MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

At Hause

One-line solution summary:

Tech-based solution to curb loss at farm, business and home.

Pitch your solution.

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest levels of post-harvest losses. At least 30% of all food produced is lost or wasted, and 75% of the loss occurs before retail. The World Bank estimates the amount of food loss at $4 billion US dollars annually.

At Hause’s solution to this problem is to provide farmers with insect and rot-resistant packaging, which helps improve the storage life of produce, while a smart value chain platform digitizes access to a ready market leading to higher incomes through inclusive business. See details here

Additionally, At Hause can expand services through an identification portal for users to generate and share unique mobile keys to their portfolio door online. See details here

At Hause target financial inclusion strategy is through diverse tech solutions that extend its capabilities to increase revenues, create jobs, improve farmer incomes, and achieve sustainable market-based growth. See details here

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest levels of post-harvest losses. At least 30% of all food produced is lost or wasted, and 75% of the loss occurs before retail. The World Bank estimates the amount of food loss at $4 billion US dollars annually.

Research shows that while 257 million people experience hunger in Africa, post-harvest food losses due to inefficient infrastructure, processing, and poor storage alone can feed at least 48 million people.

What is your solution?

At Hause’s solution is to provide farmers with insect and rot-resistant packaging, which helps improve the storage life of produce, while a smart value chain platform digitizes access to a ready market leading to higher incomes.

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

At Hause has developed a financially viable solution, an insect and rot-resistant packaging, to help farmers reduce the waste and keep the harvest fresh until they sell it to the market. Their Bank At Hause - Factor Xchange platform connects wholesale customers to farmers using a geocoded QR technology to trace export-ready quality commodities.

By focusing on the food waste problem, and aiming to support farmers, Bank At Hause - Factor Xchange addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), among others.

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

Scale safe and private digital identity and financial tools to allow people and small businesses to thrive in the digital economy.

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

Currently, the Sub-Saharan Africa region experiences significant post-harvest loss; at least 30 percent of all food produced is wasted and 75 percent perishes before it can be sold whereas 80% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, requiring a corresponding 70 percent increase in calories available for consumption. Suppose connectivity is implemented successfully from farm to market, this digital inclusion could tack on $500 billion in additional value to the global gross domestic product by 2030.

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

Kampala, Uganda

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

At Hause is a top startup company recognized by international organizations such as Business Call to Action, International Telecommunications Union, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization for contributing to the UN sustainable development goals.

its proven inclusive business model is poised for further growth to impact millions globally.

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Ashiraf Nsibambi Kyabainze

More About Your Solution

If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:

http://at-hau.se/

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

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new business model or process that relies on technology to be successful

What makes your solution innovative?

The company’s smart value chain platform, Bank At Hause – Factor Xchange (BAH-FX) mobile web app allows customers, especially wholesalers, to trace commodities. When small traders distribute goods packed in the 3-ply bags, a user scans the QR codes labelled on the bags. The BAH-FX platform automatically monitors stock quantities and identifies which stock items are low in stock. The app immediately notifies crop producers via SMS to get their produce ready for distributors to collect, process and supply to wholesalers based on decreasing quantities. This method aims to make farming more sustainable, increase productivity, determine price patterns, attract investment and improve market access.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
Blockchain
GIS and Geospatial Technology
Manufacturing Technology

Select the key characteristics of your target population.

Women & Girls
Low-Income

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

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
12. Responsible Consumption and Production

In which countries do you currently operate?

Uganda

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

Uganda

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

At Hause targets at least $100 US dollars annual income increment for each of the 300,000 people, thus floating a minimum $30 million US dollars through an inclusive business innovation known as Bank At Hause — Factor Xchange. This solution is an award-winning African solution that uses insect and rot-resistant 3-ply bags to store produce for extended periods and increase the producer’s income. Producers are pulled together from disaggregated farms to a smart value chain linked to wholesalers financed to purchase farm stock. In the next five years, the company also aims to provide 1 million low-income people working in agribusiness with increased access to markets in Africa, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?

At Hause joined Business Call to Action (BCtA) with the goal to reduce agriculture loss by providing 300,000 low-income producers in rural Uganda with insect and rot-resistant packaging via a mobile app. By 2021, the company will create 30,000 indirect jobs for low-income retailers, wholesalers, traders and distributors of these bags. By 2023, the company also aims to provide 1 million low-income people working in Uganda’s agribusiness with increased access to markets in Africa, Dubai, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

About Your Team

What type of organization is your solution team?

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

How many people work on your solution team?

