Kevin Mpofu's New Entry

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Kevin Mpofu's New Entry: Sustainable Container Housing & Retail space

Harare, ZimbabweHarare, Zimbabwe
Year Founded:
2015
Organization type: 
hybrid
Project Stage:
Start-Up
Budget: 
$10,000 - $50,000
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

We aim to develop shipping container malls aimed at providing affordable retail space for low-income people, newcomers, youth and people facing
barriers to starting a business. The business also focuses largely at university student housing, providing affordable housing.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

What if student housing problems were a thing of the past? What if young people were able to start their business with way cheaper rental costs?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Insufficient high cost retail space in urban areas. A lack in housing for university students all over the world

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

Recycle and refurbish used shipping containers into shops,office space and student housing.

Awards

Zimbabwe Junior Council Business Awards
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

The number of used shipping containers in Africa has increased drastically over the recent years. This is because we import more goods than we export so most of the shipping containers end up landlocked in Africa. These shipping container are ideal for recycling into retail space, offices and housing. Instead of using the conventional "brick and mortar" shipping containers can used instead. It is cheapers, takes way less time in construction (it can take 1 year to construct a skyscapper compared to 5-7 years of the same using bricks).

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

The work is still in conceptual stage but its no debate that it will change the African landscape and reduce unemployment. The future of the project is to move from retail spaces, student housing, car parks, restaurants into finally tall rental buildings and luxury housing.

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

retail spaces & restaurants (engage the private sector) --> student housing (engage government) --> high rise building and luxury housing (engage global market).
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

Rental retail structure. As we grow into a real estate company.

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Tempo housing in Nigeria. The project differs in that they are more focused on residential housing but we have taken a different approach by focusing more on retail spaces,malls and giving much preference to the youth or those of low income in Africa.
Team

Founding Story

My partner and I are currently university students about to graduate at the Chinhoyi University of Technology . After experiencing a lot of hardships in student housing we realized that why not try and solve this problem for the future generation? That is when we started doing research and came across the use of used shipping containers. From then we expanded our business with the youth & high unemployment in mind.

Team

CastleFair Zimbabwe is a Private Limited Company owned by Daniel Tinashe Prosper and Kevin Mpofu. CastleFair’s management is highly experienced and qualified. Mr. Daniel has experience in the construction and engineering industry. Mr Mpofu has vast experience in marketing, sales and business management.
Background
Please confirm how you heard about the Unilever Awards:

Via website. kubatana.net

Please confirm your role in the initiative (eg Founder/co-Founder) and your organisational title:

Co-Founder

Which of the 8 UN Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) pre-selected for this competition does your solution relate most closely to? [select all that apply]

Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Leadership and the Unilever Awards
Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.

Advertising and marketing company.
Non-governmental organisation: luyandauthando.org

Beyond your existing team, who else are you working with to achieve your objectives, eg partners, advisors, mentors?

None.

File attachments: 
PDF icon castlefair_zimbabwe_eexcutive_business_summary-1.pdf