Complete Business Plan

Executive Summary¶

The Opportunity¶

African businesses, particularly in Zimbabwe, face significant challenges with tax compliance and currency management. Small businesses entering the VAT bracket struggle with expensive, feature-limited compliance solutions while navigating complex multi-currency environments. The current market offers either basic compliance tools at $10/month with minimal features, or expensive POS systems at $12/month per device plus $200 hardware costs.

wïva addresses this gap with a flexible, affordable invoicing solution that prioritizes tax compliance while offering sophisticated multi-currency handling tailored to African markets.

The Solution¶

wïva is a mobile-first invoicing and point of sale application that solves tax compliance challenges starting with Zimbabwe's VAT system and ZIMRA integration, with plans to expand across East and West Africa. The platform offers modular pricing ($3-5 per feature), a premium tier ($20-50/month), and a free basic tier, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes while remaining profitable.

Market Entry & Traction Goals¶

Launch: December 2025 (aligned with Zimbabwe tax year-end)
Target: 100 paying customers by Month 6
Expansion: Uganda & Tanzania (Q4 2026), then Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria
Long-term Vision: Leading tax compliance platform across Africa

Financial Highlights¶

Business Model: Freemium with feature-based subscriptions and bundles
Customer Lifetime Value: 5+ years average retention
Customer Acquisition Cost: ~$50 per customer (direct sales), near-zero (referrals)
Funding Status: Currently bootstrapped with potential $100K investment under discussion
Runway: 6 months current operations capacity

Competitive Advantages¶

Superior multi-currency handling for volatile African markets
Lock-step compliance updates with regulatory changes
Modular pricing flexible to business needs
Mobile-first user experience with continuous A/B testing
Superior customer support
Innovative features competitors haven't identified yet

Company Overview¶

Mission Statement¶

To empower African businesses with simple, compliant, and powerful invoicing and sales tools that adapt to local market complexities while enabling growth and profitability.

Vision¶

Become the leading tax compliance, sales and financial management platform across Africa, expanding from invoicing into adjacent services including accounting, payroll, inventory management, and blockchain-verified transactions.

Core Values¶

Compliance First: Accuracy and regulatory adherence are non-negotiable
Local Excellence: Deep understanding of African market nuances
User Empowerment: Tools that grow with businesses
Continuous Innovation: Always ahead of market needs
Accessible Technology: Powerful features at fair prices

Company Structure¶

Current Status: Solo founder-led, bootstrapped

Founder/CEO/CTO: Alexander Baxter (Technical & Product Development, Business Strategy, Political/Regulatory Domain Expertise)

Planned Team Expansion: - Potential Technical Co-founder (strategic technical leadership, experience with apps at scale, business experience) - Head of Sales (potential investor arrangement - $100K investment) - Support staff (as needed based on customer growth) - Tax compliance advisors (existing relationships to be formalized)

Legal & Compliance¶

Entity formation in Zimbabwe and UK
ZIMRA registration and API access
Partnerships with licensed tax consultants
Future: Entity formation in expansion markets (Uganda, Tanzania, etc.)

Market Analysis¶

Target Market¶

Primary Market (Year 1): Zimbabwe

Market Size: - Small businesses and sole proprietors entering VAT registration threshold - Estimated addressable market: 1,000+ businesses annually reaching VAT threshold - Medium-sized enterprises (secondary market as feature set matures)

Target Customer Profile:

Early Adopters (Year 1): - Small businesses with $20K+ annual revenue (approaching VAT threshold) - 1-10 employees - Limited technical resources - Currently using manual systems or basic spreadsheets or free pos services - Pain points: ZIMRA compliance complexity, currency volatility, invoice tracking, employee auditability

Growth Segment (Years 2-3): - Medium-sized businesses with established operations - 10-50 employees - Need for more comprehensive features - Integration requirements with existing systems

Industry Focus: - Retail (bars, restaurants, small shops) - Professional services (consultants, freelancers) - Trade and distribution - Service businesses (salons, repairs, etc.)

Market Dynamics¶

Zimbabwe Market Characteristics:

Currency Complexity: Multiple concurrent currencies (USD, ZWG, ZAR) requiring sophisticated pricing models
Compliance Requirements: ZIMRA VAT compliance, QPD (Quarterly Payment Dates), FDMS integration, Year End Return
Digital Adoption: Growing smartphone penetration, mobile-first economy
Cash Flow Sensitivity: Small businesses operate on tight margins, price-sensitive
Trust Factor: High value on personal relationships and referrals

Regional Expansion Markets:

Phase 1 (Q4 2026): Uganda & Tanzania - Similar FDMS systems to Zimbabwe - Growing SMB sectors - Increasing digital payment adoption - Combined market: 50,000+ potential VAT-registered businesses

Phase 2 (2027): Kenya, Zambia - Larger, more mature markets - Stronger digital infrastructure - Higher ARPU potential - Combined market: 100,000+ potential customers

Phase 3 (2028+): Ghana, Nigeria - Massive market opportunity - More complex regulatory environments - Requires localized partnerships - Combined market: 500,000+ potential customers

Market Trends¶

Digital Transformation: African governments pushing digital tax systems
Compliance Enforcement: Increasing penalties for non-compliance
Mobile Commerce: Growth in mobile payments and digital invoicing
SMB Formalization: More businesses entering formal economy
Cloud Adoption: Increasing acceptance of SaaS solutions

Market Entry Timing¶

Critical Success Factor: December 2025 launch aligns with: - Zimbabwe tax year-end (December 31) - January 2026: Businesses reaching VAT threshold seek solutions - Q1: High season for business planning and system adoption - August 2026: Retail/hospitality features ready for post-winter season

Product & Services¶

Core Product: wïva Invoicing Platform¶

Platform Architecture: - Native Android application (Kotlin) - Cloud backend (Supabase/Svelte) - Real-time ZIMRA integration - Multi-device support with centralized data

Feature Set¶

Free Tier (Basic Features): - Basic invoice creation and management - Basic expense capture - Basic currency support - Data export - Printer integration - Zimra FDMS integration

