Dropoffu

In Uganda, women face a significant gap in access to medical supplies, including family planning services. According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund, only 35% of Ugandan women have access to modern contraception, leaving many at risk of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions. This problem is particularly pronounced for low-income and marginalized communities, where only 14% of women have access to family planning services. Additionally, women in rural areas have limited access to medical facilities and providers, with only 42% of health facilities in rural areas providing family planning services. Inadequate funding and infrastructure also contribute to the problem, with many health facilities lacking the necessary resources to provide high-quality medical care. Addressing these disparities is crucial to ensuring that all women in Uganda have equal access to the medical supplies and family planning services they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

In humanitarian contexts, women and girls often face significant challenges in accessing basic services and resources, including healthcare, education, and protection. Displaced women and girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, including sexual assault and exploitation, and may also lack access to essential medical supplies, such as reproductive health services and maternal care. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, only 50% of refugee women and girls have access to reproductive healthcare, which can lead to preventable maternal and infant mortality, as well as a range of other health complications. Additionally, women and girls are often excluded from decision-making processes in humanitarian settings, which can exacerbate existing gender inequalities and limit their ability to participate fully in society. Addressing these disparities requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving access to basic services and resources, preventing and responding to gender-based violence, and ensuring that women and girls have a voice in decision-making processes.

Dropoffu is an innovative mobile application that uses technology to bridge the gap between women in humanitarian contexts and access to vital drugs and medical supplies. In situations like refugees, those affected by natural disasters, and other humanitarian centers, access to medical supplies and drugs is critical for survival. Dropoffu app helps to improve the timely delivery of these essential supplies to the people that need them the most.

Dropoffu app works by linking both public and private transporters to key people in humanitarian centers who order for supplies. These transporters earn a commission through Dropoffu on every package delivered. The app also uses AI to map out areas affected by humanitarian situations like floods and sends alerts to a network of transporters to be on alert. This ensures that transporters can quickly respond to orders placed by people in the humanitarian centers and promptly deliver the required medical supplies.

When someone in a humanitarian center places an order, the app prompts them to list the most critical items in need. The app then searches for transporters available in the area and dispatches them to pick up the supplies and deliver them to the final destination. This ensures that the medical supplies and drugs are delivered quickly and efficiently to those in need.

The Dropoffu app also allows the public to donate items like baby clothing, supplies, and other essential supplies. These items can be picked up by Dropoffu drivers and delivered to the final destination. This not only helps to improve access to medical supplies but also helps to provide other essential supplies that women in humanitarian contexts may need.

In conclusion, Dropoffu is a revolutionary mobile application that uses technology to help improve access to vital drugs and medical supplies for women in humanitarian contexts. The app's use of AI to map out affected areas, linking of transporters to key people in humanitarian centers, and allowing the public to donate essential supplies makes it a game-changer in improving access to vital supplies.

Dropoffu is revolutionizing access to drugs and medical supplies for women in humanitarian contexts, such as refugees and those affected by natural disasters. With our app, we're linking both public and private transporters to key people in humanitarian centers who order for supplies, while also enabling these transporters to earn a commission through Dropoffu on every delivery made.

Our AI-driven technology enables us to map out areas affected by humanitarian situations, such as floods, and send alerts to our network of transporters to be on alert. When a request for medical supplies is made by a humanitarian center, we quickly prompt the center to list the most critical items they need. This information is then made available to our network of transporters, who can quickly deliver the needed supplies to the humanitarian centers.

At Dropoffu, we're also committed to making it easier for the public to contribute to these efforts. We allow the public to donate items like baby clothing and supplies, which can then be picked up by our Dropoffu drivers and delivered to the final destination.

Our vision is to continue expanding our reach and serve more people globally, so that everyone, no matter where they are or what challenges they face, has access to the medical supplies they need. With Dropoffu, we're unlocking the power of technology to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable communities.

Dropoffu is proud of its diverse team, which is representative of the communities it aims to serve. Our team is made up of individuals from various backgrounds and ethnicities, and we believe that this diversity brings unique perspectives and experiences that enable us to better understand the needs of our target population. Our Team Lead Mr. Donald Waruhanga has worked closely in the area of maternal health, Humanitarian settings under the United Nations Population Fund before he moved to lead the Team at Doppler.

