Ojah by Shiga

Ojah by Payshiga is addressing several critical challenges faced by African businesses and consumers in the realm of international trade, thereby contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while tackling the systemic issues surrounding exports from Africa.

Firstly, one of the primary issues Ojah addresses is the limited access of African businesses to global markets. Historically, African exporters have struggled to reach international consumers due to logistical, financial, and infrastructural barriers. Ojah's e-commerce platform acts as a gateway, enabling African merchants to showcase their products to a global audience. By breaking down these barriers, Ojah promotes economic growth (SDG 8) by providing African businesses with new opportunities for trade and expansion.

Secondly, Ojah tackles the problem of inefficient payment systems hindering cross-border transactions. Many African countries lack reliable and accessible payment infrastructure, making it challenging for businesses to engage in international trade. Ojah's integrated payment system addresses this issue by providing secure and efficient payment processing services, facilitating seamless transactions across borders. This promotes financial inclusion (SDG 10) by ensuring that businesses and consumers, regardless of their location, have access to reliable payment solutions.

Moreover, Ojah addresses the issue of market access and fair trade practices. African exporters often face unfair trade barriers and practices when trying to access global markets, hindering their ability to compete on a level playing field. Ojah's emphasis on transparency and ethical business conduct promotes responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) by fostering fair trade practices and encouraging sustainable consumption patterns

Ojah by Payshiga stands at the forefront of the African economic landscape, emerging as a dynamic cross-border commerce company that not only transcends geographical boundaries but also serves as the Alibaba of Africa. This innovative powerhouse is reshaping the landscape of international trade, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global market.

At its core, Payshiga is a catalyst for economic growth, seamlessly connecting businesses and consumers across borders. Specializing in cross-border commerce, Payshiga facilitates transactions that not only generate revenue for Nigeria but also contribute to the country's foreign exchange reserves. In an era where global connectivity is paramount, Payshiga's platform becomes the nexus for businesses seeking to expand their reach beyond national borders.

Functioning as the Alibaba of Africa, Ojah by Payshiga provides a comprehensive ecosystem for buyers and sellers, akin to the renowned Chinese giant. The platform serves as a marketplace where businesses can showcase their products and services, fostering a vibrant and diverse marketplace that reflects the richness of the African business landscape. Payshiga's commitment to excellence is evident in its user-friendly interface, cutting-edge technology, and secure payment infrastructure that ensures seamless and trustworthy transactions.

The solution provided by Ojah by Payshiga serves a diverse range of stakeholders, including African businesses, entrepreneurs, consumers, and communities, with a focus on directly and meaningfully improving their lives in several key ways.

    1. African Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Ojah targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual entrepreneurs across Africa who face significant challenges in accessing global markets. These businesses are often underserved due to limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to entry in international trade. Ojah's e-commerce platform offers them a unique opportunity to showcase their products to a global audience, thereby expanding their market reach and increasing their revenue potential. By providing access to international markets, Ojah empowers African businesses to grow, thrive, and compete on a global scale, ultimately leading to job creation, economic growth, and poverty alleviation within their communities.

   2. Underserved Communities: Many communities in Africa lack access to basic goods and services, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. Ojah's solution has the potential to uplift these underserved communities by creating economic opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting sustainable development. Through its inclusive approach, Ojah aims to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, empower marginalized groups, and drive positive social change at the grassroots level.

The team behind Shiga, led by Oseni Oluwatobi, Agoziem Daniel,and Tolulope, brings a unique blend of professional expertise, diverse backgrounds, and a deep understanding of the communities they aim to serve. While their credentials speak to their technical prowess and experience in various sectors, it's their proximity to the communities they serve that truly sets them apart.

Agoziem Daniel, with his experience in deploying solutions for Sterling Bank and fintech startups like Cassava, possesses a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by businesses operating in Africa. His technical expertise in web application design and development equips him to design and implement innovative solutions that address these challenges effectively.

Oseni Oluwatobi's extensive experience driving digital products in collaboration with organizations like UNESCO, GIZ, and Facebook demonstrates his commitment to leveraging technology for social impact. His background in finance and his status as a Chevening scholar further highlight his dedication to creating meaningful change in his community.

Tolulope, with his background as a medical doctor and experience as a small-business entrepreneur in Nigeria's startup ecosystem, brings a unique perspective to the team. His firsthand experience navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship in Africa positions him well to understand the needs and aspirations of local businesses and consumers.

The design and implementation of Shiga's solution are meaningfully guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities they serve. Through extensive research, consultations, and partnerships with local stakeholders, the team ensures that their solution is tailored to the specific needs and realities of African businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers. This community-centric approach not only enhances the relevance and effectiveness of their solution but also fosters trust, engagement, and ownership among the target population.

We currently have over 5000 users of our mobile app, and serve over 50 businesses.

As a team working on Shiga, we face several barriers across financial, technical, legal, cultural, and market domains that we believe Solve can help us overcome through its network of partners and support mechanisms.

Financial barriers are a significant challenge for us, particularly in terms of scaling our operations and reaching a broader audience. Solve's ability to connect us with potential investors, grant opportunities, or strategic partnerships can provide the financial support we need to expand our platform and infrastructure.

On the technical front, staying ahead of emerging technologies and ensuring the scalability and security of our platform are ongoing challenges. Solve can facilitate access to technical expertise, mentorship, or collaboration opportunities with tech companies to address these challenges effectively.

Navigating legal and regulatory frameworks, both domestically and internationally, presents another hurdle for us. Solve can connect us with legal experts or organizations specializing in regulatory compliance to ensure that we navigate these complexities effectively and mitigate legal risks.

