StaTwig: Improving food and vaccines distribution systems more efficiently through blockchain

StaTwig is using blockchain technology to create an efficient food and vaccine distribution supply chain.  Through our platform, we connect all stakeholders (consumers, producers, distributors, regulators, and financers) via tamper-proof, open ledgers. This helps us build a completely transparent supply chain.

Through StaTwig’s platform, you can track critical resources from start to finish.
 

As the resources go through different segments of the supply chain, the quality and other vital information such as temperature, location, purchase orders, and invoices are recorded. This data is distributed, decentralized and immutable, and therefore establishes trust, transparency, and authenticity in these supply chains.

Food and vaccines are critical resources for every child yet it is still very difficult to get these resources to children in need. One of the reasons for this is that the temperature-controlled supply chains, simply known as cold-chains, that are used to store and distribute these resources are very inefficient.

Nearly 30% of all the food goes to waste during its storage and transportation and the number is nearly double for vaccines. 50%-60% of vaccines lose their efficacy because of cold-chain failures, however,  supply chains account for nearly 80% of the costs of the vaccines.

After a lot of interviews and research, our team learned that the supply chains are complex and fragmented, and very often, most of the data collected by each stakeholder are locked in organizational silos. This makes the overall functioning of supply chain inefficient. To transform this we needed to change the way we collect, validate, record and manage data. Our solution simplifies and organizes the supply chain data, and provides real time information for all.

FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY & OPEN SOURCE 
 

StaTwig’s solution leverages new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain to track all product in the supply chain and gather data about each product. Access to such data helps in preventing failures of distribution, predicting the demand and capacity levels, and reducing the cost and wastage of all limited resources.

By making the solution open source, we hope to collaborate with other start-ups in the community and diversify our product to enhance its applicability to expand our impact.

WAY AHEAD:
 

We intend to use the investment from the UNICEF Innovation Fund to validate our solution and thereafter bring it to scale. Our team is very excited to be working with the Fund’s larger cohort of startups as we will have the opportunity to integrate and learn from the teams and their solutions. Together, collaboratively -- we will be positioned to achieve greater success and champion the rights of marginalized children.

About UNICEF Innovation Fund: The Fund has been specifically designed to finance early stage, open-source technology that has the potential to impact children on a global scale. The core motivation of the IF is to fund "clusters" or portfolios of initiatives around emerging technology, like UAVs, Blockchain, Data Science and AI or virtual reality - so that UNICEF can both shape markets and also learn about and guide these technologies to benefit children.

As well as funding the start-up companies, UNICEF’s Innovation Fund will provide product and technology assistance, support with business growth, access to a network of experts and partners. The Fund also actively seeks second-round investment and support for companies it has invested in, as well as the opportunity to scale-up these technologies, when they are successful, in the more than 190 countries and territories where UNICEF operates.

More info: www.unicefinnovationfund.org
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