AfriBlocks

AfriBlocks operates as a global, Pan-African talent marketplace engineered to connect businesses with vetted African freelance professionals in technology and design. The company was founded in 2019, with a formal launch in March 2020 by Tongayi Choto and Roger Roman.

The inspiration for AfriBlocks originated from Choto's personal experiences. A software developer from Zimbabwe, Choto previously worked for BillMari, a remittance service utilizing bitcoin technology. During his travels, he identified a dual need: businesses sought specific services, and his network of skilled friends in Africa sought opportunities. This led him to create a WhatsApp group which rapidly expanded from a few friends to over 600 people across seven African nations, revealing a significant market gap. He partnered with Roger Roman, a Chicago-native and Howard University graduate with a diverse background in real estate, music, and marketing, to structure and scale the venture.

AfriBlocks functions as a two-sided marketplace, generating revenue by taking a service fee on transactions conducted through the platform. Clients post jobs, and the platform, sometimes using automation, matches them with up to three qualified freelancers. A key differentiator is the inclusion of project managers who oversee projects from start to finish, ensuring clear expectations and timely completion. Payments are held in escrow and released upon the client's approval of the work. The platform serves a range of clients, from individual entrepreneurs to larger businesses, and aims to address the challenges African freelancers face, such as inconsistent work and payment insecurity. Services offered by freelancers span software and website development, mobile apps, UI/UX design, branding, and Web3 roles.

A significant milestone for the company was its acceptance into the Techstars Seattle accelerator program in 2021, becoming the first Zimbabwean-based startup to do so. This provided access to mentorship and $120,000 in seed funding. AfriBlocks has also received support from the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund, which included a $100,000 non-dilutive award. The company has built a community of nearly 20,000 freelancers and has established partnerships with entities like Visa Direct and MoneyGram to simplify payments.

Keywords: freelance marketplace, African talent, remote work, tech freelancers, design freelancers, vetted freelancers, project management, secure payments, future of work, Pan-African, software development, UI/UX design, Web3 talent, gig economy, talent platform, Tongayi Choto, Roger Roman, Techstars alumni, Google Black Founders Fund, remote teams, digital services, skills marketplace, freelance collaboration, African tech ecosystem, online work platform