Ownedby

The latest crime statistics as reported by local law enforcement SAPS, indicate 2,13million reported crime incidents; of these, approximately 1,37million of these were targeted at an appliance or device (being common robberies, burglaries at residential and non-residential premises); an even bigger problem is the fact that all these incidents have an endangered human life in common.

Ownedby is a digital platform (web and mobile) that enables individuals and organisations to create verified digital profiles for their household, portable and offices valuable items. An online profile with a unique verified digital identification link to the owner (our user) can be used to inform and protect consumers within the second-hand market from buying what could be stolen goods through our QuickChecks.

Through this we aim to discourage at least 10% of crime incidents that are targeted at household, office or portable valuable item such as appliances or devices

2,13million reported crime incidents as per local law enforcement (SAPS) statistics, show that approximately 1,37million are targeted at appliances or devices (being common robberies, burglaries at residential and non-residential premises); an even bigger problem is the fact that all these incidents have an endangered or negatively impacted a human life.

Notable examples include: Menzi Primary School located in a township known as Tsakane in Ekurhuleni, a community known for high unemployment and low average incomes, was blessed with 33 fully equipped smart classrooms, soon after launch, all the smart equipment installed was stolen.

Sibusiso Khwinana, the lead-actor of locally produced film Matwetwe, was stabbed to death for his cell-phone. Unfortunately, no insurance policy can replace the life of the young talented actor

The crime industry is enabled and encouraged from within our communities, as perpetrators can still financially benefit from criminal activities through the ease of resale within the second-hand market. Valuables can journey and exchange hands with ease without geographic limitation the following routes:

- Online and print classifieds (Gumtree, OLX and Facebook Market-Place)

- Pawn shops and regular second-hand shops (Cash-Crusaders and Cash-Converters)

- Man-to-man street resales

These are channels used, that do not require the owner’s consent.

Individual Users (Subscribers):

Owners of portable and household appliances and devices such as cell-phones, tablets/iPads, laptops, televisions etc, whether as individuals or families. It is individuals and families that are directly affected by crime incidents such as common robberies, burglaries at residential and non-residential premises. It is human lives that are endangered or negatively impacted by a crime incident.

Organization/Enterprise Users (Licensee)

Small, Medium and Large enterprises that are primary owners of office and portable appliances or devices such as laptops, desktops, cell-phones; these items are then allocated to employees to use. These valuables are equally exposed to common robberies, burglaries at residential and non-residential premises, by perpetrators seeking to trade for financial benefit.

Law-Enforcement

To aid the identification and recovery of stolen items.

Through Ownedby the above users will be able create verified digital profiles for their valuable items, with a verifiable unique digital ownership identification link. Owners or users can safely let the world know whether an item is lost or stolen, or genuinely available for sale, whilst enabling the general public the ability to view the owner-assigned statuses through our Ownedby. Today we can Google it, Uber around, we should be able to check who its Ownedby.

Ownedby is a digital platform (web and mobile) that enables organizations and individuals the create verified digital profiles for their household, portable and offices valuable items. This online profile a verifiable unique digital ownership identification link to the owner or assigned user. This can be used to inform and protect consumers within the second-hand market from buying what could be stolen goods through our QuickChecks

Our mission through Ownedby is to discourage at least 10% of crime incidents that are targeted at appliances or devices (through incidents including common robberies, burglaries at residential & residential premises as per the SAPS Crime Stats released annually). The crime industry is enabled and encouraged from within our communities, as perpetrators can still financially benefit from criminal activities through the ease of resale within the second-hand market

Ownedby enables “QuickChecks” to the general public, meaning any individual or organization can quickly check the profile status/stain of an item, prior to deciding to buy or allow an item to be sold through their platform (e.g. OLX, Gumtree etc). Owners will be able to flag the status of their items as either lost, or stolen even after they are not in possession of the items, similarly to how dye stains on bank notes indicate notes that have been acquired through a crime related incident which discourages the acceptance of such stained notes in market as legal tender in the purchase of any goods or services.

Any items listed on online classified platforms (such as Gumtree & OLX) that appear on a QuickCheck (as triggered by a potential buyer who is aware of Ownedby trying to ensure they do not buy stolen items or itemized sold without the owner’s consent) will notify the owner (who is an Ownedby client).

Ownedby has the ability to cultivate a culture within communities and any economy, that checks the ownership and status of an item being sold in the secondary market before buying it, or allowing it to be sold through a platform or outlet.

Other functionalities we are building in include the following:

- Authentication of sales, through unique verification codes, sent only to the owner if they change the status of any item to “Available-for-Sale”

- Remotely locate smart devices with GPS capability, with access limited to the owner - Emergency push notifications, enabling owners to send customised communications to their selected social media profiles, and selected contacts

Ownership verification is not offered by retailers within the second-hand market. The resale of second-hand goods remains a big market within South Africa and other developing economies. This is the cornerstone underpinning the success of retailers such as Gumtree and OLX. Ownedby enables owners to create verifiable online profiles for their portable, household and office items, that are uniquely linked to owners. 

Through this ownership identification link, owners can safely communicate the status of their valuables, such as whether the item is lost or stolen, or available for sale, without sharing their personal information. 

Consumers will be able to do QuickChecks of the appliances and devices they consider buying, which will confirm if an item is legally available for sale, and is being sold by the owner

Ownedby is a software solution platform available via web and application version.

We believe that the crime industry is enabled and encouraged from within our communities, as perpetrators can still financially benefit from criminal activities through the ease of resale within the second-hand market. Valuable items can exchange hands with ease without geographic limitation the following routes:

- Online and print classifieds (Gumtree, OLX and Facebook Market-Place)

- Pawn shops and regular second-hand shops (Cash-Crusaders and Cash-Converters)

- Man-to-man street resales

All these are channels used, that do not require the owner’s consent, nor do these provide any history about an appliance or device, that informs a potential buyer within the second-hand market.

We do accept that perpetrators of crime have a variety of drivers but we do believe that financial gain remains core. A culture within our communities and economies, that checks the ownership and status of an item being sold in the secondary market before buying it, or allowing it to be sold through a platform or outlet

We are currently at prototype stage, having developed a functioning version. We are schedule for alpha testing within closed focus groups 

Ownedby is not currently available for download. Our target is to reach 173,000 listed appliances and devices within the first two years of launching. This target is informed by our intention to capture 1-in-10 persons affected by a crime incident based on the crime categories that involve a targeted appliance or device. We further assume that these incidents represent one item stolen per incident. 

We target to reach 1,000,000 listed appliances and devices within the first five years.

Our core goal is to discourage at least 10% of crime related incidents (based on the categories that likely target an appliance or device). This will be achieved by cultivating a culture within our communities and economies of checking the status (Ownedby digital stains) of items before buying or selling them. 

 Our target is to reach 173,000 listed appliances and devices within the first two years of launching. This target is informed by our intention to capture 1-in-10 persons affected by a crime incident based on the crime categories that involve a targeted appliance or device. We further assume that these incidents represent one item stolen per incident. 

We target to reach 1,000,000 listed appliances and devices within the first five years. We believe there is great value is a verifiable secondhand market.

Financial limitations have negatively impacted the speed of development. Developing mutually beneficial partnerships with manufacturers and distributers of appliances and devices does require support to ensure that we can access the market with ease for users. An accurate clean database of appliances and devices does garner support from users.