As the new year kicks off in a country where millions are pursuing opportunities to put food on the table, a new South African-built platform is stepping up to make the hustle simpler, safer, and smarter. Meet Uptooyoo, the South African-developed app and web platform, built to economically empower anyone with a skill they want to turn into an additional income stream or just to expand their current business profile. From plumbers and hairdressers to digital marketers, anyone with a small business or side hustle has an opportunity to grow their network and their income.

Unemployment remains one of South Africa’s greatest challenges, with the rate hovering around 32% according to Stats SA, while the unemployment rate for youth (aged 15-34) reached 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025. For the 2025 school-leavers and graduates attempting to enter the job market at the start of this new year, formal employment opportunities remain limited. Yet across townships, suburbs, and cities, people are already creating their own work - designing logos, fixing cars, tutoring kids, cutting hair, or writing blogs. Uptooyoo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity, putting service providers on the map – literally.

“We built Uptooyoo to link talent and opportunity. South Africans shouldn’t have to depend only on social chats, community groups, or word of mouth to find work. With Uptooyoo, you can formalise your hustle, grow your client base and easily build your own business-focused website, all within the app. It’s your business. It’s your rules. It’s Uptooyoo,” says Courtney Wilson, Business Development Manager at Uptooyoo.

How it works

Service providers can join for free, set up a professional profile in minutes, and showcase their skills, from hands-on work like gardening, plumbing, and pet grooming to digital services such as logo design, social media content, children’s book illustration, web development, podcast editing, coding, and AI integrations.

The app offers:

• A centralised search and booking platform.
• Ratings and reviews to build/evaluate supplier reputation.
• A simple and extremely affordable subscription model for service providers – R99.99/month after the first three successful bookings – thereby proving the value proposition and financial viability to the service provider, the lowest in the market.
• And, for digital/online freelancers, Uptooyoo also offers additional financial protection for both service providers and clients. It retains 15% of all transactions processed through the system with an embedded secure payments platform and only releases payments once work is approved by the client.  

“South Africa is rich in skill, yet meaningful, localised platforms to showcase it have long been out of reach. Uptooyoo exists to humanise technology and bring opportunity closer to home by connecting local skills with real demand. We’re creating an app where everyday people can be seen, trusted, and supported as they grow their businesses on their own terms.” said Shaheer Lala, Marketing Manager at Uptooyoo. 

Locals using Uptooyoo can expect flexible earning opportunities across every skill level, an affordable subscription after the free trial, and a platform that’s proudly local, built by us, for us. Importantly, the app is open to all skills – from kasi hustlers and side-giggers to seasoned digital professionals.

Why it matters
For service providers, it’s a chance to be discovered and booked without the admin and risk. For customers, it’s peace of mind that they’re hiring customer-reviewed service providers across a wide range of products and services. You no longer need to use international sites or apps that may limit the focus to certain industries and/or areas. 

Call to action
South Africa’s talent is already building the future one skill, one gig, one connection at a time. Join the movement with Uptooyoo. Build your profile, connect with clients and grow your business your way.

Because when it comes to the future of work, it’s Uptooyoo. 

Connect with us on social:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uptooyooza/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/uptooyooZA
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@uptooyooza?lang=en       

Sign up details here (https://www.uptooyoo.com/Identity/Account/Login) the process is simple:

Service Providers:

• Download the Uptooyoo app or head over to uptooyoo.com
• Click register as service provider and add all your details
• Confirm your email
• Continue through the business setup process by choosing what type of service provider you are (digital / physical), adding your operating times, business name, first service and optionally adding your banking details. 
• Login
• Ensure your profile has up to date images, services and reviews

Customers:

• Download the Uptooyoo app or head over to uptooyoo.com
• Click register as customer, and fill in your details 
• Confirm your email 
• Login and book!