and opportunities and gradually introduce future readiness and learning programmes, then trade opportunities.

Through global access and virtualization, users are able to secure opportunities, develop themselves and be ready for any future occurrence, whether it's a pandemic or technological advancement.

Provide evidence that this technology works.

Web and Mobile Application Softwares have reached efficient use across the world wide web for educational and job opportunities. The advent of COVID-19 and the effect of the lock down globally revealed the potential impact of the technology if totally embraced. A nation like Nigeria which witnessed a total shut down of the educational system was still privy to accessing platforms like Udacity.com and Fiverr.com which enabled users to engage learning and work opportunities globally.

Web and Mobile Application Softwares and growing in usage by various organizations and institutions globally. It appears that it has come to replace the traditional classrooms and limiting process of securing jobs through physical visits to organizations.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Software and Mobile Applications

What is your theory of change?

HERYAHER THEORY OF CHANGE

ACTIVITIES

Users engage in learning opportunities through our blog and later through course modules in preparing for work and trade of the future.
Users employ our Future and Enterprise Readiness Test to evaluate their readiness to engage the opportunities of the future.
Users engage work opportunities posted on our platform by businesses, organizations and governments.

OUTPUTS

Relevant Education achieved
Skill Development.
Decent Jobs and Work secured

SHORT TERM OUTCOMES

Educational certification
Job opportunities and security

LONG TERM OUTCOMES

Future readiness
Life-long learning

Select the key characteristics of your target population.

Women & Girls
Rural
Urban

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

1. No Poverty
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequalities

In which countries do you currently operate?

Nigeria

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Nigeria

How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?

CURRENT USERS WE ARE SERVING

0 users
0 Organizations

PROJECTED USERS IN 1 YEAR

200,000 users (Females Only)
100,000 Organizations/Businesses

PROJECTED USERS IN 5 YEARS

10,000,000 (Females Only)
1,000,000 Organizations/Businesses

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

ONE YEAR GOAL

Complete development of a fully functional web/mobile application to handle the capacity of at least 1 million users.
Raise 250,000 USD in grant funding.
Grow staff strength from 5 to 50 talents.
Establish Partnerships with at least 10 major tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria.
Establish Partnerships with the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria.
Engage at least 100,000 businesses and empower them to create at least 200,000 jobs.
Reach out to 1,000,000+ internet users through search engine and social media advertisement as E-commerce customers.

FIVE YEARS GOAL

Scaleup web/mobile application to handle course modules and an unlimited capacity of users.
Raise 1,000,000+ USD in grants or equity investments.
Grow staff strength from 50 to 3000 talents globally.
Establish operations in at least 3 continents.
Establish Partnerships with at least 100 major tertiary educational institutions in 3 continents.
Establish Partnerships with the Federal and State Governments of the 3 continents where we have operations.
Engage at least 1,000,000 businesses and empower them to create at least 3,000,000 jobs annually.
Grow users to at least 10,000,000 females.

What barriers currently exist for you to accomplish your goals in the next year and in the next five years?

INSUFFICIENT FUNDING: Lack of required funding to complete development of a fully functional web/mobile application and to employ the number of staff members we require which may also result in an over laboured team.
INSUFFICIENT SKILLED STAFF: We lack sufficient skilled web development staff with expertise to achieve desired management of web/mobile application.
COMPETITION: Competing for market share with already established competition may serve a barrier in achieving desired target.
CLIENT ACCESS TO INTERNET: Internet access and availability of enabling infrastructure in developing nations like Nigeria may pose a threat to effective usage of our platform by some users in such regions.
OPERATIONAL COSTS: Operational costs resulting from the use of alternative power supply may increase our running costs within our headquarters.

How do you plan to overcome these barriers?

INSUFFICIENT FUNDING:

Our team actively engages in applying for grants and other equity investment opportunities.
We are developing partnerships that cover for other costs and also increases patronage.
We are working with the available resources and engage volunteers to complement for required staff.

