Ethiopia-based startup, Gebeya, has announced the launch of its Pan-African freelance marketplace, which would connect startups and small and medium enterprises with the professional talents needed to grow their businesses.

Founded in 2016 to train African youth in technology skills, Gebeya is similar to freelance platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.

Gebeya began as an edtech startup helping Africans gain tech skills before matching them with employers. With the relaunch of the talent platform, the startup can connect more talents with jobs.

After creating a profile on the platform, businesses can access a diverse pool of talents in software development, graphic design, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, product development, and digital marketing, which are available for remote or on-site work.

These talents are pre-vetted by Gebeya, and the company ensures that businesses get the best fit for their tasks. Gebeya’s matching algorithm considers location, language, and budget when matching businesses with talents. 

This way, businesses of all sizes can access the services they need without being restricted by their budget or location. Companies can also hire a core team if they like.

While most people would argue that there is a shortage of technical talent in Africa, Amadou Daffe, CEO and Co-founder of Gebeya, seems to disagree. 

“Africa doesn’t have a talent deficiency, it has a matching problem, and that is what Gebeya is seeking to address through the deployment of a true Pan-African marketplace.”

According to a 2020 report by freelance marketplace, Upwork, 59 million Americans performed freelance work and contributed $1.2 trillion to the American economy. Contrastingly, there is no reliable data on the number of freelance workers in Africa or their contribution to the economy.

Gebeya plans to help more businesses hire more freelancers. 

“It’s time for businesses to leverage the sharp skills and fresh perspective that freelancers infuse into a permanent workforce,” Daffe added.

Several startups have sprung up in Africa to meet the continent’s demand for talent, with Andela, Decagon, and Gebeya leading the charge. Their involvement is all the more critical given projections that Africa’s youth population will cross the one billion mark by 2050 and governments and schools failing to provide them with the skills or jobs they need.