CheCha - With ADA Wallets

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# Problem Statement

Zimbabwe has a change problem, in many ways, but literally in terms of the supply of USD small change. Many people rely on USD to avoid inflation, however only notes that are generally available are 10 USD and above. If the transaction amount is less than what you pay you must negotiate the terms of reimbursement, every single transaction.

As a customer, you have a number of options;

• Add items you didn't necessarily want to your cart, trying to meet an even number
• Collect a non-transferable paper voucher, in some cases just a signed paper
• Forgo the difference, trusting that the teller will remember for a future transaction
• Get paid out in Zimbabwe notes, opening yourself up to inflation

Paper based vouchers are starting to become the de-facto solution that respectable businesses are choosing, but they bring with them their own set of problems;

• They are easily lost, as they don't follow a physical format that is easy to track
• They deteriorate, becoming invalid
• They are not redeemable at other vendors
• Some vendors you will not visit again in months, and potentially ever, siloing the value into the vouchers
• It benefits the vendors, encourages them to distribute these vouchers, but with little or no legal requirements on redemption

# Solution

CheCha is a digital voucher system, which was developed for Zimbabwe, by a Zimbabwean. It was developed using React Native and is already deployed to Apple and Google app stores.

CheCha acts as a trusted third party for customers to provide vendors with micro-loans. Vendors can enter into partner networks, issuing vouchers into a closed-loop system. The application in its current form never holds a financial balance, but rather formalizes the existing trend, while auditing participating vendors.

As well as addressing all of the above problems with paper vouchers, customers now additionally have the ability to transfer their debt between vendors, giving the voucher even greater utility. Furthermore the business model does not rely on transaction fees which are roughly 3-5 times the global average in Zimbabwe for transactions below $10.

As mentioned above this solution is already on the market, however I see even greater potential by introducing an embedded ADA wallet alongside the USD vouchers, allowing users to trade between them, and providing a trusted mechanism for Zimbabweans to become owners of Blockchain assets.

# Proposal

This will be my first proposal, having participated in the Catalyst in various groups for the better part of the year, I still feel out of my depth, especially as an entrepreneur in this space. Your feedback, and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

This proposal seeks to slowly introduce Cardano to the application. My approach is to create some realistic objectives that can be achieved before the opening of the next round of funding, at which point I will have an improved understanding of the direction CheCha needs to take.

This proposal does not cover the full cost of going to market, and may require additional support as part of Fund 7. I am confident in the project, and require only a solid team to carry the vision to its maximum potential.

My reasoning is as follows:

• Request less funds, as this project is well suited this specific challenge, and I don't want to exclude other proposals.
• Have time to foster interest in CheCha itself, developing the idea, and expanding on its feature set with Blockchain in mind.
• Develop relationships and further partnerships in the Catalyst community based on the exposure this proposal creates.
• I have a number of ideas for how to take the product to market. A marketing budget would simply accelerate adoption.

# State of Project

CheCha was a project I developed personally, however lacked capital to complete the project, and chose instead to pursue my career. I am confident in the time I have available to fulfill my duties as a project lead, and should I need to be more involved I will take unpaid leave.

The project was never marketed, however I had 100 users sign-up based on a Facebook post I published to a private Bulawayo group. Bulawayo is the smaller of the two major cities in Zimbabwe. 2 vendors are participating in the pilot program. Due to budget constraints the launch date has been delayed.

# Intellectual Property

CheCha is a Zimbabwe registered company, and retains its rights to income earned from the digital USD voucher system, and may impose fees to transfers in and out of the ADA wallet. The wallet will function otherwise as a normal ADA wallet.

CheCha has the duties of related to the service, and must be profitable. That being said my plan is not to profit from CheCha, but become known as a trusted company for Blockchain and Fin-tech in Zimbabwe, and hopefully solving a very annoying reality we face daily.

# Objectives

In summary, we will install alongside the familiar USD voucher system in CheCha the ADA wallet alternative, simultaneously hardening security and code quality, and prepare a follow up proposal to take this to the people!

# Plan

Onboard React Native developer

• Create Wire-frames
• Implement UI changes
• Asset and report on quality of code
• Refactor, time permitted

Onboard developer experience with JS/TS ADA wallet integration

• Implement embedded wallet
• Collaborative brainstorming and scoping for Fund 7
• Be an active Catalyst community member
• Asset and report and security of code

Create a Zimbabwe marketing strategy

• Engage with consultants and report on plan of actions
• Create a 2 minute promotion video in anticipation of launch
• Prepare for Fund 7 Proposal

Create CheCha website using Gatsby

# Budget

• Development Lead (4 hr/week * 12 weeks @ $65/hr = $3120)
• React Native Developer (30hr/week * 12 weeks @ $40/hr = $14400)
• Wallet integrator (40hr @ $50/hr = $2000)
• Market Strategist (80hr @ $40/hr = $3200)
• Website Developer (80hr @ $35/hr = $2800)
• Promo Video ($3000)
• => Total $28520