INSUFFICIENT SKILLED STAFF:

We have been embarking on training members of our team.
We have been working at new partnerships but however believe efforts towards raising funding will produce desired result ensuring employment of paid skilled staff.

COMPETITION:

Legal protection of our business and products through corporate registration, patents, trademarks, copyrights etc.
Active work in raising funding required to scale up.
Focus on partnership with organizational networks.

CLIENT ACCESS TO INTERNET:

We are working to develop an offline application,
Establishment of centres/hubs that enable clients get access and support from our team. This will be done in partnership with tertiary institutions and as an entity.

OPERATIONAL COSTS:

Operate a sustainable model of business through investment in solar power and other improved sources of electric power.
Operate using the lean manufacturing model by saving unnecessary costs.

About Your Team

What type of organization is your solution team?

Other, including part of a larger organization (please explain below)

If you selected Other, please explain here.

HerYaHer is not yet registered as a business entity but is however a division of Divasity. Divasity exists for Facilitating Entrepreneurship, Markets And Lasting Economic Solutions. It is helping businesses globally to develop inclusive business models that empower females.

Divasity intends to integrate HerYaHer as a means of empowering entrepreneurs on their platform to create opportunities of the future targeted at the female gender.

Once registered as a separate entity, Divasity will own at least 50% stakes in the organization.

How many people work on your solution team?

3 Full-time Staff
1 Part-time Staff
1 Contractor

How many years have you worked on your solution?

2 Months

Why are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

HerYaHer consists of a team with diverse background in Education, Law, Programming and Entrepreneurial Experience. The team has in common, passion and experience to support females, work with mentors across various fields and is led by a Chief Strategist with 20 years of entrepreneurship experience, working with individuals and organizations to develop sustainable businesses.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Queen Oduah has a background degree in English Language from the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. She is president and director of research, "Sustainable Africa Youth" and undergoing a course specialization "Human Resources Management: HR for People Managers" with the University of Minnesota USA.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE, Precious Nwankwo holds a LLB Law Degree from the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK and a BL from the Nigerian Law School. She has years of experience as a Business Development Manager, reeling in multi-million Naira deals. She has also worked as a fundraiser for various charities in Bristol, UK developing incredible team spirit and passion to help people. She holds a certificate in personal development from the Learning4Living Training Academy.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, Wisdom Chibeze is a college graduate and attends National Institute of Information Technology, popularly known as NIIT. He is a Software Engineer with multiple IT skills under his belt.

CHIEF STRATEGIST, Adeola Adebayo is management team lead and has training with various organizations including Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Lagos Nigeria and early years of experience as entrepreneur and leadership mentor.

What organizations do you currently partner with, if any? How are you working with them?

HerYaHer is not yet registered as a business entity but is however a division of Divasity. Divasity exists for Facilitating Entrepreneurship, Markets And Lasting Economic Solutions. It is helping businesses globally to develop inclusive business models that empower females.

HerYaHer is working with Divasity to prepare the society for the Future of Enterprise. It is also partnering with Divasity to empower entrepreneurs on their platform to create opportunities of the future targeted at the female gender.

Your Business Model & Funding

Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities

Why are you applying to Solve?

We look forward to securing funding through Solve's prize awards and network of funders.
We look forward to leveraging on Solve's network of social entrepreneurs to connect to our platform for creating learning, work and trade opportunities for females.
We want to enjoy mentoring from Solve's network of mentors.
We look forward to international exposure through the Solve platform.
We want to grow our idea from feedback received from Solve's community.
We want to grow the skills of members of our team through Solve's educational offerings and exposure
We look forward to the development of strategic partnerships at Solve's flagship event.
We look forward to identifying with talents for the purpose of recruitment especially in technology development.
We want to leverage on the support provided by Solve to scale up our organization.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

Solution technology
Funding and revenue model
Talent recruitment
Board members or advisors
Marketing, media, and exposure
Other

Please explain in more detail here.

