| Duration | 6 months |
|---|---|
| Min. Investment | ৳ 10,000 |
| Projected ROI | 15% Annualized |
| Risk Grade | B+ |
Overview
AponTech Ltd. is a social-empowering business, which sets up shops with affordable products for Industrial workers. Setting up shops requires an upfront investment, and Apon will utilize the funds to purchase products for their shops. This is a “buy-and-sell” (Murabahah) contract where investors can enjoy an ROI of 7.5%* over 6 months (annualized expected return 15%). *subject to investment risk (details below)
The business has successfully closed its first campaign by repaying all the repayments of 1st campaign and 3% of the 2nd campaign on time. This campaign is an extended version of its last campaign.
Apon Tech Ltd. [3]
The Business
Written by Apon Wellbeing – verified by biniyog.io 
AponTech Ltd. (which was previously named Apon Wellbeing Ltd.) is an Omni channel marketplace for industrial workers in Bangladesh. Starting in 2017, Apon set up physical stores or digital ordering booths inside factory premises where workers can buy their daily necessities from a wide range of product baskets. It focuses on enhancing factory workers’ lives by providing affordable goods and services, free credit facilities, and free health services, thus enabling more disposable income and making it unique in the market.
Apon covers mostly RMG factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, and Ashulia areas. The market size for Apon Wellbeing spans 3.6 million RMG workers throughout Bangladesh. Estimating that each worker spends around USD 55 (~BDT 5,500) for monthly grocery consumption, the total market translates to a size of USD 2.4 Bn.
Apon has received several awards and recognitions among industry giants:
- The Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge in 2019
- The Inclusion Plus Bangladesh by MetLife Foundation in 2018
- The Expo Live’s Innovation Impact Grant at the Expo 2020 in Dubai
- Biniyog Briddhi of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Roots of Impact
Currently, Apon is running 20+ stores. To increase product stock, Apon requires working capital support in product purchase, and is looking to raise a portion of it through small ticket investors.
Office Location: Flat-3A, House-8, Road-2B, Block-J, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
Explore: Facebook page | Website
Managing Director: Mr Saif Rashid
Managing Director: Mr. Saif Rashid
Saif Rashid, Founder and Managing Director of AponTech Ltd., Ygap Entrepreneur, Fabric of Change fellow, Ashoka fellow, Schwab social entrepreneur (World Economic Forum), and SOCAP entrepreneur.
He is exploring the right equation for scale and sustainability of social impact at AponTech Ltd.– which won several awards including the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge, Expo2020 Innovation award, and Metlife Foundation-Inclusion Plus award.
Previous to Apon he co-founded and was the CEO of JITA Bangladesh; a joint venture social enterprise of CARE International and the Danone community. Started his career at British American Tobacco and then quickly shifted to the social sector and spent most of his career around economic empowerment of women, market development, etc. at CARE International and through diverse consulting roles at IOM and IDE. He is a business graduate from Khulna University and studied business and system change at Harvard University and Santa Clara University. Currently studying Technology Innovation Management at Carleton University. His works and initiatives have been highlighted in Business Standard, ICE magazine, BBC news, Guardian newspaper Forbes magazine, The Economist, and different social enterprise blogs and by different business journals in Oxford University, Michigan University, DFID, Business Innovation Facilities, etc.
- Strong team, relevant experience in the industry, and recognition from national and international organizations
- Consistent sales volume
- Well-maintained sales channels
- Creating robust social impact by serving the underserved (industry workers) in an area with very high demand
The Contract
The investment is for a period of 6 months, expected to start from the first week of October 2023 and end by mid of April 2024
Projected ROI (for the duration of the project): 7.5%
Projected ROI (annualized): 15%
biniyog.io will NOT charge the investors any fees for this investment
Example: if someone invests BDT 100k in the opportunity, he/she can expect to receive a total of BDT 107.5k by mid of April 2024.
- Investors will go into a Murabahah agreement (sale contract) with AponTech Ltd. for purchasing grocery and FMCG items.
