Adaverse, a Cardano ecosystem accelerator established to foster the growth of Web3 crypto-native projects in Africa, has made a strategic investment in AfriBlocks, a pan-African freelancers marketplace that connects verified African professionals to the global market. The investment is part of AfriBlocks’ pre-seed funding round aggregating high-profile investors across the industry.
Adaverse was launched in September 2021 as a joint venture by EMURGO Africa and Everest Ventures, to identify and provide valuable support resources to promising African founders developing Web 3 solutions on Cardano’s third-generation and environmentally-sustainable blockchain.
What is AfriBlocks?
AfriBlocks is a freelance services marketplace that provides African professionals with a technological infrastructure that allows them to link their remote services to a worldwide market. Employers find the best-suited services on AfriBlocks from a database of vetted professionals, remotely providing a diverse range of digital skills such as web design, web development, content creation, and digital marketing, among others. At the core of AfriBlocks’ offering is a payment bridge for seamless and swift offshore settlement between Africa’s top talent and the world, that will leverage blockchain technology.
AfriBlocks focuses on upscaling the Pan-African freelance service industry by creating an escrow platform that pairs service needs with the best-fit service providers in less time and at a lower cost. This escrow service is enhanced with a project management team that ensures excellent delivery of service to the satisfaction of the employer. With Afriblocks freelance community-building programs, Africans are spotlighted and connected to global opportunities that will cater to the growing workforce demand in the evolving Web 3 world.
Why AfriBlocks?
AfriBlocks is building a robust infrastructure that leverages blockchain technology to provide Africans and African diasporans with direct employment pathways across the globe.
“AfriBlocks is reimagining the way people work by leveraging blockchain and emerging technologies to build the infrastructure for the future of work in Africa and the support we will be receiving from Adaverse will help us achieve these milestones faster,” said Tongayi Choto, co-founder and CEO of AfriBlocks.
Africa has the world’s youngest population, with over 60% of the population under the age of 25, and the continent’s educated youth face high unemployment. With advancements in technology and an evolving digital landscape, AfriBlocks is spotlighting the enthusiastic and enterprising young Africans for improved economic prospects.
“AfriBlocks is building one of Africa’s most significant pillars for the future of work, which aligns with EMURGO Africa’s mission to support foundational structures for the emerging digital economy across Africa. Rapid economic development in Africa will be accelerated when diasporan barriers are broken down, and this is achievable on Cardano’s blockchain,” said Shogo Ishida, co-CEO for the Middle East & Africa at EMURGO Africa.
“The African professional freelance market has been largely ignored and undervalued on established traditional freelance websites. By integrating a certified database of the top African talents with seamless blockchain payment processing, AfriBlocks provides exactly what Africa needs. Adaverse is thrilled to assist this critical development stage of AfriBlocks,” said Vincent Li Founding Partner at Adaverse.
About Adaverse
Adaverse is a Cardano ecosystem accelerator providing strategic resources to flourish impact-driven crypto startups in Africa. With a 1:1 mentorship and Cardano development support, Adaverse accelerates startups to establish and scale sustainable web 3-based businesses on the continent. AfriBlocks joins a growing list of socially impactful tech startups that have partnered with Adaverse since its launch in 2021.
For early access to the platform launch, please join the waitlist here.
To apply for funding at Adaverse, please submit your pitch deck here.