Modular Features ($3-5/month each or one-time purchase): - POS integration - Multi-currency and tiered pricing - Advanced reporting and analytics - Expense tracking - Customer management (CRM-lite) with customer wallet - Inventory tracking - Recurring invoices - Custom branding - Cloud access - Export to accounting formats - Vat return preparation

Premium Tier ($20/month initial, $50/month future): - All current features included - QPD tracking and reminders - Real-time compliance updates - Priority support - Advanced analytics dashboard - Bulk operations - Team collaboration features - Compliance audit trail

Future Premium Features (justifying $50 price point): - Full accounting module - Payroll processing - Inventory management system - Multi-location support - Blockchain transaction verification - Cross-border invoicing - Banking and payment integrations - Advanced tax optimization tools

Specialized Features¶

Zimbabwe-Specific: 1. Multi-Currency Engine: Intelligent handling of USD, ZWG with automatic rate updates 2. ZIMRA Compliance: Real-time VAT calculations, compliant invoice formatting, digital signatures 3. QPD Management: Automated tracking, payment reminders, submission assistance 4. Currency Risk Tools: Pricing strategies to maintain profitability during currency fluctuations

Vertical-Specific (Roadmap): 1. Retail/POS Mode (August 2026): Fast checkout interface for bars, restaurants, small shops 2. Professional Services: Time tracking, project-based invoicing 3. Trade/Distribution: Stock management, purchase orders

Technology Stack¶

Frontend: Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, Svelte
Backend: Supabase (PostgreSQL, Auth, Real-time, Storage)
Infrastructure: Kubernetes-ready, scalable architecture
APIs: ZIMRA integration, currency rate feeds, payment gateways
Security: End-to-end encryption, row-level security, SOC 2 compliance (future)

Product Development Roadmap¶

Q4 2025 (Launch): - Core invoicing functionality - Basic ZIMRA compliance - Multi-currency support - Free and first paid tier

Q1 2026: - QPD feature (ahead of first QPD deadline) - Enhanced customer management - Referral program launch - Initial integrations

Q2-Q3 2026: - Retail/POS features - Advanced analytics - Expense tracking - Mobile optimization improvements

Q4 2026: - Uganda & Tanzania EFMS integration - Multi-country support - API marketplace - Blockchain pilot

2027-2028: - Full accounting suite - Payroll module - Inventory management - Expansion to Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria

Competitive Analysis¶

Current Market Players¶

Category 1: Basic Compliance Tools ($10-19/month)

Characteristics: - Minimal features beyond basic compliance - Quickbooks xero excel integration - Basic UI/UX - Reactive support - Single-purpose tools

wïva Advantages: - More comprehensive feature set - Better UX with continuous optimization - Proactive compliance updates - Multi-currency sophistication - Modular pricing flexibility

Category 2: POS System Providers ($12/month + $200 hardware)

Characteristics: - Hardware-dependent - High upfront costs - Locked into single vendor - Limited to retail/hospitality - Per-device pricing

wïva Advantages: - Software-only, device-agnostic - Lower total cost of ownership - Scalable without hardware investment - Broader application beyond POS - Single subscription covers multiple devices

Category 3: International Accounting Software

Examples: QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho

Characteristics: - Not built for African compliance - Expensive ($30-70/month) - Overly complex for small businesses - Poor local currency handling - Limited local support

wïva Advantages: - Built specifically for African markets - Compliance-first design - Appropriate complexity level - Superior currency handling - Local expertise and support

Category 4: Manual/Spreadsheet Systems

Characteristics: - Error-prone - Non-compliant - Time-consuming - No automation - Risk of penalties

wïva Advantages: - Automated compliance - Error reduction - Time savings - Peace of mind - Professional appearance

Competitive Positioning¶

wïva Position: Premium value - significantly better than basic tools, more accessible than international solutions, perfectly tailored to African SMB needs.

Unique Value Propositions: 1. Only solution that truly understands African multi-currency complexity 2. Most affordable path to full compliance 3. Scalable from sole proprietor to medium enterprise 4. Fastest response to regulatory changes 5. Community-driven feature development

Barriers to Entry for Competitors¶

Deep Compliance Expertise: Requires intimate knowledge of local tax systems
Multi-Currency Sophistication: Complex technical challenge
Local Partnerships: Established relationships with tax authorities and advisors
First-Mover Advantage: Early customers create switching costs
Continuous Innovation: Features competitors haven't anticipated yet

Competitive Response Risks & Mitigation¶

Risk: Established players lower prices or add features

Mitigation: - Focus on superior UX and customer experience - Rapid feature development cycle - Lock-in through ecosystem integrations - Community building and brand loyalty - Stay ahead with innovative features

Risk: International players adapt to African markets

Mitigation: - Deeper local expertise and support - More agile response to regulatory changes - Better understanding of local business practices - Price advantage through efficient operations - Strategic partnerships with local institutions

Marketing & Sales Strategy¶

Go-to-Market Strategy¶

Phase 1 (Months 1-6): Foundation Building

Focus: Establish credibility, acquire first 100 customers, refine product-market fit

Primary Channels: 1. Direct Sales 2. Referral Program 3. Strategic Partnerships

Channel Strategy Details¶

1. Direct Sales

Approach: - Founder-led initially (Alexander) - Head of Sales (potential investor) to build team - Targeted outreach to businesses approaching VAT threshold - Personalized demos and onboarding - Consultative selling approach

Target CAC: $50 per customer

Activities: - Business networking events - Chamber of Commerce engagement - Industry association partnerships - LinkedIn outreach - Warm introductions through advisors

2. Referral Program

Structure: - Customer referrals: 2 months free service for both parties - Advisor referrals: Revenue share (10-15%) - Partner referrals: Tiered commission structure

Target CAC: Near-zero (existing customer advocacy)

Enablement: - Easy sharing tools within app - Referral dashboard - Automated reward fulfillment - Case studies and testimonials

3. Strategic Partnerships

Accountants & Tax Consultants: - Co-marketing arrangements - Training and certification program - Commission on referred customers (15-20%) - White-label dashboard options - Preferred partner badges

