0

From a WhatsApp Idea to a Game-Changing Startup. How Two Teenagers Built Jobzy, Africa’s Fastest-Growing Job Marketplace.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, a simple WhatsApp conversation between two Kenyan teenagers, Matt Magera and Enoch Kambale, sparked the idea for Jobzy, a peer-to-peer job marketplace that has since facilitated over 20,000 successful engagements across 16 service categories.

RELATED: Stepping up youth employability for jobs and better life chances

What started in 2020 with just KSh 2,000 (about $15) to buy a domain name has now grown into a full-fledged web and mobile platform connecting informal workers with customers, revolutionizing Africa’s gig economy.

Jobzy’s goal? To bridge the gap for Africa’s 500 million informal workers, providing job opportunities, financial services, and credit access in an economy often stacked against them.

Starting with just KSh 2,000 ($15) for a domain name, Jobzy has evolved from a basic one-page website into a comprehensive digital platform that connects informal workers directly with customers—helping bridge the gap in Africa’s 500 million-strong informal workforce.

How Jobzy is Transforming Africa’s Gig Economy

Jobzy acts as a job marketplace and financial platform for informal workers, enabling service providers such as:
Cleaners
Photographers
Mechanics
Plumbers
Barbers
Tutors
Makeup artists and more

Beyond job matching, Jobzy also serves as a digital bank, allowing workers to:
Save their income securely
Build financial credibility using transaction data
Access credit, loans, and financial services to grow their businesses

Tech-Driven Innovation: AI, Blockchain & USSD

Jobzy leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance accessibility and security, including:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • USSD Technology for workers without smartphones or internet access
  • Blockchain-enhanced security to prevent fraud and ensure trustworthy transactions
  • AI-powered job matching to connect workers with relevant, high-demand opportunities
  • Integrated payment solutions, making transactions seamless and secure

How Jobzy Makes Money

Jobzy earns revenue through:
A 10% commission on transactions
Paid advertising for businesses targeting service providers and customers

Meet the Founders: Young Innovators Reshaping the Future

Jobzy was founded by two self-taught entrepreneurs:

  • Enoch Kambale learned coding via YouTube tutorials before studying Computer Science at the University of Nairobi
  • Matt Magera pursued Accounting at Strathmore University

The duo met at Mang’u High School, and their shared vision has driven Jobzy’s rapid success.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scaling Up: Expansion into Uganda & Tanzania

With strong traction in Kenya, Jobzy is now gearing up for expansion into Uganda and Tanzania. The next phase of development includes:

  • AI-powered job recommendations to optimize efficiency
  • Financial tools to help workers save, invest, and grow their earnings

Awards & Industry Recognition

In 2023, Jobzy won the Startup of the Year Award at the East Africa Awards, hosted by Africa Tech Festival. The platform has also gained recognition in:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
E-commerce
Fintech

More in Business

You may also like