He has also pursued a Masters Degree of Public Health giving him more insights into humanitarian situations and causes of supply chain inefficiencies in humanitarian contexts. Other members of the Team have strong backgrounds in Business Development, Software Development and Testing as well as prototyping.

To ensure that our solution is community-centered, we are involving the communities we serve in the design and development process. We conduct focus groups, surveys, and other research methods to gather input and feedback from the community. We use this information to identify the most pressing needs and develop solutions that address these needs.

Additionally, we have partnerships and collaborations with local organizations  especially organised groups of motorcycle riders  who are key in navigating the hilly terrains of most Ugandan areas. We also engage community leaders that help us better understand the needs of the community. These partnerships enable us to ensure that our solution is culturally relevant and meets the unique needs of the community.

At Dropoffu, we use user-centered design principles to guide our solution development. We incorporate feedback from end-users into our design process and iterate on our solution based on user feedback. This approach ensures that our solution is tailored to the needs of the community and is user-friendly.

Lastly, we are committed to measuring the impact of our solution on the communities we serve. We plan to collect data and use it to continuously improve our solution and ensure that it's meeting the needs of the community. This approach helps us to understand the effectiveness of our solution and make any necessary adjustments to better serve the community.

Our solution is a prototype, not just a concept, and has already been developed to test and refine its functionality. Our team has worked diligently to create a working model that has undergone multiple rounds of design and development, based on user feedback and market research.

We have conducted extensive user testing to ensure that our prototype is functional, scalable, and viable for real-world application. By incorporating feedback from end-users, we have iteratively refined our solution to arrive at its current prototype.

Our prototype has been developed with scalability in mind and has the potential to be implemented on a larger scale, making it a practical solution to address the needs of our target audience. 

We understand that the success of our solution depends on its ability to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Therefore, we have worked hard to involve our target audience in the design and development of our solution. Through focus groups, surveys, and other research methods, we have gathered input and feedback from the community, which we have incorporated into our solution design.

In addition to user feedback, we have also leveraged partnerships with local organizations like NFT Mobility and HillsLink transporters who have given us real insights into the cargo and mobility space.By collaborating with these stakeholders, we can ensure that our solution is culturally relevant and meets the unique needs of the community.

We have taken a user-centered design approach to develop our solution, and we will continue to iterate based on feedback from the community. We believe that our prototype is well-positioned to address the challenges faced by parents and educators, and we are excited to continue refining it to achieve our vision of serving the billions of families and educators globally.

We currently serve the Kampala population of 2 million people through collaboration with our partners. We also conduct drop-offs for items between Kampala, Mbarara, Kabale and Ntungamo with our partners Hills Link Transporters.

We are excited to apply to Solve because we believe that Solve can help us overcome the specific financial, technical, and cultural barriers that we face in our mission to scale and expand our platform.

Financially, we have encountered difficulties in securing the necessary funding to fully develop and market our platform. We believe that Solve's focus on connecting Solver teams with partners who can provide both monetary and non-monetary support can be a game-changer for us. We hope that Solve can provide us with access to potential investors, mentors, and other resources that can help us achieve our goals.

Technically, we are constantly seeking to improve and enhance our platform to better serve our users. We believe that Solve can help us connect with experts and partners who can offer technical expertise and support. This can include assistance with scaling, integration, and data management.

Culturally, we believe that our platform can benefit from diverse perspectives and experiences. As a team, we are committed to building a platform that is inclusive, accessible, and culturally competent. We hope that Solve can help us connect with partners who can offer guidance and support in this area.

Overall, we are excited about the potential of Solve to help us overcome the specific barriers that we face in our mission to revolutionize student drop-offs and pickups. While funding is certainly an important aspect of our growth, we are also interested in the non-monetary support that Solve can offer, such as mentorship and networking opportunities. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with Solve and continue to develop and improve our platform.

At Dropoffu, innovation is at the heart of our mission. We strive to revolutionize access to medical supplies and drugs in humanitarian contexts by utilizing cutting-edge technology. Our approach is grounded in data-driven decision making, scalability, and accessibility, making it possible to serve low-income, minority, and immigrant communities.

Through our use of AI technology, we can map out areas affected by humanitarian situations and quickly alert our network of transporters. In addition, we prompt key individuals in humanitarian centers, like refugee camps, to identify the most critical items they need. This strategy enables us to improve access to medical supplies and drugs by connecting public and private transporters to those who order supplies.