Business Advisors & Consultants: - Recommend wïva to clients entering VAT bracket - Joint workshops and webinars - Commission structure - Educational content co-creation

Industry Associations: - Sponsorships and speaking opportunities - Member benefits/discounts - Co-branded resources

Target Partners (Year 1): - 10-15 accounting firms - 5-10 business consultants - 2-3 industry associations

Marketing Tactics¶

Digital Presence: - Professional website with compliance resources - Educational blog (tax tips, currency management, business advice) - LinkedIn company page and thought leadership - WhatsApp Business for customer communication - YouTube tutorials and explainer videos

Content Marketing: - "Guide to VAT Registration in Zimbabwe" - "Managing Multi-Currency Pricing" - "QPD Deadlines and Compliance Checklist" - Case studies and success stories - Regular compliance update bulletins

Community Building: - wïva user community (WhatsApp/Telegram group) - Monthly compliance webinars - User feedback sessions - Beta testing program for new features

Public Relations: - Press releases for launch and milestones - Business publication features - Podcast appearances - Speaking at business events

Customer Acquisition Timeline¶

Pre-Launch (Nov-Dec 2025): - Partner recruitment - Waitlist building - Beta testing with 10-20 businesses - Content creation

Month 1-2 (Jan-Feb 2026): - Official launch - Initial direct sales push (target: 20 customers) - Partner activation - Launch promotion (early adopter discount)

Month 3-4 (Mar-Apr 2026): - Referral program activation - Case study publication - Expand direct sales team - Target: 50 total customers

Month 5-6 (May-Jun 2026): - Scale through partners - Community events - Content marketing momentum - Target: 100 total customers

Pricing & Promotions¶

Launch Pricing: - Early adopter discount: 50% off first 3 months - Founding member benefits: Lifetime 20% discount - Annual payment discount: 2 months free

Ongoing Promotions: - Seasonal campaigns (tax deadlines) - Upgrade incentives - Bundle discounts - Annual subscription push

Customer Success & Retention¶

Onboarding: - Personalized setup assistance - Video tutorials - In-app guidance - Dedicated onboarding specialist

Support: - WhatsApp support channel - Email support (24-48hr response) - Premium: Priority support (4hr response) - Knowledge base and FAQs - Community forum

Retention Tactics: - Proactive compliance reminders - Regular feature updates - Customer feedback incorporation - Loyalty rewards - Annual customer appreciation events

Operations Plan¶

Product Development¶

Development Approach: - Agile methodology with 2-week sprints - Continuous integration/deployment - A/B testing framework for UX optimization - User feedback-driven roadmap - Security-first development

Quality Assurance: - Automated testing suite - Compliance accuracy verification - Security audits - User acceptance testing - Beta testing program

Infrastructure: - Cloud-hosted (Supabase) - Kubernetes for scalability - Automated backups and disaster recovery - 99.9% uptime SLA - Data redundancy across regions

Compliance Management¶

Regulatory Monitoring: - Dedicated tracking of ZIMRA updates - Relationships with tax authorities - Advisory board of tax professionals - Automated alert system for regulation changes - Quarterly compliance audits

Update Process: - Rapid deployment of compliance updates - Customer notification system - Mandatory update mechanisms for critical changes - Regression testing for each update - Documentation of all compliance features

Customer Operations¶

Customer Support Structure:

Tier 1: Self-Service - Knowledge base - Video tutorials - Community forum - Chatbot for basic queries

Tier 2: Standard Support - Email support (24-48hr) - WhatsApp support (business hours) - General technical assistance

Tier 3: Premium Support - Priority email/WhatsApp (4hr response) - Phone support - Dedicated account manager (enterprise) - Proactive monitoring

Support Scaling Plan: - Solo founder initially - First support hire at 50 customers - Support team of 3 at 200 customers - Tiered support structure at 500 customers

Financial Operations¶

Revenue Collection: - Mobile money integration (EcoCash, OneMoney) - Credit/debit card payments - Bank transfer options - Annual prepayment discounts - Automated billing and invoicing

Financial Management: - Cash flow monitoring and forecasting - Burn rate tracking - Monthly financial reviews - Quarterly board updates (if investment secured) - Annual budgeting process

Technology Operations¶

DevOps: - CI/CD pipeline - Monitoring and alerting - Performance optimization - Security patching - Database optimization

Data Management: - GDPR-compliant data handling - Regular backups (daily) - Data retention policies - Customer data export capabilities - Disaster recovery procedures

Security: - Encryption at rest and in transit - Regular security audits - Access control and authentication - Incident response plan

Financial Projections¶

Revenue Model Summary¶

Subscription Tiers: - Free Tier: $0 (acquisition and upgrade path) Ad revenue - Modular Features: $3-5 per feature per month - Premium Tier: $20/month (current), $50/month (future comprehensive)

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) Assumptions: - Year 1: $12/month (mix of modular and premium) - Year 2: $18/month (more premium adoption) - Year 3: $25/month (expanded feature set)

Customer Acquisition Projections¶

Year 1 (2026) - Zimbabwe Focus: - Month 6: 100 customers (target) - Month 12: 400 customers - Mix: 20% free, 50% modular ($10 avg), 30% premium ($20)

Year 2 (2027) - Regional Expansion: - Zimbabwe: 800 customers (growth + retention) - Uganda: 150 customers - Tanzania: 150 customers - Total: 1,100 customers - ARPU: $18/month

Year 3 (2028) - Multi-Market: - Zimbabwe: 1,500 customers - Uganda/Tanzania: 600 customers - Kenya: 300 customers - Zambia: 200 customers - Total: 2,600 customers - ARPU: $25/month

Revenue Projections¶

Year 1 (2026): - Q1: $600 MRR (50 customers × $12) - Q2: $1,200 MRR (100 customers × $12) - Q3: $2,400 MRR (200 customers × $12) - Q4: $4,800 MRR (400 customers × $12) - Annual Revenue: ~$27,000

Year 2 (2027): - Q1: $9,600 MRR (800 customers × $12 avg) - BREAK-EVEN ACHIEVED - Average MRR: $16,500 (1,100 customers × $15 avg) - Annual Revenue: ~$200,000

