Africa-focused tech community startup, Meaningful Gigs, has secured $6M in new funding to expand its market base and offerings for African designers and service providers.
Meaningful Gigs has provided a community for African designers to meet the needs of local and international enterprises by linking them with gigs via its technology-based platform.
The startup was founded by Ronnie Kwesi Coleman and is based in Washington D.C with trusted backing from multinational companies like Coca-Cola, Vans, Audi, e.t.c. According to the startup, the fund raised will be used to expand its offering to more African designers to reach more multinational companies on its platform.
With an aggressive marketing campaign, Ronnie revealed that the company wants to also reach a number of companies to tap into the rich untapped market of the freelancing-gig economy. According to him, the target is to reach over a hundred enterprises to add to the existing 40 of which 17 are multinational enterprises.
Speaking about the seed funding, he disclosed: “We are thinking about how we can let more dimensional traders all over the continent know that we exist, so that we can help them make five to seven times more what they are making locally. We are creating more referral programs through our platform to help scale throughout the continent.”
Investors King gathered that this seed round was led by Stage 2 Capital with participation from Rethink Education, Authentic Ventures, Reach Capital, Marla Blow, Zvi Band, and Michele Perry.
The gig industry is one that accounts for blasting figures that are not documented in many instances. For example, in Africa where many people leverage such platforms, gigs are closed internally on the platforms and people get their earnings without any obligation of tax recording which is solely due to the nature of the industry.
Over the years, a number of innovative platforms have also sprung up with the same offering that helps people close deals and earns money by providing meaningful services. And according to varying reports, the gig economy is one that has had an upward trajectory since it began.
In 2020 when the pandemic peaked, the gig industry experienced a huge spurt that was accelerated by the pandemic – and with no signs of slowing down. The sector’s growth is expected to reach $455 billion in 2023 which is double the value in 2018 and a 17% CAGR.
Undoubtedly, as gig opportunities increase, so do the platforms linking workers with remote opportunities.
Speaking about investing in Meaningful Gigs, Mandy Cole, Stage 2 Capital partner disclosed: “With the shortage of highly skilled talent and the increasing need for diverse thinking, especially in creative, marketing and product, Meaningful Gigs is solving a huge problem by connecting talented African designers with companies to deliver best-in-class design. We’ve been impressed with the Meaningful Gigs team’s focus in providing the best design experience for their clients while providing amazing tools for their designers; we’re excited to support their journey to become the destination for diverse design talent.”