Moreover, we facilitate public donations of essential items, such as baby clothing and supplies. Our app links donors to our network of Dropoffu drivers who can collect and deliver the donations to their final destination.

At Dropoffu, we pride ourselves on our innovative approach to addressing the challenges faced in humanitarian contexts. We are committed to leveraging technology to create positive change in the world and make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

Next 12 months

1. Reach at least 100,000 individuals in humanitarian contexts with improved access to medical supplies and drugs.
2. Partner with at least 50 humanitarian centers and refugee camps to provide more efficient and effective supply chain management.
3. Develop and deploy a machine learning algorithm to optimize transport routes and minimize delivery times.
4. Expand our network of drivers to cover at least 5 major cities in low-income, minority, and immigrant communities.

Next 5 Years

1. Raise at least $200,000 in funding to support the growth and expansion of our platform.
2. Increase our efficiency and accuracy in tracking and reporting supply chain data by implementing blockchain technology.
3. Build partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and medical supply manufacturers to ensure reliable and sustainable access to essential supplies.
4. Conduct at least 5 pilot projects to test and validate our platform in various humanitarian contexts.
5. Provide training and support to local communities to increase their capacity to manage and maintain the supply chain in their own communities.
6. Collaborate with other organizations and stakeholders in the humanitarian sector to foster innovation and knowledge sharing.

At DropOffu, we are committed to measuring our progress towards our impact goals. Our solution aims to improve access to medical supplies and drugs in humanitarian contexts and to increase the efficiency of delivery systems. We have identified several indicators to measure our progress towards these goals:

1. Number of deliveries: We track the number of deliveries we make to humanitarian centers, such as refugee camps, to ensure that our solution is reaching those in need.

2. Delivery time: We measure the time it takes for our drivers to make deliveries from the time the order is placed. This helps us assess the efficiency of our delivery system.

3. Feedback from users: We gather feedback from users, including humanitarian center staff and drivers, to assess their satisfaction with our solution and to identify areas for improvement.

4. Number of users: We track the number of users who have signed up for our platform to gauge our reach and impact.

5. Cost savings: We measure the cost savings that our solution provides to humanitarian organizations by reducing transportation costs and increasing efficiency.

These indicators align with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being and Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. We are committed to using this data to continuously improve our solution and ensure that it is meeting the needs of the communities we serve.

Theory of Change for Drop-off:

Dropoffu uses a data-driven approach to connect public and private transporters with key people in humanitarian centers who order medical supplies and drugs. We also allow the public to donate items through our app, which connects them with our network of drivers for pick-up and delivery.

1. Activities: Our technology platform uses AI to map out areas affected by humanitarian situations and sends alerts to our network of transporters. We prompt key people in humanitarian centers, such as refugee camps, to list the most critical items in need.

2. Outputs: Our platform connects transporters with key people in humanitarian centers who order for supplies, ensuring that medical supplies and drugs are delivered where they are needed most. Our app also connects donors with our network of drivers for pick-up and delivery of donated items.

3. Outcomes: By improving access to medical supplies and drugs in humanitarian contexts, we expect to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of communities in need. Specifically, we aim to:

• Increase the availability of medical supplies and drugs in humanitarian contexts
• Reduce the number of preventable deaths and illnesses
• Improve the quality of healthcare in low-income, minority, and immigrant communities

We will measure our progress towards these outcomes through indicators such as:

• The number of medical supplies and drugs delivered to humanitarian centers
• The number of preventable deaths and illnesses avoided
• The feedback from users in humanitarian centers and transporters on the impact of our solution on their lives

By implementing our solution, we believe that we can contribute to a world where access to medical supplies and drugs is more equitable, and the health and well-being of all communities, regardless of their socio-economic status, is prioritized.

Our approach is data-driven, scalable, and accessible, which enables us to cater to low-income, minority, and immigrant communities.

We use a combination of GPS tracking, cross platform mobile applications using Flutter, and advanced algorithms to optimize delivery routes, minimize delivery times, and reduce costs. Our platform also integrates with the inventory management systems of our partners, allowing us to monitor inventory levels in real-time and ensure timely deliveries of medical supplies and drugs to humanitarian centers.

