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A human-powered tool that connects founders and marketers with experienced mentors to help hack your learning curve.
Studies have shown that less than 6% of Africa's farmland is irrigated, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions like solar-powered water pumps to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience. In many regions, farmers face significant challenges in managing their water resources efficiently to sustain their crops and livestock. Erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts exacerbate these issues, making access to reliable water sources critical.
Solar-powered water pumps offer a sustainable solution, but determining daily water consumption needs and the technical requirements for these pumps is a complex task, often beyond the expertise of the average farmer. Traditional methods involve navigating intricate Excel spreadsheets, leading to frequent errors, delays, and the need for expert intervention. This inefficient process needs to improve farmers' ability to make timely and accurate decisions, affecting their productivity and livelihoods.
Ragnarson, specializing in climate tech and startups, partnered with Margraf Publishers and GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to develop a custom software application. This case study outlines how Ragnarson addressed these challenges by focusing on the client's software and business goals. The result was a user-friendly, impactful solution that empowers African farmers to optimise their water usage effectively, thus improving their productivity and livelihoods.
The platform makes it easy to have one-on-one conversations with hand-picked, experienced startup and marketing mentors who genuinely want to help. The vision is to offer founders and marketers an easy, fast, and affordable way to get connected with the right people to help them grow professionally.
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GrowthMentor's founding team came up with the idea for this app 12 months before we talked for the first time. They had very well-defined project requirements, as well as high-end mock-ups, but still needed someone to help with expanding the idea, specifying their vision, and conducting the development of an MVP. This partner had to be experienced enough to quickly bring it on the market and then continue working on it.
Assistance from the earliest stages of designing the workflow, which shortens time to market.
We held workshops and three-day-long interviews about the app idea, which turned into a lot of brainstorming sessions, leading us to discover the main challenges.
We used the Vue.js framework to build a responsive frontend application, connected as an API to the Rails backend.
We set up data analytics to gather insights about user behaviour and implement those findings in the next sprints.
First stage of the project may be completed, but the project itself is not over yet. We’re still adding new features, making tweaks, and supporting the app.
We started with MVP development and then focused on different monetization models, among other features.
We utilised Ruby on Rails for server-side development, ensuring simplicity with core functionalities focused on authentication and data persistence.
It was built using React for a dynamic and responsive user interface.
Implemented Tanstack Query for advanced caching and offline support, ensuring the application could function without a stable internet connection.
Used React Router for straightforward routing and DaisyUI for system design, ensuring a user-friendly interface.
The development process involved iterative cycles with continuous feedback from the client, ensuring the final product met the users' specific needs.
Original complex Excel formulas were simplified and integrated into the application with the help of the client’s experts.
The new web application replaced complex Excel files, reducing errors and eliminating the need for expert intervention. Farmers can now easily determine their water requirements and the technical specifications for solar-powered water pumps.
The offline mode ensures that farmers in regions with poor internet connectivity can still use the application effectively.
The app’s design is simple, straightforward, and accessible, catering to users with limited technical expertise. Responsive design ensures usability across different devices, including mobile phones.
Users can download detailed PDF reports of their input data and results, providing a valuable resource for record-keeping and decision-making.
Ragnarson successfully developed a web application for Margraf Publishers that addressed significant challenges faced by African farmers. Leveraging expertise in climate tech, startup development, and impactful software solutions, the team delivered a user-friendly, efficient, and accessible tool.
This project streamlined determining water and pump requirements, empowering farmers with reliable, easy-to-use technology. By providing a solution that simplifies complex calculations and reduces errors, the application significantly contributes to sustainable agriculture practices in Africa.
Through close collaboration and a focus on the client's software and business goals, the project ensured the success and growth of Margraf Publishers in the climate tech sector. This strategic partnership met immediate needs and laid the groundwork for future innovations in sustainable farming solutions.
Our goals were to have a fully functioning MVP to go to market within 6 months. Since we launched, over 5,000 calls have been booked on the platform and we've had widespread positive critical acclaim. What started as an MVP build, developed into a full production product which is now profitable.
