MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

B2BNConline LLC

One-line solution summary:

Linking African entrepreneurs to global markets through our online platform that enhances convenience in ordering, reliability in delivery.

Pitch your solution.

Africans in the diaspora have a huge demand for genuine, authentic and quality African products; But local entrepreneurs lack efficient systems and structures to reach their target customers abroad.

We are creating global markets for Africans local enterprises through e-commerce. The platform is a market place where we list and sell genuine, authentic and quality African products produced locally by local entrepreneurs to Africans in the diaspora and the international community abroad.

By supporting local entrepreneurs in Africa to access international markets, B2BnC shall be creating additional revenues for them which will result to a rise in household incomes and improved livelihoods for the entrepreneurs, their employees, their families and their other dependents. With a target of 120 vendors in 12 months and an average of 5 employees, and each employee having 3 immediate dependents; we shall be impacting the lives of at least 60 households and 1,800 individuals.

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

The problem is Africans in the diaspora not having access to African products and services which most of them relate to easily. On the other side African entrepreneurs not able to export products and services from their countries to the international community Africans in the diaspora included. This will positively effect the millions of Africans in the diaspora who are our main clients but not limited to the international community to enjoy our products and services. On the side of vendors exports will increase which means small business will have an increment of revenues and the respective countries will enjoy foreign remittances too. Currently we only have platforms with high importation rather than exported products and services from Africa. Our platform will be the solution to this.

Nigeria, which has a sizable diaspora across the world, is by far the
largest recipient of remittance flows with $23.8 billion in 2019
followed by Ghana ($3.5 billion) and Kenya ($2.8 billion). In South
Sudan, remittances of $1.3 billion accounted for 34% of its GDP, the
highest in the region. The remittances are partly sent for migrants to be bought certain product or service hence do not have a platform to perform this.

What is your solution?

The solution to this is creating a platform where Africans in the diaspora as well as international community can have access to the products and services of authentic, genuine and quality African products and services. This will be possible by vetting vendors with authentic African made products and services and on boarding them to our platform through a documented process flow so as to ascertain genuine, quality and authentic products and services. A team of qualified quality assurance will handle this process and be verified by the operations team for a vendor to be able to list the products and services. Periodic checks will also follow for continuity. Quality photographs will be taken by our team once all checks have been done for the vendor to upload products and advertise services.

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

Our solution first and foremost will increase sales of local entrepreneurs by reducing costs of advertising, cost of logistics, human resource like the sales people hence not changing the mode of practice of any vendor. More revenue with low cost capital inflicted hence an increase in percentage revenues hence high profits. People with products like African utensils, African carvings and furniture, fashion and textile from African labels, African art, African beauty and wellness products. Currently we have had a series of open ended surveys with owners of selected products and have had a positive feedback towards our idea. This means that they will greatly accept the concept and make it a reality as this will positively impact the businesses in different ways that is image of the company, revenue streams improved and products and services knowledge-ability.

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

Enable small and new businesses, especially in untapped communities, to prosper and create good jobs through access to capital, networks, and technology

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

The problem is lack of an easy way to find genuine, reliable, quality and authentic African products and services to the Africans in the diaspora and the international community as a whole.

Our platform will curb this problem by undergoing scouting, screening, capacity building, on boarding, product listings, monitoring and evaluation, vendor feedback loop of vendors to avail these products and services of high quality, reliability, authenticity and genuineness to its clientele and have confidence in delivering these products and services as per the shoppers request.

Target population is Africans in the diaspora and international community at large.

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

Nairobi, Kenya

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Kevin Nyabuto