Cultural barriers, such as language differences or cultural nuances, can impact the user experience and adoption of our platform in diverse markets. Solve can help us navigate these cultural barriers by providing insights, connections to local partners, or support in localization efforts.

Finally, breaking into new markets and competing with established players poses a significant challenge for us. Solve can facilitate introductions to potential partners, distributors, or industry experts in target markets, providing us with the market intelligence and networks needed to succeed.

Shiga's solution is innovative in several key ways that differentiate it from traditional approaches to cross-border e-commerce and payment infrastructure, potentially catalyzing broader positive impacts in the industry and transforming the market landscape.

1. Integrated E-commerce and Payment Infrastructure: Shiga offers a comprehensive solution by integrating both e-commerce and payment infrastructure into a single platform. This approach streamlines the entire transaction process, from product browsing to payment processing, providing users with a seamless and convenient experience. By eliminating the need for separate platforms or services, Shiga reduces friction in cross-border trade and enhances efficiency for both businesses and consumers.

2. Focus on African Businesses and Consumers: Shiga specifically targets African businesses and consumers, addressing their unique needs and challenges in accessing global markets and making international transactions. By prioritizing the African market, Shiga fills a crucial gap in the e-commerce and payment landscape, empowering local entrepreneurs, stimulating economic growth, and promoting financial inclusion across the continent.

3. Inclusive and Ethical Practices: Shiga is committed to promoting inclusive and ethical business practices, such as fair trade, transparency, and environmental sustainability. By providing a platform that supports responsible consumption and production, Shiga sets a positive example for the industry and encourages other players to adopt similar practices. This shift towards ethical commerce could have far-reaching impacts, driving positive change in consumer behavior, supply chain management, and corporate responsibility.

4. Leveraging Technology for Social Impact: Shiga leverages technology to address social challenges and promote positive social impact. Through its innovative platform, Shiga facilitates economic empowerment, cultural exchange, and community development, ultimately contributing to the achievement of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering a more equitable and sustainable future.

At Shiga, we believe our solution will have a significant impact on the problem of limited access to global markets and inefficient cross-border transactions for African businesses and consumers. Our theory of change outlines how our activities will lead to immediate outputs and longer-term outcomes for our target population.

Firstly, our activities involve the development and deployment of an integrated e-commerce platform and payment infrastructure specifically designed for African businesses and consumers. This platform will allow businesses to showcase their products to a global audience and enable consumers to make purchases conveniently and securely.

The immediate outputs of this activity include the establishment of an online marketplace, the integration of payment processing systems, and the onboarding of merchants and consumers onto the platform. These outputs directly address the barriers faced by African businesses and consumers in accessing global markets and making international transactions.

In the longer term, we expect these outputs to lead to several outcomes for our target population. Firstly, we anticipate increased market reach and revenue generation for African businesses, as they gain access to a larger customer base and tap into new markets. This outcome directly addresses the economic challenges faced by businesses in Africa and contributes to job creation and economic growth within their communities.

Secondly, we expect to see improved financial inclusion and accessibility for African consumers, as they gain access to a wider range of products and services through our platform. This outcome addresses the issue of limited consumer choice and purchasing options, particularly in underserved areas, and promotes greater economic empowerment and well-being among African consumers.

Furthermore, by promoting fair trade practices, transparency, and ethical business conduct through our platform, we anticipate broader positive impacts on the industry as a whole. This outcome contributes to a more sustainable and equitable global commerce ecosystem, fostering trust, integrity, and social responsibility among businesses and consumers alike.

Our impact goals for Shiga are centred around empowering African businesses and consumers, fostering economic growth, promoting financial inclusion, and driving positive social change across the continent. These impact goals serve as the guiding principles for all aspects of our work, shaping our strategies, decisions, and actions.

One of our primary impact goals is to increase market access and revenue generation for African businesses. We aim to enable businesses to reach a global audience through our e-commerce platform, leading to expanded market opportunities and increased sales. To measure our progress towards this goal, we track key indicators such as the number of businesses onboarded onto our platform, the volume of transactions processed, and the growth in revenue generated by participating merchants.

Another impact goal is to promote financial inclusion and accessibility for African consumers. We strive to provide consumers with access to a wider range of products and services, regardless of their location or financial background. To measure our progress towards this goal, we monitor indicators such as the number of consumers using our platform, the diversity of products available, and the adoption of alternative payment methods, such as mobile money or digital wallets.

For us at Shiga, we aim to foster economic empowerment and job creation within African communities. By supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, we seek to stimulate economic growth and reduce unemployment rates. To measure our progress towards this goal, we track indicators such as the number of jobs created by businesses using our platform, the growth in GDP contribution from participating sectors, and the development of new entrepreneurial ventures. We aspire to promote ethical business practices and environmental sustainability within the e-commerce industry. We aim to set a positive example for responsible consumption and production, fostering trust and integrity among businesses and consumers alike. To measure our progress towards this goal, we assess indicators such as adherence to fair trade principles, transparency in supply chains, and the implementation of environmentally friendly practices.

We are built from the ground up, and this means we built our payment engine to accept and process payments from over 170 countries, we also built our e-commerce platform to connect buyers with sellers. We use modern technologies to accept both payments and order collections.

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8 months

At Shiga, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are integral to our core values. Our leadership team reflects diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity. We actively recruit and retain diverse talent, set goals for DEI advancement, and implement inclusive policies and practices. We prioritize open communication, mutual respect, and collaboration, creating a welcoming environment where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute. DEI is not just a goal but a fundamental principle that guides our actions and decisions, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed within our organization.