Upkazi marks two incredible years since its founding in 2023 - two years of building Africa’s first freelance marketplace made by Africans, for Africa and the world.
When we launched Upkazi, our vision was simple but bold: to give talented Africans a trusted digital home where they could work, earn, and grow - entirely online, with nothing more than a laptop and an internet connection.
The past two years have proven that vision right. Freelancing is no longer a distant dream; it has become a way of life across Africa. Thousands of young people now use Upkazi to showcase their skills, connect with clients, and create new opportunities every day - from Kampala to Nairobi, Kigali to Lagos, and beyond.
We believe that 2025 marks the beginning of a new African decade - one where digital work will drive empowerment, inclusion, and innovation. Businesses across the continent are learning to integrate local and remote freelancers into their workflows, tapping into talent they never knew was right next door.
This is more than just growth; it’s a movement.
Two years ago, we set out to build a community that reflects Africa’s creativity, resilience, and ambition. Today, that community is alive - diverse, passionate, and unstoppable. Yet, our story is only beginning. Each new freelancer who joins, each client who hires, each gig delivered - all write another line in the story of how Africa works.
As we celebrate this milestone, we are also unveiling a refreshed Upkazi identity - modern, bold, and rooted in our belief that opportunity should belong to everyone, everywhere. Our new chapter is not just about design; it’s about redefining what it means to work online in Africa.
To everyone who has believed in us, worked with us, and grown with us - thank you.
Together, we are not just changing how Africa works. We are proving that Africa works on Upkazi.
Here’s to the next chapter - to bigger dreams, greater impact, and a stronger community.
Charlie Brian
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Upkazi - The Future of Work