3 full-time staff.

2 part-time staff

How long have you been working on your solution?

3

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

Ashiraf Nsibambi Kyabainze is the Founder and CEO of At Hause Limited. He is a young African entrepreneur and award winner working on African technology. As a technology and innovation leader, he has been honored by the World Bank Youth Summit in Washington D.C.

He has also been honored by the Young African Leaders Initiative Network as an agribusiness champion contributing to the future of work for low-income people on the African continent, and on a smart cities ecosystem in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Lukanga Hakim who acts as the Technical Director. He has proficient experience in blockchain, cybersecurity, and agri-food business model development. He is a global KECTIL Youth Leadership Program mentor.
Sulaiman Miti is experienced with Bachelors's in Urban Planning and Masters in Information Systems currently a practitioner in the United Kingdom. His experience includes Sub Saharan Africa Islamic Finance Convention.
Dr. Walusimbi Kiweewa Muzamir is an expert in agrifood products distribution and sales at Dama Medicinal Herbs. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Medicine & Surgery and Masters Degree in Public Health as well as a research member of an injury prevention project in Shenkursk, Russia, and a Collaborative Arctic Summer School in Epidemiology (CASE) at the University of Alaska Anchorage, United States.

What is your approach to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership team?

At Hause team collaborates with international organizations to build and provide inclusive sustainable solutions to reduce agriculture loss by providing 300,000 low-income producers in rural Uganda with insect and rot-resistant packaging via a mobile app. By 2021, the company will create 30,000 indirect jobs for low-income retailers, wholesalers, traders, and distributors of these bags. By 2023, the company also aims to provide 1 million low-income people working in Uganda’s agribusiness with increased access to markets in Africa, Dubai, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Your Business Model & Partnerships

Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities

Why are you applying to Solve?

At Business Call to Action’s 10th Annual Forum on September 24th 2020, on the sidelines of the virtual 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, At Hause in collaboration with MIT D-Lab worked out a sustainability plan for supply chain restructuring and fundraising towards setting up a manufacturing arm of the business to produce 3ply bags at reasonably affordable costs adapted to the needs of low-income producers currently struggling with the COVID-19 crisis.

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

Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development, etc.)
Business model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)
Financial (e.g. improving accounting practices, pitching to investors)
Legal or Regulatory Matters
Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)
Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)
Product / Service Distribution (e.g. expanding client base)
Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design, data analysis, etc.)

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The ASA Prize for Equitable Education? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion to advance your solution?

Engaging refugee communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions.

The proceeds of the prize are anticipated to aid in setting a manufacturing arm, implementing digital financial services and a training programme on enhancing financial inclusion to engage marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions and keeping in mind the need to build back better from the pandemic and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals -- especially on issues relating to displaced persons

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The HP Prize for Advancing Digital Equity? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The HP Prize for Advancing Digital Equity to advance your solution?

Engaging marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions.

The proceeds of the prize are anticipated to aid in setting a manufacturing arm, implementing digital financial services and a training programme on enhancing financial inclusion to engage marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions and keeping in mind the need to build back better from the pandemic and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals -- especially on issues relating to digital equity

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

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

Engaging women communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions.

The proceeds of the prize are anticipated to aid in setting a manufacturing arm, implementing digital financial services and a training programme on enhancing financial inclusion to engage marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions and keeping in mind the need to build back better from the pandemic and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals -- especially on issues relating to gender equality, empowerment of women and youth.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The AI for Humanity Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The AI for Humanity Prize to advance your solution?

Exposed to machine learning in earth observation and the proceeds of the prize are anticipated to aid in advanced traceability services for the solution, and AI-powered digital financial services and market access.

The proceeds of the prize are anticipated to aid in setting a manufacturing arm, implementing digital financial services and a training programme on enhancing financial inclusion to engage marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions and keeping in mind the need to build back better from the pandemic and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals -- especially on issues relating to poverty alleviation, health safety, and food security.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GSR Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The GSR Prize Prize to advance your solution?

At Hause has a unique offering from Project Hydro in the U.S to include blockchain into its business model for different supply chain/fintech activities that will need cheap or almost nonexistent transaction fees, to make sure all users are safe while enjoying our services.At Hause is fundraising for this partnership.

The proceeds of the prize are anticipated to implementing digital financial services to enhancing financial inclusion for marginalized communities to participate actively in the real economy taking into consideration the current social and economic conditions and keeping in mind the need to build back better from the pandemic and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals -- especially on issues relating to poverty alleviation, health safety, and food security.