The story of Credipple is one of innovation meeting a critical need. Founded by Kgololo Lekoma (CEO), Lethabo Sekhu (COO) and Sibusiso Manentsa (Founder) in 2017, Credipple bridges the gap between skilled professionals, and businesses seeking trustworthy digital talent. The inspiration behind the platform came from the founders witnessing their university peers struggling to access work opportunities, which sparked the idea to leverage community and technology to break down barriers to sustainable, contract work.
Credipple’s mission is straightforward yet profound: to connect clients with trusted professionals across a range of creative and digital services, including animation, design, illustration, digital marketing, motion graphics, content production, and web development. But it’s more than just a matchmaking platform. It’s a rewards-based talent marketplace that ensures professionals are incentivised to deliver exceptional results, fostering a community of excellence and reliability.
The challenges that Credipple addresses are multi-faceted. On one hand, the growing working-age population in sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant employment gap, with millions of young, educated individuals entering the workforce annually and job creation not keeping pace. On the other hand, businesses struggle to find trustworthy, skilled digital professionals. Credipple steps in to solve these issues by providing a seamless hiring process that matches clients with top-tier talent and streamlines administrative tasks like briefing, quoting, invoicing, payments, and portfolio management for talent.
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Credipple’s ‘secret sauce’ lies in its unique vetting process. By simulating remote work environments, the platform assesses and rates professionals to create a trusted network of talent. This not only ensures quality for clients but also promotes continuous professional development and income progression for the talent.
Recognition of Credipple’s impact is growing. In 2021, Credipple was selected to receive the Goethe-Institut’s Cav Resilience grant to support freelancers during Covid-19. In 2022, the platform was accepted into the I’m IN Accelerator programme. In 2023, they won the E-Commerce Platform Award at the inaugural Telkom Transformation and Innovation Awards and, this year, joined the ranks of businesses mentored by Aions Creative Technology under the leadership of serial entrepreneur Mitchan Adams.
Credipple’s success is not just in numbers, though those are impressive: Over 1,600 professionals have signed up, with more than 70 clients using the platform, and an average marketplace rating of 84%. The real achievement lies in the positive impact on people’s lives. Seeing professionals secure new clients and grow their incomes drives Lekoma and Sekhu to continue innovating and expanding their platform.
Building a tech business in South Africa is challenging, but Sekhu’s advice is clear: start with your ‘why’ and stay focused on solving customer problems. Credipple’s journey is a testament to the power of purpose-driven innovation, creating digital solutions that empower a new generation of professionals and connect them with opportunities to thrive.
As Kgololo puts it, “Our drive to innovate comes from our desire to grow our impact. Understanding market needs and being demand-led in our solutions allows us to build a stronger community of talent and satisfied clients. We are committed to building a business that not only thrives in the digital age but also uplifts those who are part of it.”