- It will be a “buy-and-sell” process where investors will first buy products through biniyog.io. AponTech Ltd. will then buy those items from investors on credit and pay the amount over 6 months.
- biniyog.io will act as an agent for the investors and buy the products, take necessary ownership and risk of asset possession on their behalf, and then sell to AponTech Ltd.
- biniyog.io has proposed a price to AponTech Ltd. for the products after considering a minimum 7.5% profit on actual cost of product procurement and AponTech Ltd. has agreed to it.
Shariah Compliance
Investors appoint biniyog.io as an agent to deal on their behalf (Wakalah) and invest in the business through the buying and sale of assets under an advanced buy-and-sell (Bai’ Murabaha) agreement.
biniyog.io‘s Shariah advisors have approved the basis and application of this Bai’ Murabaha contract.
Potential Risks
- Dependency on credit sales: AponTech Ltd. allows its customers to buy products on credit. Their main customers (factory workers) find this opportunity very attractive. As most of them have to maintain a tight monthly budget, they can help their family by availing this credit-purchase facility. The risk here is that, if any due is not paid on time, Apon’s cash cycle will be hampered.
- Apon’s strategy: The business coordinates with the payroll section of the industrial factory they run their shop in. This allows them to avoid mispayment issues. The factory also wants to keep its workers happy and pays Apon on time.
- Thin profit margin: Margins on grocery items and FMCG goods are generally lower than most other items. AponTech Ltd. also offers special discounts to its customers which helps the workers. However, this cuts out a layer of margin from the profit.
- Apon’s strategy: The business is able to source many grocery items such as soybean oil, mustard oil, flour, salt, FMCG products, etc. at an additional discount rate from the producer. They also use factory premises which do not require them to pay rent or other utility costs, thus lowering their operational expenses, which is why they can operate at a low profit margin. They also work at scale, a single shop serves thousands of workers, which makes a thin profit margin viable.
- Inflation and macroeconomic issues: Industries may suffer from the crisis caused by the price hike of raw materials and the cost of operations, with a small chance that factories may lay off workers in order to survive the recessionary blow. If this happens, it will affect the sales of AponTech Ltd. because industrial workers are their main customers.
- Apon’s Response: AponTech Ltd. works with the most compliant factories, which are export-oriented and maintain international working condition standards. Besides, these factories manufacture basic necessity products, which are always expected to have production demand (unlike luxury goods). These businesses usually have healthy cash flow and balance to sustain.
- Possibility of political turmoil surrounding the upcoming national election: Our assessment assumes that there will be some macroeconomic turmoil towards the end of 2023 before the general election. This may impact any business.
biniyog.io will buy the products on behalf of investors first and secure ownership and possession by appointing an agent. The products will then be sold to AponTech Ltd. within a short time frame.
AponTech Ltd. would have the right to reject the products due to quality, damage etc. The risk is expected to be minimal since products will be bought from renowned manufacturers, and AponTech Ltd. will be choosing the items before biniyog.io buys them.
This is a necessary risk to ensure Shariah compliance of the transaction.
biniyog.io has done in-house analyses of the projected returns of the business and they are expected to be able to repay on time if not hugely impacted by macroeconomic issues. Since the last payment coincides with Eid holidays, it may be hampered by a few days.
AponTech Ltd. will share a security cheque with biniyog.io. A guarantor will also be introduced in the contract for adding an extra layer of security for the investors.
Disclaimer
This investment opportunity is based on a first come first serve basis. Your investment is secured only after your transfer-proof has been received. If the investment quota is already filled, your transferred amount shall be returned.
Return of your capital is NOT guaranteed. Investment, by default, requires a risk appetite. Past performance is not a guaranteed indicator of future outcomes.
biniyog.io only acts as a consultant to the investor and the business, and does NOT manage funds for any party.
biniyog.io does risk assessment to a certain extent, but will NOT be liable if the business does not perform as per expectation.
For any questions, please use the chat icon on the right or leave a message.
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22-9-2023
This campaign is now live on biniyog.io!
The funding campaign has started. The target is BDT 20 lacs.
