YELI proposes eco friendly paper bags from recycled paper

Tell us a few words about the founders and how the idea came

I was born in the rural area of Mbale, Uganda, I moved to Kampala on a half bursary to study at an advanced level. It later became a hurdle to cater for my needs while at school after my parents became unemployed. In 2008, at the age of 16, I saw a market opportunity in creating paper bags. As the Ugandan government leaned towards a ban on use of polythene plastic bags, I decided to venture into an environmentally friendly project of paper bag production.

With no initial capital, I cleaned the environment by collecting used plastic bottles and sold them to a plastic recycling plant. After I had raised my initial seed capital of 36,000 Ugandan shillings ($14), I soon started making paper bags at a small scale while still in high school.

In 2010, I registered my new company, Youth Entrepreneurial Link Investments (YELI). YELI was the first local registered paper bag and envelope producing company in Uganda. 

Link to online video (if available) 

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/23/business/paper-bag-empire-andrew-mupuya/

Your products and services 

We make Eco friendly paper bags and envelopes from recycled paper.

Your success factors 

Quality and eco friendly products

Human capital

Business strategy alignment

Your factors differentiating and disruptive compared to the existing 

Close relationship with clients.

Quality and eco friendly products

After sale services like delivery services

Serving client’s needs

Your business model (how do you make money?)

We make money by manufacturing eco friendly paper bags and distributing them to clients.

A few words about your competitors

My biggest competitors are based in Nairobi Kenya, i have an advantage over them because I am close to clients.

Local competitors, are still below my quality stardards.

If you find a good quality paper bag in Uganda,  its either mine or imported

Your website 

www.yelipaper-bags.com