Techstars Seattle Welcomes Zimbabwean Startup AfriBlocks to its 12th Class

On January 25th, Techstars Seattle revealed its 12th cohort, comprising 10 startups originating from diverse global locations.

Notably, this accelerator program, which has historically included a limited number of African ventures, has selected AfriBlocks, a startup based in Zimbabwe, for participation.

Introducing AfriBlocks: A Pan-African Freelance Marketplace

AfriBlocks functions as a globally-focused, pan-African marketplace dedicated to connecting businesses with thoroughly vetted African freelance professionals.

Established in July 2020 by Tongayi Choto and Roger Roman, the company maintains operational offices in both Harare and Los Angeles.

Addressing Unemployment Through Freelance Opportunities

The core mission of AfriBlocks is to mitigate the prevalent unemployment challenges facing numerous African nations by streamlining access to work opportunities.

While several freelance platforms, both international and locally based, already exist, CEO Choto asserts that many lack robust vetting procedures.

The Challenges of Finding Qualified African Freelancers

“Locating skilled African freelancers can prove difficult,” Choto explained to TechCrunch. “Even when clients succeed in finding suitable talent, they often lack the necessary tools for effective project collaboration and timely completion.”

AfriBlocks’ Unique Approach to the Freelance Market

Within a global freelance market exceeding $800 billion in value, AfriBlocks distinguishes itself by providing African freelancers with user-friendly collaboration tools and a secure payment infrastructure.

This facilitates the efficient completion of remote contract projects.

Streamlined Matching and Project Management

When a project is submitted to the platform, AfriBlocks employs automation to present clients with three freelancers whose skills align with the project requirements, eliminating the need to review countless profiles.

Furthermore, a dedicated project manager is assigned to oversee each selected freelancer’s work through to completion.

Secure Payments and Quality Assurance

Upon project completion, AfriBlocks processes a transaction fee and releases payment from escrow, ensuring transparency and adherence to agreed-upon deadlines for both freelancers and clients.

This system fosters trust and accountability throughout the process.

Investing in Freelancer Development

Choto emphasizes the company’s commitment to providing community and professional development resources, empowering freelancers to enhance their skills and maintain competitiveness in the global marketplace.

This is achieved through a partnership with Ingressive for Good, granting AfriBlocks community members free access to technology and data courses on platforms like Coursera and Datacamp.

Overcoming Funding Obstacles

Like many African startups, securing funding presented a significant hurdle for the AfriBlocks team, initially leading them to rely on bootstrapping.

However, their progress – onboarding over 2,000 freelancers and 400 clients, completing 250 jobs, and generating over $60,000 in revenue – has attracted investment from Techstars and Google.

Addressing the Funding Gap for Black Founders

“We have faced the challenges common to Black founders, including limited access to funding sources,” Roman stated. “Organizations like Techstars Seattle, Transparent Collective, and Google for Startups have been instrumental in providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and investor demo days.”

Joining a Growing Network of African Techstars Alumni

AfriBlocks now joins a distinguished group of African startups – including Farmcrowdy, OnePipe, Risevest, Eversend, and OjaExpress – that have participated in Techstars accelerator programs globally.

Founders’ Backgrounds and Expertise

Prior to AfriBlocks, Choto served as a product manager at BillMari, a pan-African remittance service utilizing bitcoin technology.

Roman brings experience as an active angel investor and venture capital scout, alongside his background growing up in Chicago.

The Future of Freelance Work

Predictions suggest that freelancers could constitute up to 80% of the global workforce by 2030.

Freelance work has evolved into a viable employment option for Africans, transitioning from a supplementary income source to a full-time career path.

AfriBlocks’ Long-Term Vision

AfriBlocks’ ultimate goal is to establish the technological infrastructure that will support the future of work in Africa.

The company believes participation in Techstars is a crucial step towards realizing this ambition.

Preparing for the Global Talent Shortage

“Anticipating a potential global talent shortage that could leave 85 million jobs unfilled and result in $85 trillion in economic losses, our long-term objective is to position Africa as a leading hub for technical and creative freelancers,” Choto explained. “We aim to provide the necessary tools for companies to collaborate with remote African talent.”

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