POLOKWANE – In response to the country’s high unemployment rate, 29-year-old Tebatso Mphati has launched an innovative job-seeking platform on WhatsApp called Bit Talent.

The platform aims to bridge the gap between job seekers and companies looking to hire, offering a user-friendly solution in the fight against unemployment.

“We launched Bit Talent about six weeks ago, and we have already shared over 100 000 job listings,” explained Mphati.

“We registered more than 4 000 users in a single day, highlighting the urgent need for such a tool. We’ve also secured a partnership that could help with candidate placements, and we’ve expanded our reach to Nigeria, Pakistan, and Kenya.”

Originally from Polokwane and now based in Cape Town, Mphati told Polokwane Observer that his platform is free to use but requires users to share it in order to maintain access.

Taking a big leap of faith, Mphati resigned from his actuarial job and used his entire pension to fund the business.

“I had raised a substantial amount from investors, but they disappeared. That’s when I knew I was onto something, so I decided to invest in myself,” he said.

Though the journey has been financially challenging, the feedback from job seekers reinforces Mphati’s belief in the platform’s potential.

He also received $150 000 in credits from Microsoft to build the solution on their platform, and Google has offered $250 000 in credits should Mphati secure funding from investors. “These programmes are free to apply for, and I encourage other entrepreneurs to explore them,” he added.

Mphati said capital is important in supporting entrepreneurs, and that some ideas need time and resources to flourish.

“Part of my drive is knowing that it’s entrepreneurs such as us who will fund the next generation developing AI systems that can speak Venda. Without this, we risk being reliant on technology from other nations,” he said.

Access Bit Talent on WhatsApp at 067 737 1147 and follow the prompts to connect to job opportunities.