Landry, aged 25, lives in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Up to now, if he wanted to travel within the country, he’d need to locate and schedule his journey directly with a cooperative of “taxi-brousses” (bush taxis). Together with a group of friends, Landry created Lemuriia, the first online app to search and book a journey.
At the end of 2018, Landry joined the Y-Velona programme of YMCA Madagascar. This programme contains four components: awareness to entrepreneurship, development of business skills, expanding the network and seizing opportunities. Through this training, Landry learned how to finalise his business plan and to market his product. “I valued a lot the mentorship. The team at YMCA Madagascar helped me to stay motivated and focused,” said Landry.
Lemuriia allows travellers to select their journey, book their seats and pay for their booking online. In April 2019, Landry’s team participated to the Orange Fab Madagascar competition. To prepare for their presentation, Landry and his friends turned again to the Y-Velona programme. “We only had five minutes each to convince the jury members,” said Landry.
Landry’s team would go up against 40 other projects in the competition and Lemuriia was ultimately selected, along with two other innovative projects, to get support for their commercial launch. Lemuriia is now being developed and tested and Landry has a lot of expectations about his product. “I still have a lot to learn, and I like the fact that I can come back to YMCA Madagascar to get support and coaching when I need,” Landry said.
This is just the beginning of the journey and let’s wish Lemuriia “bon voyage”.
*Velona means “to be alive” in Malagasy