How One Entrepreneur Makes use of Tech to Enhance Lives

Hugh Molotsi believes “expertise ought to assist enhance individuals’s lives.” That was his “tenet” for the 22 years he labored at Intuit, the place he constructed modern options for entrepreneurs.

However, he says, after many years of residing and dealing in Silicon Valley, he realized that whereas “expertise has the potential to be egalitarian in its skill to present individuals new instruments to enhance their high quality of life,” he noticed “how straightforward it’s for corporations to lose sight of that and focus their efforts purely on driving innovation that largely advantages individuals of upper monetary means.”

So Molotsi determined to sort out the problem head-on and based Ujama (which suggests prolonged household in Swahili), a messaging platform that helps join communities. From there, Molotsi launched a farmers market app referred to as Soko, which is Swahili for “market.”

To be much more inclusive, Molotsi developed a approach for SNAP recipients to purchase more healthy meals at farmers markets. SNAP is the Supplemental Diet Help Program, the nation’s largest authorities program offering advantages to eligible low-income people and households who purchase meals utilizing an Digital Advantages Switch (EBT) card.

I just lately talked to Molotsi to study extra about how his present for innovation and his pivot to entrepreneurship helps enhance individuals’s lives.

Rieva Lesonsky:What prompted you to start out your individual firm? After which launch Soko?

HughMolotsi: I started Ujama with a easy query: “What can I construct that can assist the most individuals, no matter their revenue or class standing?” Initially, that took the type of constructing an app that helped mother and father create supportive networks of mutual assist in childcare and transportation. And whereas we had success in constructing the app and rising its consumer base to over 12,000 mother and father, the Covid-19 pandemic pressured our momentum to a grinding halt. Folks started working from house, children not wanted to carpool to and from college, and instantly this want I used to be making an attempt to resolve all however disappeared.

Nonetheless, a brand new want grew to become obvious: how do individuals store for meals safely? For giant field grocery shops, this meant a fast shift to on-line buying and supply, however this excluded arguably one of the best supply for wholesome, sustainable meals: native farmers markets.

Because of this we developed Soko, a free app that helps anybody with a smartphone discover farmers markets close to them. It offers them the instruments to have interaction distributors and store remotely, and a safe strategy to pay electronically, whether or not by the app or buying in particular person.

Lesonsky: You simply began processing SNAP funds, a brand new follow for farmers markets.

Molotsi: We just lately launched the power to course of SNAP funds on the Saratoga Prince of Peace [Farmers] Market. Our present resolution works with a third-party platform and replaces the bodily tokens given to SNAP recipients with Soko credit score vouchers (digital), making the method extra environment friendly.

We’re within the technique of getting approval from the USDA to immediately course of SNAP funds on our platform, which can additional present ease and effectivity to the method.

Lesonsky: Why is it necessary for farmers markets to simply accept SNAP or EBT funds?

Molotsi: Yearly, of the over $100 billion spent on SNAP, solely $25 million is spent at farmers markets. [Being able to use] SNAP funds at farmers markets means extra SNAP recipients can eat contemporary, healthful, and regionally grown meals, and extra native farmers and small companies will thrive.

Lesonsky: What are shoppers’ reactions to the app and the SNAP/EBT fee choices?

Molotsi: Our app is very rated within the app shops, and we get complimented for our ease of use. Many shoppers have been pleasantly shocked to find by Soko that there are a lot of extra farmers markets close by than they beforehand thought. We anticipate comparable reactions to automated SNAP/EBT funds.

Lesonsky: What drawback does Soko clear up for households depending on SNAP? 

Molotsi: Soko makes it simpler for SNAP recipients to make use of their advantages to buy produce at farmers markets. On the identical time, the automated SNAP/EBT funds will make it simpler for farmers markets to course of funds and incentives (like matching funds for SNAP recipients).

Lesonsky: How is the Soko app totally different?

Molotsi: Farmers markets are nice for communities. They supply shoppers with contemporary and healthful produce, and assist native farmers and companies. Soko’s aim is to have farmers markets, and the individuals who promote there, thrive and develop. In contrast to some farm-to-table platforms, Soko doesn’t search to displace farmers markets, however as a substitute works with them to construct extra enterprise. Soko additionally allows each vendor on our platform to develop a following to allow them to all the time talk with their prospects.

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Lesonsky: We hear a lot about meals deserts in impoverished communities the place getting high quality, nutritious produce is difficult, if not unimaginable. How will the Soko app and the acceptance of SNAP funds make it simpler to convey farmers markets to those communities? 

Molotsi:Meals deserts are a major reason for poor diet and persistent well being points in lower-income communities. Farmers markets are an environment friendly and efficient treatment for meals deserts. In contrast to the capital required to construct a grocery retailer, a farmers market may be held on the level of want—at an accessible car parking zone or by cordoning off just a few road blocks.

The problem of launching new farmers’ markets is a “chilly begin” drawback—getting sufficient distributors to enroll, concern about managing a probably giant quantity of SNAP funds, and getting sufficient shoppers to make it value their whereas.

When Soko will get to essential mass, we’ll be capable to mitigate the chilly begin drawback as a result of our platform will likely be an efficient channel for managing SNAP funds and speaking with each distributors and prospects.

Lesonsky: How can different companies assist assist farmers markets and get them in meals deserts?

Molotsi: Farmers markets can use assist getting the phrase out. If your online business is in a meals desert, you possibly can assist by providing a location for a brand new market and telling your prospects about upcoming farmers market dates.

Lesonsky: What’s subsequent for Soko? When will this be accessible at farmers markets all through the nation?

Molotsi: We have already got a nationwide database of over 2,500 farmers markets listed within the app, so regardless of the place you’re within the U.S., you’ll find the closest one. We even have greater than 100 markets with totally populated vendor directories.

In 2023 we are going to proceed to construct our Soko app group so prospects can talk immediately with farmers market managers, particular person farmers and distributors, and our automated SNAP fee resolution to make contemporary, healthful meals accessible to extra individuals.

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