Year 3 (2028): - Average MRR: $54,158 (2,600 customers × $20.83 avg) - Annual Revenue: ~$650,000

Cost Structure¶

Fixed Costs (Monthly):

Current (Bootstrapped): - Cloud infrastructure: $25 - Tools & subscriptions: $100 - Founder minimal draw: $1,000 - Marketing/misc: $200 - Total: $1,325/month

With $100K Investment: - Salaries (Head of Sales): $3,000 - Founder salary: $3,000 - Cloud infrastructure: $35 - Marketing budget: $2,000 - Tools & subscriptions: $265 - Office/operations: $500 - Total: $8,800/month

At 1000 Customers (Year 2): - Team salaries: $6,000 (Sales lead, founder, support) - Infrastructure: $800 - Marketing: $3,000 - Operations: $1,000 - Total: $10,800/month

Variable Costs: - Customer acquisition (direct): $50 per customer - Transaction fees: ~3% of revenue - Customer support: Scales with volume - Infrastructure scaling: ~$3 per customer per month at scale

Break-Even Analysis¶

Without Investment: - Monthly burn: $1,500 - Break-even: ~13 customers at $12 ARPU (month 2-3) - Runway: 6 months

With $100K Investment: - Monthly burn: $8,800 - Investment runway: 24 months - Break-even: ~733 customers at $12 ARPU (month 13, Y2 Q1) - Customer milestones: Q1: 50 → Q2: 100 → Q3: 200 → Q4: 400 → Y2 Q1: 800 - Requires consistent 100% quarterly growth rate

Cash Flow Projections¶

Year 1 Scenario (with investment): - Starting capital: $100,000 - Q1 burn: -$8,200/mo (50 customers, $600 MRR) - Q2 burn: -$7,600/mo (100 customers, $1,200 MRR) - Q3 burn: -$6,400/mo (200 customers, $2,400 MRR) - Q4 burn: -$4,000/mo (400 customers, $4,800 MRR) - Total Year 1 cash used: $78,600 - Cash position end of Year 1: $21,400 - Cash flow positive: Month 13 (Y2 Q1)

Profitability Timeline: - Month 13: Operating break-even (800 customers, $9,600 MRR) - Month 15: Sustainable profitability with buffer - Year 2: 70% gross margin - Year 3: 75% gross margin

Unit Economics¶

Customer Lifetime Value (LTV): - Average customer lifetime: 5 years - ARPU Year 1: $12/month - ARPU Years 2-5: $25/month (feature expansion) - Total LTV: \(1,344 (($12 × 12) + (\)25 × 12 × 4))

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): - Direct sales: $50 - Referrals: ~$0 - Partnerships: $30 (effective cost through commissions) - Blended CAC: $25 (assuming 50% referral/partner mix)

LTV:CAC Ratio: - Direct sales: 26.9:1 - Blended: 53.8:1 - Excellent economics supporting aggressive growth

Funding Requirements & Use of Funds¶

Potential $100K Investment Allocation: - Salaries (13 months to break-even): $78,000 (78%) - Marketing & customer acquisition: $13,000 (13%) - Infrastructure & tools: $4,000 (4%) - Legal & compliance: $2,000 (2%) - Reserve/buffer: $3,000 (3%)

Note: Revenue generation ($27K Year 1 + $9.6K Month 13) offsets ~$36K of the $114K gross burn to break-even, allowing the $100K investment to cover the 13-month runway to profitability.

Future Funding Needs: - Series A (Year 2): $500K - $1M for regional expansion - Use: Sales team, marketing scale, multi-country operations - Series B (Year 3): $3M - $5M for product expansion - Use: Accounting/payroll modules, blockchain integration, enterprise features

Risk Analysis¶

Critical Risks & Mitigation Strategies¶

1. Competition from Established Players

Risk Level: HIGH

Description: Existing compliance providers or POS companies could lower prices, add features, or aggressively market to defend market share.

Mitigation Strategies: - Build superior product with better UX from day one - Establish strong customer relationships and high switching costs - Continuous innovation pipeline with features competitors haven't identified - Focus on customer success to drive organic growth and referrals - Develop strong brand and community loyalty - Strategic partnerships creating exclusive channels - Patent/protect unique multi-currency algorithms

Monitoring: Monthly competitive analysis, customer feedback on alternatives, win/loss analysis

2. Customer Adoption & Education Challenges

Risk Level: MEDIUM-HIGH

Description: Target customers may be resistant to change, skeptical of cloud solutions, or struggle with technology adoption.

Mitigation Strategies: - Invest heavily in onboarding and education - Partner with trusted advisors (accountants) who can advocate - Offer free tier and trial periods to reduce adoption friction - Provide exceptional support during transition - Create comprehensive educational content - In-person demos and training sessions - Success stories and case studies from early adopters - Gradual migration tools from existing systems

Monitoring: Trial-to-paid conversion rates, onboarding completion metrics, support ticket themes

3. Potential Investor Arrangement

Risk Level: MEDIUM

Description: $100K investment with investor taking Head of Sales role creates potential conflicts around equity, control, compensation structure, and performance expectations.

Mitigation Strategies: - Clear written agreement before accepting investment: - Equity vs. salary trade-offs explicitly documented - Vesting schedule for equity (4-year with 1-year cliff) - Performance milestones tied to compensation - Role definition and reporting structure - Exit provisions if relationship doesn't work - Independent board advisor or mentor to provide guidance - Consider alternative: Smaller equity stake with market-rate salary - Ensure founder maintains majority control - Clear separation of investor role vs. employee role - Written performance objectives for sales role

Monitoring: Regular check-ins, clear KPIs for sales performance, quarterly reviews

4. Cash Flow During Early Months

Risk Level: MEDIUM-HIGH

Description: With 6-month runway bootstrapped or extended runway with investment, cash management is critical to reach profitability.

