Addressing Unmet Needs

Micro-enterprises typically pay exorbitant prices for goods they resell or use in services they provide. Without capital, a way to pool resources, and lacking reliable transportation to major cities and ports where goods are less expensive, hardworking micro-enterprises eke out a living on razor thin margins. PDCx’s discount marketplace will reduce the cost of goods by 10-20%, solve logistical challenges, and offer access to working capital.

Reaching A Large Underserved Population

In many African countries, four out of five people live outside the primary city and 80% of them survive by engaging in some kind of micro-enterprise. In Liberia, where PDCx plans to launch, at least 1.5 million Liberian micro-enterprises are target customers for the marketplace. Our analysis shows a large target user base in 8 African countries, providing PDCx enormous potential to scale.

Our Tech Innovation Dovetails With Emerging Trends

PDCx is a digitally-supported marketplace, designed to scale as a network without requiring users to be digitally-enabled. PDCx’s unique blend of online and offline services enables all sectors of the population to participate in the marketplace and is sure to attract digitally-inclined young people, who make up 60% of the population. The use of smart phones and internet access is fast growing across Africa.

Low User Acquisition Cost

Through years of experience fostering African micro-enterprises, PDCx Founder Mauricio Miller has learned how to spread the word and gain community trust. The unique approach is a proven method for rapid and inexpensive user acquisition for the PDCx marketplace.

Locally Led

PDCx Founders are deeply committed to growing business leadership in underserved communities. The PDCx marketplace will be locally managed and it will provides new opportunities for entrepreneurship, which will be supported by the nonprofit Center for Peer-Driven Change.

Social Impact

PDCx’s primary target user base is micro-enterprises. Our deep market research shows that over the course of a year, micro enterprises typically spend about $2,800 to acquire goods. The PDCx team is excited that the marketplace can put an extra $420 per year in pockets and substantially reduce both the cost and logistics burdens of obtaining goods.

PDCx’s Unfair Advantage

The PDCx Founder’s exemplary anti-poverty initiatives in Africa have established a network of thousands of micro-enterprises, along with enormous goodwill. PDCx will leverage the network and goodwill to launch the marketplace with a sizable installed user base in Liberia, and a growing user base in Rwanda and six other African countries where operations are planned.