iGas, Kenyan Startup Unveils Digital LPG Marketplace
A Kenyan business called iGas has introduced a digital LPG marketplace with the goal of easing last-mile delivery, price, and accessibility issues to speed up access to clean cooking.
iGas, a company that was founded in 2021 but only recently became publicly accessible, allows gas sellers, whether they are residential or commercial, to set up online stores from which clients may buy gas through the iGas app.
Vendors receive shop visibility, digital company management, sales analytics, and periodic reports. Customers can access the nearest recognized LPG stores, enjoy a simple purchasing process, and choose from a variety of money alternatives and payment methods.
According to iGas founder and CEO Michael Rapudo, “We are combining the consumer purchase data to develop a credit scoring model we will use to issue small personal and MSME loans, as well as customized insurance products.”
Rapudo claimed that having grown up in a rural area of Kenya, where firewood and charcoal are the primary sources of energy for cooking, had made him more aware of the insidious harm done to the ecosystem over time.
“When I came home in 2020, the forest covers were gone, the farm lands were ruined by large gulleys from flash floods, and the rates of drought had increased,” he claimed. “As a climate change activist, I felt that LPG should be used as a source of clean cooking to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
Such an endeavor is being made by iGas, a bootstrapped business that has already signed up over 100 vendors and processed over 1,000 transactions. The firm is currently looking for seed capital for additional product development and aggressive marketing as it establishes initial traction while working hard to integrate even more vendors and with aspirations to grow outside of Kenya.
“Each transaction carries a commission fee. Given how recently we launched, the sales figures are encouraging, according to Rapudo.
“Running a startup has many moving pieces, but keeping an open mind, being willing to learn at all times, and being resilient has given me the stability to keep moving forward. We have been able to overcome many obstacles along the way because we have a clear vision that the entire team works towards.