Mitigation Strategies: - Maintain detailed cash flow forecasts (weekly updates) - Focus on quick wins and rapid customer acquisition - Prioritize revenue-generating activities - Keep burn rate minimized in early months - Annual payment discounts to improve cash position - Milestone-based spending (don't hire until customer targets hit) - Emergency cost-cutting plan if targets missed - Alternative funding sources identified (grants, accelerators, angel investors) - Consider debt financing for working capital if needed

Monitoring: Weekly cash position reviews, monthly burn rate analysis, customer acquisition velocity

5. Regulatory Changes

Risk Level: MEDIUM

Description: Zimbabwe or regional governments could change tax systems, VAT rules, or compliance requirements unexpectedly, requiring rapid product updates.

Mitigation Strategies: - Maintain close relationships with tax authorities - Advisory board including tax professionals - Flexible architecture allowing rapid compliance updates - Buffer in development sprints for urgent changes - Communication system to notify customers immediately - Position changes as value-add (we keep you compliant) - Insurance or reserve fund for major overhauls - Diversification across multiple countries reduces single-country risk

Monitoring: Daily monitoring of official government channels, tax authority communications, advisor alerts

6. Technical/Infrastructure Challenges

Risk Level: MEDIUM

Description: System downtime, data loss, security breaches, or scalability issues could damage reputation and customer trust.

Mitigation Strategies: - Robust infrastructure with redundancy (Supabase/cloud) - Automated backups (daily) with tested restore procedures - Security-first development practices - Regular security audits and penetration testing - Incident response plan with clear procedures - Cyber insurance coverage - Performance monitoring and alerting - Gradual scaling to avoid sudden loads - Technical co-founder consideration for expertise depth

Monitoring: Uptime metrics, performance dashboards, security scan results, customer-reported issues

7. Currency Volatility

Risk Level: MEDIUM

Description: Zimbabwe's currency instability could impact pricing strategy, revenue collection, and customer ability to pay.

Mitigation Strategies: - Price in USD primarily - Accept multiple payment currencies - Dynamic pricing adjustments based on currency movements - Mobile money integration for local currency convenience - Annual prepayment options to lock in pricing - Financial hedging strategies as scale increases - Cost structure primarily in USD (cloud services) - Regional diversification reduces Zimbabwe-specific risk

Monitoring: Currency rate tracking, payment success rates, customer churn related to pricing

8. Key Person Risk (Solo Founder)

Risk Level: MEDIUM

Description: As solo founder handling technical development and business leadership, capacity constraints and single point of failure.

Mitigation Strategies: - Prioritize technical co-founder recruitment - Document all systems and processes thoroughly - Build advisory board for strategic guidance - Delegate non-core activities early (sales, support) - Maintain work-life balance to avoid burnout - Cross-train team members as they join - Code documentation and knowledge sharing - Succession plan and business continuity plan

Monitoring: Personal capacity assessment, task delegation metrics, team building progress

9. Market Size Limitations

Risk Level: LOW-MEDIUM

Description: Zimbabwe market may be smaller than projected or saturate quickly, requiring faster regional expansion.

Mitigation Strategies: - Conservative market sizing in projections - Rapid expansion timeline already planned (Q4 2026) - Multiple market entry strategy reduces dependence - Focus on increasing ARPU through feature expansion - Move upmarket to medium enterprises as product matures - Adjacent product development (accounting, payroll) increases TAM - Freemium model maximizes market penetration

Monitoring: Market penetration rates, competitor customer counts, SAM/TAM analysis updates

10. Partnership Dependencies

Risk Level: LOW-MEDIUM

Description: Heavy reliance on accountant/advisor partnerships for customer acquisition could create channel risk.

Mitigation Strategies: - Diversify across multiple partners (target 10-15 firms) - Build direct sales capability simultaneously - Strong referral program reduces partner dependency - Fair commission structure maintains partner motivation - Regular partner communication and support - Develop multiple acquisition channels - Track channel performance and adjust mix

Monitoring: Revenue by channel, partner satisfaction scores, channel concentration metrics

Risk Summary Matrix¶

Risk	Likelihood	Impact	Priority	Status
Competitive Response	High	High	Critical	Active mitigation
Customer Adoption	Medium	High	Critical	Active mitigation
Investor Arrangement	Medium	Medium	High	Requires resolution
Cash Flow	Medium	High	Critical	Active monitoring
Regulatory Changes	Medium	Medium	Medium	Monitored
Technical Issues	Low	High	Medium	Preventive measures
Currency Volatility	High	Medium	Medium	Hedged
Key Person Risk	Medium	Medium	Medium	Addressing
Market Size	Low	Medium	Low	Monitored
Partnership Risk	Low	Medium	Low	Diversified

Growth & Expansion Strategy¶

Geographic Expansion Roadmap¶

Phase 1: Zimbabwe Dominance (2026)

Objective: Establish market leadership in Zimbabwe, prove product-market fit, achieve profitability

Key Activities: - Launch and customer acquisition (target: 300 customers) - Product iteration based on user feedback - Partnership network establishment - Brand building and market education - Achievement of operational profitability

Success Metrics: - 400+ paying customers - <10% monthly churn - 4.5+ customer satisfaction score - Positive cash flow

Phase 2: East Africa Entry (Q4 2026 - 2027)

Markets: Uganda, Tanzania

Rationale: Similar FDMS systems to Zimbabwe, reduces technical adaptation, manageable market size for learning

Localization Requirements: - Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) integration - Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) integration - Local currency support (UGX, TZS) - Local language support (Swahili) - Local payment methods - Country-specific tax rules

Go-to-Market: - Partner with local accounting firms - Local sales representative or partner - Digital marketing in local markets - Adapt pricing for local purchasing power

Investment Needs: $50K-100K - Localization development - Local market entry - Initial marketing - Partnership development

Target: 300 combined customers by end of 2027

Phase 3: Major Market Expansion (2027-2028)

Markets: Kenya, Zambia

Rationale: Larger markets with more mature SMB sectors, higher revenue potential

Localization Requirements: - Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) integration - iTax system - Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) integration - More complex compliance requirements - Stronger competition requires differentiation - Higher customer expectations

Go-to-Market: - Stronger direct sales teams - Strategic partnerships with banks, telcos - Industry-specific marketing - Freemium to premium conversion focus

Investment Needs: $200K-400K - Enhanced product features - Sales team scaling - Marketing campaigns - Local operations setup