Solution Technology

Develop strategic partnerships with technology experts especially in software, web, cloud and Artificial Intelligence development.

Funding and Revenue Model

Raise targeted 250,000 USD within one year through Solve's prize award, and other partner awards.

Talent Recruitment

Identify with other Solver teams, partners and mentors who will be able to add value to our business.

Board Members or Advisors

Engage potential board members and advisors who we can leverage on their networks to establish international presence.

Marketing, Media and Exposure

Gain exposure through Solve platform, events and partner organizations.

OTHERS: Networking

Secure strategic partnerships especially with network organizations like Solve that focus on entrepreneurs to leverage on their already existing networks.

What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?

Vodafone Americas Foundation

We want to leverage on Vodafone Americas Foundation network of social entrepreneurs that empower female empowering businesses. We would also love to be part of their accelerator programmes and impact upon their community.

Microsoft

Through partnership with Microsoft, we will be able to build partnership for the development of our technology especially in cloud and Artificial Intelligence. We also look forward to the possibilities of securing equity investment and board membership in our organization.

The London School of Economics and Political Science

We would like to partner with them for the development of our team members in the fields of Human Relations, Political Science and Business Development so as to be more experienced in influencing the industry and political space to support female entrepreneurs.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Partnership with MIT will enable us develop a successful research and development program in collaboration for the development of course programs on future readiness.

Solve Network

We look forward to becoming a part of the Solve member community as a way of advancing the review and use of our solution.

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the Innovation for Women Prize to advance your solution?

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

We believe our existence as an organization will advance the achievement of the course of Vodafone Americas Foundation.

Through access to the prize,

We will be able to employ more females into our organization.
We will be able to empower women in digital technology, courses and job opportunities.
The funds will also empower us to engage our community and social courses towards advocating for the contribution of the female gender through access to decent work and economic development.
The funds will empower us to scale our solution globally.
More importantly, HerYaher.com will be able to generate over 100,000 future readiness engagements and up to 5,000 job transactions daily.

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The GM Prize on Learning for Girls and Women to advance your solution?

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

We believe our existence as an organization will advance the achievement of the objectives of the GM Prize on Learning for Girls and Women.

Through access to the prize awards,

We will be able to integrate our learning platform within our first year of operations thereby having capacity to prepare Girls and Women for the opportunities of the future.
We will specifically commit the resources to the development of course programs covering STEM education as they are critical parts of the future of education.
Exposure to the team at GM will also provide experience and exposure for our team to be more able to create Future solutions in the area of STEM education.
GM also provides a platform to other networks that can enable the advancement of our vision.
We will also be to develop a partnership with GM that ensures the creation of STEM related opportunities.

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the Gulbenkian Award for Adult Literacy to advance your solution?

As a goal, HerYaHer is developing continuous learning education programs. We will commit the Calouste Gulbenkian Award to address the creation of opportunities to learn, work and trade for our community of Adults thereby empowering them in digital literacy and securing of opportunities.

We will be able to test and deploy our solution to a community of Adults and also seek to ensure that the Adult population are effectively covered in attaining future readiness.

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the the Future Planet Capital Prize to advance your solution?

HerYaHer means Hire Her, Her Yes Her, Raise Her. Our vision is to connect humanity with opportunities of the future. We focus on "future readiness" for the female gender, inclusive businesses, marginalized groups and the world at large through reinventing learning, work and trade.

Our solution is planned to reach a minimum of 10,000,000 users and 1,000,000 businesses by 2025. We believe this is in line with the goal of the Future Planet Capital.

Through access to the prize,

Our team will be able to partner with Future Planet Capital in preparing the world for the learning, work and trade of the future.
The prize will expose us to prospective board members who will be able to add value to our organization.
We will also be able to develop capacity to compete with already existing businesses in the industry.
We will learn from the Future Planet Capital's team to address the learning, work and trade of the future.
The funding secured will also enable us achieve our 5 year goal with ease.