Uptooyoo unveils digital marketplace to link South Africans with local service providers

The Cape Town-based tech startup Uptooyoo has launched a new mobile and web platform that helps independent professionals promote their services and connect directly with customers across South Africa.

Emerging South African startup Uptooyoo has introduced an all-in-one app designed to connect skilled service providers, from gardeners and hairdressers to web developers and digital marketers, with customers looking for reliable, verified professionals.

Through its intuitive platform, users can discover, book, and collaborate with service providers in just a few clicks. For freelancers and small business owners, Uptooyoo offers tools to manage bookings, showcase portfolios, collect reviews, and grow their client base, all in one place.

“We built Uptooyoo to connect people with opportunity,” said Courtney Wilson, business development manager at the company. “Too often, South Africans rely on group chats or word of mouth to find work. With Uptooyoo, talented individuals can formalise their hustle and build a personalised business website straight from the app, it’s your business, your rules, your Uptooyoo.”

Service providers can sign up free of charge and set up a professional profile in minutes, listing both hands-on services such as plumbing, pet grooming, and painting, as well as digital offerings like branding design, podcast editing, app development, and AI-based consulting.

The platform also features secure payments, ratings, and subscription options tailored to freelancers. For extra peace of mind, Uptooyoo uses an escrow-style system that retains 15% of each transaction until the client confirms the work is completed successfully, protecting both parties.

“There’s a wealth of talent in South Africa that often goes unseen,” added Shaheer Lala, the company’s marketing manager. “Our goal is to humanise technology, bringing opportunity closer to home by connecting local skill with real demand. Uptooyoo is about visibility, trust, and empowerment.”

Uptooyoo’s marketplace is currently live via both web and mobile platforms, offering a digital meeting point for individuals and businesses eager to collaborate in South Africa’s fast-evolving freelance economy.