Target: 500 combined customers by end of 2028

Phase 4: West Africa & Scale (2029+)

Markets: Ghana, Nigeria

Rationale: Massive market opportunity, significant revenue potential, complex but manageable with established track record

Localization Requirements: - Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) integration - Federal Inland Revenue Service Nigeria (FIRS) integration - Multiple state tax systems (Nigeria) - Complex regulatory environments - Strong local competition

Go-to-Market: - Local entity formation - Strategic hires from local market - Large-scale marketing investment - Enterprise feature set - Industry vertical specialization

Investment Needs: $1M-3M (Series B funding)

Target: 5,000+ combined customers by end of 2029

Product Expansion Strategy¶

Horizontal Expansion (Same Customers, More Products)

Phase 1: Enhanced Invoicing (2026-2027) - Advanced reporting and analytics - Expense management - Customer relationship management - Multi-user collaboration - API and integrations

Phase 2: Full Accounting Suite (2027-2028) - Chart of accounts - Double-entry bookkeeping - Financial statements - Bank reconciliation - Audit trails - Accountant collaboration tools

Phase 3: Business Management Platform (2028-2029) - Payroll processing - Inventory management - Purchase order management - Project management - Time tracking - Asset management

Phase 4: Advanced Features (2029+) - Blockchain transaction verification - Smart contracts for recurring payments - AI-powered financial insights - Predictive cash flow analysis - Cross-border payment facilitation - Supply chain finance

Vertical Expansion (Industry-Specific Solutions)¶

Retail & Hospitality: - POS interface optimization - Table management (restaurants) - Tip management - Inventory tracking - Supplier management - Staff scheduling

Professional Services: - Time tracking - Project-based invoicing - Retainer management - Client portals - Proposal generation

Trade & Distribution: - Advanced inventory management - Purchase orders - Supplier management - Multi-warehouse support - Logistics integration

Healthcare & Professional: - Appointment scheduling - Patient/client records - Insurance billing - Regulatory compliance specific to industry

Strategic Partnerships for Growth¶

Financial Services: - Banks for customer referrals - Mobile money providers for payments - Fintech companies for lending integration - Insurance companies for embedded products

Technology Ecosystem: - Accounting software (integrations) - Payment gateways - E-commerce platforms - ERP systems - POS hardware providers

Professional Services: - Accounting firm networks - Business consultant associations - Industry associations - Government SMB support programs - Incubators and accelerators

Distribution Partners: - Telecom providers (bundled services) - Business service providers - Co-working spaces - Franchise networks

Scaling Operations¶

Team Growth: - Year 1: 3-5 people (founder, sales, support) - Year 2: 10-15 people (add developers, country managers, marketing) - Year 3: 30-50 people (full departments, country teams) - Year 5: 100-200 people (regional structure, specialized functions)

Organizational Structure Evolution:

Year 1: Flat structure, founder-led - Founder/CEO/CTO - Head of Sales - Support specialist

Year 2: Functional teams - Engineering team (3-4) - Sales team (3-4) - Support team (2-3) - Marketing (1-2)

Year 3: Geographic + functional matrix - Country managers (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia) - Product team - Engineering team - Sales team - Support & success team - Marketing team - Finance & operations

Year 5: Regional structure - East Africa GM - West Africa GM - Central functions (product, engineering, finance) - Specialized teams (compliance, partnerships, enterprise)

Long-Term Vision (5-10 Years)¶

Market Position: - Leading tax compliance platform across 10+ African countries - 50,000+ business customers - Recognized brand for SMB financial management in Africa

Product Evolution: - Comprehensive business management platform - Blockchain-verified transactions standard - AI-powered financial advisory - Ecosystem of integrated services

Revenue Scale: - $5M+ ARR - Path to $10M+ - Multiple revenue streams (software, services, platform fees)

Strategic Options: - Continue as independent, founder-led growth company - Strategic partnerships with major financial institutions - Potential public listing (regional or international) - Platform for broader fintech ecosystem

Impact: - Contributed to formalization of African SMB economy - Reduced tax compliance burden for 50,000+ businesses - Enabled billions in compliant transactions - Created hundreds of jobs across Africa

Team & Organization¶

Current Team¶

Alexander - Founder, CEO, CTO

Responsibilities: - Product vision and strategy - Technical development and architecture - Business strategy and planning - Regulatory and compliance expertise - Investor relations - Key partnerships

Background: - Software developer with full-stack expertise - Kotlin/Android development - React/Next.js web applications - Supabase, PostgreSQL, cloud infrastructure - Business and political domain expertise - Understanding of Zimbabwe market and regulatory environment

Skills: - Technical architecture and development - System design and problem-solving - Regulatory compliance knowledge - Business strategy - Project management

Planned Hires & Roles¶

Head of Sales (Potential Investor)

Timing: Immediate (pending investment terms)

Responsibilities: - Sales strategy and execution - Team building and management - Partner relationship development - Customer acquisition - Revenue targets and forecasting - Market feedback and competitive intelligence

Requirements: - Proven B2B sales experience - Zimbabwe market knowledge - SMB customer understanding - Network in accounting/business advisory - Team leadership experience - Investment contribution: $100K

Compensation Structure: To be negotiated - Equity stake (vesting schedule) - Base salary + commission - Performance milestones

Technical Co-Founder (Under Consideration)

Timing: Q1-Q2 2026

Responsibilities: - Technical strategy and architecture - Engineering team leadership - Scalability and performance - Technical innovation - Mentor and guide development

Requirements: - Senior technical experience (10+ years) - Mobile and/or web application expertise - Business acumen and strategic thinking - Startup or high-growth experience - Ability to scale engineering organization

Compensation: - Co-founder equity stake (significant) - Competitive salary - Long-term alignment

Customer Support Specialist

Timing: 50 customers (Month 3-4)

Responsibilities: - Customer onboarding - Technical support - Documentation and knowledge base - Customer feedback collection - Issue escalation

Requirements: - Strong communication skills - Technical aptitude - Customer service experience - Problem-solving abilities - Zimbabwe market understanding

