Nigerian entrepreneur Samuel Usoroh is among the winners of the YinksMedia Startup Spotlight Series initiative, and he spoke to freelance journalist Ndaman Joshua on how he started Workdey, his strategies, and his vision for Nigeria.
Here are the excerpts:
Okay, first question. Briefly describe your startup in one sentence.
Workdey is a marketplace for any tasks and a productivity booster for startups and businesses.
What industry does your startup operate in?
Future of work, gigs, marketplace.
Where is your startup based?
Lagos, Nigeria (But we operate globally)
What problem are you solving with your startup, and what inspired you to start this business?
Workdey is solving the challenge of trust and accessibility in the gig economy. Many Nigerians struggle to find reliable professionals for technical and non-technical tasks, while freelancers face stigma on global platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Workdey provides a localized solution. A digital marketplace where people can hire skilled professionals seamlessly. The inspiration came from personal experiences and the frustrations of many Nigerians who either couldn’t secure jobs on global freelance platforms or couldn’t find trustworthy service providers locally.
What makes your product or service unique? What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?
- Eliminates the trust barrier: Verifies professionals and provides reviews for credibility.
- Supports both online and offline services: Not just digital tasks but also home repairs, logistics, and in-person services.
- Enables instant bookings and secure payments: Ensuring reliability for both freelancers and task posters.
- Is built specifically for Nigeria and Africa: Unlike global platforms that don’t cater to local market needs.
What stage of development is your startup currently in?
We are at the pre-seed stage.
Who is your target audience?
- Task Posters: Individuals and businesses needing professional services, whether digital (e.g., graphic design, content writing, software, etc.) or physical (e.g., plumbing, moving services).
- Freelancers & Service Providers: Skilled professionals looking for work opportunities without the restrictions of international gig platforms.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced so far, and how have you overcome them?
Building Trust: Many Nigerians hesitate to hire or work online due to fraud risks. Solution: Implemented a verification system, escrow payments, and reviews.
What are your startup’s key achievements or milestones?
- Secured early adopters who are actively using the platform. Over 500 in under 3 months of launch.
- Currently processing 400k in MRR.
- Built an MVP with essential features like task posting, booking, and payments.
- Established strategic partnerships to grow our professional network.
What are your future plans and goals for your startup?
- Scale Workdey across Nigeria, making outsourcing tasks as easy as ordering food.
- Introduce AI-powered talent sourcing to pick the best candidate for a task, gig, or job.
- Expand into other African markets, solving gig economy challenges beyond Nigeria.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria?
- Solve real problems: Don’t just chase trends; focus on what people truly need.
- Adapt to the Nigerian market: Challenges like unreliable internet and payment issues require local solutions.
- Stay resilient: Funding and growth are tough, but persistence separates success from failure.
And for the last question, how do you see the future of your industry in Nigeria?
The gig economy in Nigeria is poised for massive growth. As more businesses outsource work and freelancers seek independent income streams, platforms like Workdey will play a critical role. The future will see:
- More digital transformation, with AI and automation improving gig platforms.
- Stronger local ecosystems, reducing reliance on global freelancing platforms.
- Greater financial inclusion, as more people embrace online payments and remote work.
Wow, that’s amazing. Thank you for speaking to us.
You are welcome!
To learn more about Workdey, you can visit the website or follow them on any of their social media handles:
