Searching for solutions to environmental threats, which endanger the survival of the human species on Earth, is the order of the day as well as in the business sphere. After all, in view of finite natural resources and climate emergencies, finding sustainable ways of production, marketing and circulation of goods and merchandise is now absolutely necessary.
It is taking into account this perspective that calls gain attention greentechs, startups focused on sustainability. The objective of these technological projects is to develop innovative solutions so that the productive transformation takes place in an efficient and economically attractive way, that is, positive for the planet and also for business.
As greentechs, ou startups green, do not act in a specific segment, quite the opposite! Wherever there is an opportunity to use technologies such as artificial intelligence or others to optimize processes and reduce environmental impacts, there will always be room for them. From the improvement of agricultural processes to urban transport, passing through energy production systems or waste management, for example.
This is a booming market which, according to a report by Allied Market Research, was estimated at $6,85 billion in 2018 and should jump to $ 44,61 billion in 2026.
And in the national digital entrepreneurship ecosystem there is a “green startups” that since 2019 has had a glimpse of its innovative and promising business system, in an area where our country must improve as a whole. We talk about angowaste, which presents itself as a platform that connects waste generators or aggregators with the recycling industry.
To better understand the past, present and future involving Angowaste, which last week was ranked 2nd in the Unitel Go Challenge Contest, Menos Fios went to talk to Ana Quintas, Co-Founder and CEO of the startup.
Right from the start, Ana Quintas starts to explain to us that the environmental education on waste separation that she had caused a “significant impact on my life that followed me into adulthood. When I return to Luanda after completing my university studies, I felt some frustration for not having a place to dispose of my separate waste, as the municipal collection system was not and still is not segregated.“. Having verified this problem, the CEO says that the “The idea was essentially to find a solution that would solve the problem of waste management inefficiency, but it wouldn't essentially have to be a technological solution” but luckily to your background Management and later an MBA, which was an idea ended up becoming a project, a project that has now become a startup almost instinctively.
BUT: ANGOWASTE, National ClimateLaunchpad Angola Champion
About what Angowaste really is, Ana Quintas says “which is a digital platform for the sale of waste that connects generators or aggregators of recyclable waste with recycling companies or that use recyclable waste in their production process", and that its differentiability "is the fact that it is the first digital solution for the waste market in the country, which is currently 'invisible' in the eyes of the majority of the population and somewhat unorganized.”
Angowaste's organization does not stop there, according to the full complement of its founders, since the project that consists of the startup controls the production, transaction and disposal of waste in a simple way, as well as automatically creates periodic reports to comply with legal obligations and better manage your business.
And on legal issues, namely on Angolan environmental legislation, was another issue addressed in the interview, where Ana Quintas says that “o country is not poorly served", What a "the problem is the lack of control and enforcement mechanisms for cases of non-compliance. In the specific case of waste management, the regulatory body must be able to ensure that actors in the recycling value chain comply with obtaining licenses that make them suitable for the activity. There is, however, room for improvement, particularly with regard to legislation for a waste market through a digital platform. Here we have a gap“. In the Founder's opinion, until this happens, Angola will continue to fall short of the achievement of ODs 12 – Responsible consumption and production.
Ana Quintas went even further in her startup's goals on Angolan environmental legislation, considering that “Angowaste wants to position itself as a partner of the National Waste Agency, as the platform will produce Big Data and important information on the waste market: type of waste most traded, geographic location, prices charged and final destination given to them."
On the walk here, the Co-Founder exclaims that the “Angowaste has gone through a market validation process only possible through direct contact with actors operating in the field of waste management in the country", and that due to "difficulty in obtaining public information about the sector, this process has taken some time, which was also used in the development of the platform.".
Also in the interview, Ana Quintas informs that another form of validation of the project has been through the participation of contests, contests where Angowaste has sought to obtain feedback from the national innovation ecosystem in face of the entry of a cleantech On the scene. And so far the results have been surprisingly positive, reports the entrepreneur.
"The acceleration program at Founder Institute Luanda is the result of an award for having won the first edition of Startup Weekend in Angola. We also recently won the first national edition of Climate Launchpad, the largest competition for “green” startups in the world and after the African semi-regional we managed to guarantee a place in the global competition event, taking place at the end of October 2021. And finally, having been among the three startups awarded in the Unitel Go Challence contest, the largest Angolan digital business competition, makes us believe even more in the need for a solution like ours in the market".
BUT: UNITEL Go Challenge 2021 reaches final gala
About the fact that many label Angowaste as a different startup, compared to what many are used to seeing in our digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, Ana Quintas says that “big difference is in the fact that it is a “green” startup, or a “CleanTech”, which so far we have no outstanding example in our innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, it solves one of the biggest problems affecting the urban population in the country – inefficient waste management. And all this through a business model, that is, with financial profitability” stresses.
Finally, he adds that the purpose is to dynamize the national circular economy, create jobs within the recycling value chain, stimulate entrepreneurship (creating waste aggregation businesses that can be sold through the Angowaste platform), dignifying work informal waste picker, stimulating the creation of cooperatives and contributing to the diversification of the economy.
"Above all, we are keen to prove that it is possible to have a profitable, scalable and environmentally sustainable business, given that Angola has a waste recovery potential estimated at over US$600 million. It is something that has already been proven in other countries and could not be different at home. And yes, we want to be pioneers when it comes to green startups / Cleantechs and we feel that we are ready for that."