Junior Developer

Timing: 150 customers or technical capacity constraint (Month 6-9)

Responsibilities: - Feature development - Bug fixes - Testing and QA - Documentation - Learn and grow with team

Requirements: - Kotlin or React experience - Computer science fundamentals - Eager to learn - Team player

Marketing Specialist

Timing: Year 2 or when marketing budget justifies (200+ customers)

Responsibilities: - Content creation - Social media management - Email campaigns - SEO and website management - Partner marketing materials - Event coordination

Requirements: - B2B marketing experience - Content creation skills - Digital marketing expertise - Zimbabwe market knowledge

Advisory Board¶

Tax Compliance Advisor

Current Status: Relationship exists, needs formalization

Value: - Deep ZIMRA expertise - Regulatory change early warning - Compliance feature validation - Credibility and endorsements - Training and education support

Compensation: Advisory shares (0.5-1%) or consulting fees

Business Strategy Advisor

Need: Experienced entrepreneur or business executive

Value: - Strategic guidance - Network access - Fundraising advice - Operational best practices - Mentorship

Compensation: Advisory shares (0.5-1%)

Technical Advisor

Need: Senior technologist with SaaS/mobile experience

Value: - Technical architecture review - Scalability planning - Technology strategy - Team building guidance - Problem-solving

Compensation: Advisory shares (0.5-1%)

Organizational Culture¶

Core Values: 1. Customer Success First: Decisions prioritize customer outcomes 2. Move Fast, Stay Compliant: Speed without compromising accuracy 3. Continuous Learning: Embrace feedback and iteration 4. Transparency: Open communication internally and with customers 5. African Excellence: Build world-class products for African markets 6. Ownership Mentality: Everyone thinks like a founder

Working Principles: - Remote-first with flexible hours - Results over presence - Regular team communication - Customer feedback drives roadmap - Celebrate wins, learn from failures - Invest in professional development

Hiring Philosophy: - Hire for potential and culture fit - Prioritize local talent with market knowledge - Diversity of thought and background - Scrappy, entrepreneurial mindset - Passion for the mission

Equity Structure (Preliminary)¶

Note: To be finalized with legal counsel

Founder: 70-80% - Vesting schedule: 4 years, 1-year cliff - Founder commitment to long-term

Potential Investor/Head of Sales: 10-15% - Vesting schedule: 4 years, 1-year cliff - Performance milestones

Technical Co-Founder (if joins): 10-15% - Vesting schedule: 4 years, 1-year cliff

Employee Option Pool: 10-15% - For key hires and team incentives

Advisor Pool: 2-3% - Vesting over 2 years

Total Dilution Strategy: - Maintain founder control through Series A - Standard dilution in later rounds - Target founder ownership >30% long-term

Key Metrics & Milestones¶

North Star Metric¶

Active Paying Customers: The primary measure of business health and market validation.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)¶

Revenue Metrics: 1. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): Total subscription revenue per month - Target: $4,800 by end of Year 1 (Q4) - Milestones: Q1: $600 | Q2: $1,200 | Q3: $2,400 | Q4: $4,800 2. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): MRR × 12 - Target: $57,600 by end of Year 1 - Year 1 total revenue: ~$27,000 (ramping quarters) 3. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): Total MRR / Active customers - Target: $12 Year 1, $15 Year 2, $20+ Year 3 4. Revenue Growth Rate: Quarter-over-quarter growth - Target: 100% quarterly growth (Q1→Q2→Q3→Q4)

Customer Metrics: 5. Total Active Customers: Paying subscribers - Target: Q1: 50 | Q2: 100 | Q3: 200 | Q4: 400 | Y2 Q1: 800 (break-even) 6. Customer Acquisition Rate: New customers per quarter - Target: Doubling each quarter (100% growth rate) 7. Customer Churn Rate: % of customers canceling per month - Target: <5% monthly, <10% annually 8. Customer Lifetime Value (LTV): Average revenue per customer over lifetime - Target: $1,344 (5-year retention at $22.40 avg ARPU) 9. Net Revenue Retention: Revenue retention including upgrades and downgrades - Target: 100%+ (indicating expansion revenue from feature adoption)

Acquisition & Marketing Metrics: 10. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Cost to acquire one customer - Target: $50 direct sales, $25 blended 11. LTV:CAC Ratio: Lifetime value divided by acquisition cost - Target: >3:1 (healthy), achieving 25-50:1 12. Conversion Rate (Trial to Paid): % of free users upgrading to paid - Target: 20-30% 13. Lead Generation: Qualified leads per month - Target: 100+ by Month 6 14. Website Traffic: Monthly visitors to website - Target: 1,000+ by Month 6

Product & Engagement Metrics: 15. Feature Adoption Rate: % of customers using specific features - Target: 70%+ for core features 16. Daily/Monthly Active Users: User engagement frequency - Target: 60% DAU/MAU ratio (highly engaged) 17. Feature Usage Analytics: Which features drive retention and upgrades - Monitor: Multi-currency, compliance features, reporting 18. Time to Value: Days from signup to first invoice - Target: <3 days 19. Product Errors/Bugs: Critical bugs per release - Target: Zero critical compliance bugs

Financial Health Metrics: 20. Burn Rate: Monthly cash consumption - Target: Controlled within investment runway 21. Runway: Months of operations remaining at current burn - Target: Never <3 months 22. Gross Margin: (Revenue - Direct Costs) / Revenue - Target: 70%+ Year 1, 75%+ Year 2 23. Cash Flow: Monthly cash in minus cash out - Target: Positive by Month 5

Customer Success Metrics: 24. Net Promoter Score (NPS): Would customers recommend wïva? - Target: 50+ (excellent) 25. Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Post-interaction satisfaction - Target: 4.5+ out of 5 26. Support Ticket Resolution Time: Average time to resolve issues - Target: <24 hours 27. Compliance Accuracy Rate: % of invoices passing ZIMRA validation - Target: 99.9%+

Partnership Metrics: 28. Active Partners: Number of referring partners - Target: 15 accounting firms by end of Year 1 29. Partner-Sourced Revenue: % of revenue from partner referrals - Target: 40-50% 30. Partner Satisfaction: Partner NPS or satisfaction score - Target: 8+ out of 10

