South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We are a job marketplace focused on empowering small businesses through impactful marketing solutions. Our goal is to link these businesses with skilled marketers and creatives to offer marketing solutions that can create change for these businesses.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

We are a job marketplace powered by the community, committed to empowering small businesses with powerful marketing solutions. Our goal is to connect these businesses with a wide range of skilled marketers and creatives from different fields, offering effective marketing strategies that generate substantial return on investment. We provide a platform where freelancers can enhance their skills, ensuring the highest level of project success. Unlike other platforms, we provide educational resources and exclusive perks to support freelancers in their professional development. Our community features promote collaboration, networking, and mutual assistance, enriching our offerings and creating a ripple effect. As a result, we build trust and drive success for all our users.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

SMMEs in South Africa encounter a multitude of obstacles, as data indicates that the majority of small enterprises find it difficult to survive past their initial two years of operation. Scarce resources impede their capacity to expand, while a lack of marketing expertise hinders their ability to reach their target market effectively. Marketing is often likened to the heart of a business. In the absence of successful product or brand communication, the likelihood of growth is significantly diminished. Version 1: It can be quite challenging for freelancers to manage their finances due to the irregular income they face, which often leads to financial stress. Additionally, many freelancers struggle to find consistent work opportunities and encounter barriers when trying to acquire in-demand skills. Moreover, the increasing gap in technological skills worsens socio-economic issues, leaving numerous young individuals without the necessary skills for the digital economy.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Feature Development: - Implementing user feedback loops to prioritize the most valuable features can prevent overbuilt technology. Regularly assess the usage of existing features to determine if they should be maintained or phased out. Provide Benefits - Partner with insurance companies and financial institutions to offer group health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits typically associated with full-time employment. Brand Marketing - Effective brand marketing increases visibility and awareness, which can attract and retain more customers. Community access - Access to a community provides networking and learning opportunities, which can lead to new collaborations and business opportunities .

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our customer base consists of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises spanning various industries and sectors of the economy. In order to refine our scope, we are specifically aiming at small businesses operating within the formal sector of the economy. On the freelancer side, our target audience includes final year students, post-graduate students, and professional freelancers with expertise in media and marketing fields.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-06-05

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Luvo Mpambo is visionary leader committed to driving social change and empowering communities. With a background in informatics and extensive experience in sales and freelancing, Luvo brings a wide range of skills to his role at Hussle Inc. In his first year, he achieved an impressive feat by becoming the only first-year finalist in the highly competitive entrepreneurship competition, The Pitch UCT in 2023. Additionally, in the same year he developed his own version of Uber Eats specifically tailored for students, although it unfortunately faced obstacles due to institutional restrictions. Undeterred, Luvo has since ventured into other entrepreneurial endeavours. Furthermore, he excels in graphic design, content marketing, video creation and editing, effectively amplifying the organization's message and engaging diverse audiences.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://hussle-fs8g19.mysharetribe-test.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

After tapping into untapped markets, one of our first major milestones is to introduce additional service tiers called HUSSLE Plus and HUSSLE Pro, which aims to include: Benefit Packages - access to discounted health insurance, legal assistance and other benefits associated with recruitment. Ensuring Stability - develop programs that provide a more stable income for freelancers, such as retainer agreement, long-term contracts or subscription-based services that guarantee a certain amount of work each month.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Part of our strategy of tapping into untapped markets - is to utilize various features that will facilitate an environment of continuous learning that will eventually enable our technology to be more inclusive. Educational resources - access to educational resources allows for continuous learning and skill development, which is crucial for staying competitive in the rapidly evolving market. Professional Development -Offer training, certification programs, and career development resources to help freelancers improve their skills and advance their careers. This can include access to online courses, webinars, and mentorship programs. Clear Career Path - Develop clear pathways for career progression within the freelancing ecosystem. We will introduce levels or tiers that freelancers can achieve based on experience, client feedback, and completed projects, similar to how traditional companies have junior, mid-level, and senior roles.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Our strategy includes effectively addressing the lack of support for freelancers to achieve stability in terms of project availability and consistent income. Additionally, we aim to provide features that will allow small businesses to optimize the management of their projects with specific freelancers to ensure that services are completed according to their specific requirements for optimal performance. We are committed to creating a conducive work environment and promoting economic growth through various means: implementing a professional rating system to instill confidence in both small businesses and freelancers, offering negotiable pricing to make services more accessible and appealing to a wider clientele, and establishing a clear tiered system for career advancement where freelancers can earn badges and certifications to enhance their visibility and appeal to high-paying clients.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

At HUSSLE INC, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive technology that aims to lessen inequalities. Our platform is crafted to be accessible to individuals with varying levels of technological expertise, guaranteeing that everyone can utilize and gain from our services. This promotes a fairer allocation of opportunities and resources, especially for marginalized communities. By empowering independent workers through the provision of tools and opportunities for success, we strive to alleviate the financial pressures and uncertainties commonly linked with gig work, ultimately leading to a more secure and empowered workforce.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

4

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our solution is designed to address important challenges by offering cost-effective and scalable marketing and resource management tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs). We also provide skill development and job matching services for under-resourced youth, comprehensive financial management support for freelancers, and bridge the digital divide to ensure equal access to technology. Specifically, we offer customized support networks and financial literacy programs for SMMEs, AI-driven job platforms with localized job matching and training for young people, and financial management tools with health and retirement benefits for freelancers. Additionally, we establish tech access programs and community tech hubs for under-resourced youth, enabling them to acquire essential digital skills and opportunities.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

At HUSSLE Inc, we view our competitive landscape through a unique lens due to our implementation of a Blue Ocean Strategy. While we do not perceive direct competition, it is essential to recognize the prominent players in the Red Ocean of Competition such as Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, 99designs, Toptal, and Expert360 on an international scale. Additionally, we acknowledge local competitors like No Sweat Freelancers, Freelance Cape Town, Nomad Now, GetTod, Domestly, and Credipple operating within the same red ocean of competition.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?