# Team

=> Anthony Jackson - Project Lead

💻 Software Architect (10+ years)
📈 Business Consultant
🚀 Entrepreneur
🇿🇼 African (proudly Zimbabwean)
🧠 Son of a Philosopher
🤝 Advocate of Liquid Democracy
🐧 Open-Source Developer
❓ Asbergers

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyza/
https://github.com/expelledboy
https://betaplum.com

=> Sacha Robinson - Head of Marketing

 Sacha is the founder/CEO of Dung Beetle Farms, with over 200 investors and Founder of Wutano Life Trust which has a supplier network of over 100 professional suppliers providing services to Wutano members.

https://wutano.com/wutano-trustees

=>TBA

- React Native Developer
- ADA Wallet Developer

# Partnerships

=> West Africa Decentralized Alliance (WADA)

Skilled team of Cardano community practitioners and entrepreneurs, located in hubs across Africa and the diaspora.

WADA is looking to host hackathons in Zimbabwe, as part of the Planting Roots in Africa initiative, which I am very excited to participate in myself. CheCha will be used to market the value chain to developers, and the community at large. The strategic deployment of both projects in Zimbabwe will make Cardano a household name, and ignite interest entrepreneurs to participate in Catalyst!

https://wadalliance.org/

=> Wutano 

Sacha Robinson (Founder), is building, isolated from the Blockchain community, a company with a truly decentralized vision. As a fellow entrepreneur and Zimbabwean, working to make our country great again, our objectives are aligned.

Wutano seeks to build a crowdfunded model of healthcare, well-being, and wealth creation. The closest explanation of the vision would be the NHS for Africa. The website gives a good introduction to the size of the Wutano network. Sacha wishes to bring CheCha into the fold, alongside a Digital Transformation program of Wutano onto the Blockchain.

CheCha is easy to understand, but Wutano inspires me to be hopeful of the future in Zimbabwe, and beyond.

# Timeline

I have planned this specifically to be in alignment with the next round of funding. I expect all work to be completed, and ready for presentation to the community! The estimate is on the high-water market in terms of competencies quoted to estimated development work. My hope is that I can find cheaper resources, and focus on marketing to the pilot vendors.

• 1 Month (prior to funding): Have team approved by community
• 3 Months: Have an ADA wallet integrated into CheCha
• 6 Months: Onboard 10 pilot vendors
• 12 Months: Develop trust in Blockchain wallets, and have 5000 ADA wallets enrolled

# Q&A

How I address the challenge question?

=> How can we enable the creation of micro-lending and Defi dApp solutions that fits the African setting?

CheCha is a formalization of the existing trend, that solves a problem unique to Zimbabweans. This is already a micro-lending platform. An ADA wallet integration will provide an alternative means of remittance, and by not forcing this as the primary wallet, allow people to painlessly adopt starting from what they are familiar with.

What is the desired outcome?

To enable vendors and customers to transfer small USD change, with low transaction fees. We also see the ability to open a local charity donation portal, and perhaps even allow purchase of mobile data bundles and other value added services.

What are the blocking problems?

• Zimbabwean banks have high transaction fees
• The country is being devastated by hyper inflation
• People use USD cash, but don't have access to small denominations
• CheCha needs a bigger team, to improve security, and marketing

How are we solving a problem?

By asking the local community, we developed a product. It translate directly a process that they already understand. ADA wallets will add another dimension of value exchange, which they can opt into. We provide a simple mechanism to do so. It would become the easiest way to get into crypto in Zimbabwe.

In regards to Fund 7: What might the next steps will look like?

While I have no doubt the project direction will evolve based exposure to this community, F7 proposal budget will mostly consist of costs related to sales, and development of marketing materials, and integrations with other ADA token based wallets that serve Zimbabweans. I also really want to create a charity portal! My mother is a supporter of SPCA, but they are not doing to good. And even without being rewarded a second funding round I expect the product to generate enough data to project the profits, and be able to find investment to continue regardless. I have created financial projections, with various billing models, and the project can only fail due to pour implementation, or government intervention.

How will you ensure that ADA is not only embedded into CheCha but also used?

Zimbabweans, unfortunately, have been subject to many Bitcoin scams. Those who were desperate invested everything, and lost everything. The term "crypto" is generally frowned upon. Incorporating a blockchain wallet into CheCha will discourage adoption, at first. What is important is that an ADA wallet will be presented side-by-side with the USD voucher equivalent. Inflation in USD will generate interest, and furthermore the understanding that you "hold" ADA compared to the debt based voucher is also a boon. Not forcing CheCha to be a blockchain wallet, but by providing the option, liquidity and a trading mechanism will foster trust. It is my opinion that this is the best approach for Zimbabwe.

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