Critical Milestones¶

Pre-Launch (Nov-Dec 2025) - [ ] Complete MVP development - [ ] ZIMRA integration certified - [ ] Beta testing with 10-20 businesses - [ ] Finalize investment terms (if proceeding) - [ ] Recruit 5 initial partner firms - [ ] Website and marketing materials ready - [ ] Legal entity formation complete

Month 1-2 (Jan-Feb 2026) - [ ] Official product launch - [ ] First 20 paying customers acquired - [ ] Partner program activated - [ ] Support processes established - [ ] First customer case study published

Month 3-4 (Mar-Apr 2026) - [ ] 50 total customers milestone - [ ] QPD feature launched (before first QPD deadline) - [ ] Referral program achieving first results - [ ] Break-even monthly cash flow - [ ] First support hire onboarded

Month 5-6 (May-Jun 2026) - [ ] 100 customers milestone achieved - [ ] $12,000+ MRR - [ ] Sustainable profitability - [ ] Customer churn <5% - [ ] NPS score established >50

Q3 2026 (Jul-Sep) - [ ] Retail/POS features launched (August) - [ ] 150-200 customers - [ ] First developer hire - [ ] Advanced features in beta - [ ] Uganda/Tanzania market research complete

Q4 2026 (Oct-Dec) - [ ] 300 customers in Zimbabwe - [ ] Uganda/Tanzania soft launch - [ ] $30,000+ MRR - [ ] Team of 5-7 people - [ ] Series A preparation begins

2027 Milestones - [ ] 1,100 total customers (3 countries) - [ ] $165,000 MRR ($2M ARR) - [ ] Series A funding ($500K-$1M) - [ ] Kenya/Zambia expansion begins - [ ] Full accounting module launched - [ ] Team of 15-20 people

2028 Milestones - [ ] 2,600 total customers (5 countries) - [ ] $540,000 MRR ($6.5M ARR) - [ ] Ghana/Nigeria market entry - [ ] Blockchain features launched - [ ] Team of 30-50 people - [ ] Profitability and self-sustaining growth

Long-Term Vision (2029-2030) - [ ] 10,000+ customers across Africa - [ ] $50M+ ARR - [ ] Leading compliance platform in 10+ countries - [ ] Series B funding or profitability - [ ] Unicorn valuation trajectory

Dashboard & Reporting¶

Weekly Metrics Review: - MRR and growth rate - New customers and churn - Cash position - Critical issues

Monthly Business Review: - All KPIs dashboard - Financial statements - Customer cohort analysis - Product usage analytics - Competitive landscape - Team updates

Quarterly Strategic Review: - Goal achievement vs. targets - Strategic initiative progress - Market expansion readiness - Financial projections update - Board presentation (if applicable) - Team and culture assessment

Annual Planning: - Comprehensive strategy review - Budget planning - Hiring roadmap - Product roadmap - Expansion plans - Funding strategy

Conclusion¶

wïva represents a significant opportunity to address a critical pain point for African small businesses: tax compliance and multi-currency management. With Zimbabwe as the launching point and a clear path to regional expansion, wïva is positioned to become the leading SMB financial compliance platform across Africa.

Key Success Factors¶

Market Timing: Launch aligned with Zimbabwe tax calendar creates immediate demand
Product-Market Fit: Solving real, expensive problems for underserved customers
Scalable Model: Software economics with low CAC and high LTV enable aggressive growth
Expansion Path: Phased geographic and product expansion reduces risk while maximizing opportunity
Team & Execution: Combination of technical capability, market knowledge, and sales expertise
Unicorn Potential: Large addressable market, strong unit economics, and platform vision support billion-dollar valuation trajectory

Immediate Next Steps¶

Finalize Investment Terms: Structure agreement with potential investor/Head of Sales
Complete MVP: Focus on launch-critical features and ZIMRA compliance
Partner Recruitment: Secure 5-10 accounting firm partnerships before launch
Beta Testing: Validate product with 10-20 businesses in December
Launch Preparation: Marketing materials, website, support processes
Technical Co-Founder Search: Begin conversations if pursuing this path

The Path to Unicorn Status¶

With disciplined execution, wïva can achieve: - Year 1: $57.6K ARR, 400 customers (Zimbabwe) - Year 2: $198K ARR, 1,100 customers (Zimbabwe + expansion) - Year 3: $650K ARR, 2,600 customers across 5 countries - Year 5: $3M+ ARR, 10,000+ customers across 8-10 countries - Year 7-10: $10M+ ARR, platform ecosystem, regional market leader

The combination of a massive underserved market, superior product offering, and strong unit economics creates a credible path to becoming one of Africa's leading fintech success stories.

Closing Thought¶

wïva isn't just building invoicing software—we're creating the financial infrastructure that enables African small businesses to thrive in complex regulatory environments. By starting with compliance and expanding into comprehensive business management, wïva will become an indispensable partner for hundreds of thousands of African entrepreneurs.

The opportunity is clear. The timing is right. The execution begins now.

Document Prepared For: wïva Strategic Planning
Prepared By: Alexander (Founder/CEO)
Date: November 2025
Status: Living Document - To Be Updated Quarterly

Appendices¶

Appendix A: Market Research Data¶

To be completed with specific market sizing, competitor analysis, and customer research

Appendix B: Financial Model (Detailed)¶

Comprehensive spreadsheet with monthly projections, sensitivity analysis, and scenarios

Appendix C: Technical Architecture¶

System design documents, security protocols, scalability plans

Appendix D: Legal & Compliance¶

Entity formation documents, ZIMRA registration, terms of service, privacy policy

Appendix E: Marketing Materials¶

Website wireframes, content calendar, partner materials, sales collateral

Appendix F: Investment Terms Sheet¶

Detailed terms for potential $100K investment (to be completed with legal counsel)

Appendix G: Competitive Analysis (Detailed)¶

Feature comparison, pricing analysis, market positioning maps

Appendix H: Customer Research¶

Interview summaries, survey results, beta testing feedback

End of Business Plan