juicecola/marketpulse-kenya

AI-powered news analysis tool for Kenyan SMEs **Reimagining Media Through Technology: Connecting News to Economic Opportunity for SMBs** ## Table of Contents 1. Project Overview 2. Problem Statement 3. Our Solution: Uchumi Connect 4. Features (MVP) 5. Technology Stack 6. System Architecture (AI Agent Concept) 7. Setup and Installation * Prerequisites * Backend Setup * Frontend Setup * Database Seeding (Simulated SMBs) 8. Running the Application * Running the Backend Scheduler & API * Running the Frontend 9. Demonstration Flow 10. Future Enhancements 11. Team --- ## 1. Project Overview Uchumi Connect is an innovative platform designed to bridge the gap between media content (news, trends) and tangible economic opportunities for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) in Kenya. By leveraging AI-driven agents, we scan, analyze, and disseminate relevant information, transforming Nation Media Group's content into actionable intelligence for business growth. This project was developed for the Nation Hackathon 2.0 (May 14-16, 2025). ## 2. Problem Statement Kenyan SMBs often lack the resources and time to constantly monitor news outlets, government announcements, and market trends for potential opportunities (like tenders, funding, new market demands, or supply chain shifts) or threats. Valuable information that could lead to business growth or adaptation often goes unnoticed. ## 3. Our Solution: Uchumi Connect Uchumi Connect employs a system of AI-conceptualized agents to: * **Scout:** Automatically scan news feeds (initially Nation Media Group) and other configured sources. * **Analyze:** Identify potential economic opportunities, relevant sectors, and locations based on configurable keywords and rules. * **Match:** Connect these opportunities to relevant (simulated) SMB profiles stored in our system. * **Alert:** Notify SMBs instantly via SMS (using Africa's Talking) about opportunities pertinent to their business profile. * **Display:** Provide a simple web dashboard for S …