To further support our operations, we also have an automated dispatch system that matches delivery requests with the most suitable driver based on proximity and availability. This ensures that deliveries are made on time, and our clients are satisfied with our services.

We take pride in our innovative approach to last-mile delivery in humanitarian contexts. Our commitment to leveraging technology to create positive change in the world and make a meaningful impact on people's lives has driven us to continually improve our platform, making it more efficient, effective, and user-friendly. With our cutting-edge technology, we are well-positioned to revolutionize last-mile delivery in the humanitarian sector and improve access to life-saving medical supplies and drugs for those in need.

At Dropoffu, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of our work. We recognize that a diverse team leads to a more innovative and effective approach to solving the challenges we face.

Over 50% of our team is comprised of women, and we strive to continuously improve our diversity by actively seeking out candidates from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Our team lead has a strong background in maternal health, having previously worked with UNFPA Uganda on creating applications to support pregnant women and girls. Additionally, he is a Safemotherhood champion and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health through Save The Mothers.

We believe that by valuing and respecting the diverse perspectives and experiences of our team members, we can better understand and serve the communities we aim to impact. We aim to create an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and supported, and where we can work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions that address the world's most pressing challenges.

Dropoffu's business model is centered on providing access to medical supplies and drugs to underserved communities through the use of technology. Our key customers and beneficiaries are low-income, minority, and immigrant communities in humanitarian contexts.

We provide our products and services through a data-driven, scalable, and accessible approach that leverages technology to identify supply chain gaps and ensure efficient delivery of medical supplies and drugs. Our platform enables us to connect with suppliers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders in the medical supply chain, allowing us to source high-quality products at competitive prices.

Our customers benefit from our platform by gaining access to affordable and high-quality medical supplies and drugs, which they may not have otherwise been able to afford or access. They also benefit from our efficient delivery system, which ensures timely and reliable delivery of the products they need.

To generate revenue, we charge a fee for our services, which is typically a percentage of the total value of the products delivered. We also partner with government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations to provide our services on a larger scale.

Our business model is designed to be sustainable and scalable, with the potential to expand globally and serve more communities in need. Through our technology-driven approach, we aim to make a significant impact on the lives of underserved communities by improving access to vital medical supplies and drugs.

Dropoffu plans to become financially sustainable by using a combination of revenue streams. Firstly, we will charge a fee for our services to institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and NGOs. These fees will be based on a per-delivery basis, and we will have different pricing tiers based on the size and location of the institution.

We also plan to generate revenue by selling medical supplies and drugs directly to our customers. We will work with pharmaceutical companies to source these products at competitive prices, and then sell them at a markup to cover our costs and generate a profit. Additionally, we will explore partnerships with local pharmacies to expand our reach and reduce our overhead costs.

In the long term, we aim to increase our revenue streams through service contracts with governments, both domestically and internationally. We will leverage our technology and expertise to help governments improve their supply chain management and ensure that medical supplies and drugs reach those in need.

To ensure financial sustainability, we will also prioritize efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all aspects of our operations. We will regularly review our expenses and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that we are staying within our budget and maximizing our resources. We will also explore opportunities for fundraising and investment capital to support our growth and expansion.

Ultimately, our goal is for our revenue streams to cover our expected expenses and enable us to continue providing high-quality and impactful services to the communities we serve.

Doppler Technologies has been successful in securing a grant from the African Development Bank for our Learner2Earner initiative, which aims to skill underprivileged youth and young women with digital skills to fight unemployment post-COVID. This grant has provided us with the necessary funding and capacity to build our team from the youth we skilled, and this same team of formerly unemployed young people has conceived the idea of Dropoffu.
We therefore aim to continue to tap into these similar opportunities and lobby for more resources for Dropoffu as well as our current Networks like the African Development Bank and its partners. 

In addition, we have successfully showcased our solution to investors and the general public at exhibitions like Uganda Innovation Week. Through these events, we have been able to forge key partnerships with organizations like Hills Link Transporters and NFT Mobility, who have experience in the mobility sector and can help us tap into their networks.

While we are still testing our technology platform, we have also been able to use funds from our partners to support our efforts. We believe that with continued strategic partnerships and a strong focus on revenue generation through our service offerings, we will be able to achieve financial sustainability in the long term.