Village-Driven Digital Economies
Our vision is to empower local communities to build and manage their own digital economies, starting from the village level and growing outward in a sustainable, inclusive, and human-centered way.
Across many rural and semi-urban areas, people already have skills, services, and cooperatives — such as Bodaboda, Tuktuk, Matatu, and trader Saccos — but lack simple digital infrastructure to make these activities visible, coordinated, and economically stronger. We believe meaningful development does not start with complex technology, but with accessible tools that meet people where they are.
By using low-barrier technologies such as USSD, we create systems that work on any phone, without requiring internet access, smartphones, or advanced digital literacy. This ensures inclusion for all community members, especially youth, small entrepreneurs, and informal workers.
Our approach is bottom-up. We start in places where trust already exists — local villages, colleges, cooperatives, and Saccos — and grow organically from there. Communities are not users of a closed platform, but co-owners of a shared digital tool that reflects their needs and values.
We see technology as a vehicle, not an asset to extract value from people. Over time, this system can be shared, adapted, and even open-sourced, allowing young people in different villages to replicate the model and build local economies using the same principles.
Collaboration is central to our vision. We aim to work alongside existing African platforms — such as Africa Talking and local telecom providers — strengthening ecosystems rather than replacing them. By aligning grassroots innovation with established infrastructure, we believe larger platforms can be encouraged to support youth-led, community-driven development.
Ultimately, our vision is an Africa where young people feel empowered to take responsibility for their future, where local economies are digitally visible and connected, and where development grows with integrity — from the village upward.
Last updated: December 2025